Britain\u2019s best nature reserves for walks and wildlife<\/h4>\n
Explore meadows, wetlands, ancient woodlands, moorland, heathlands, coast and mountains at Britain\u2019s nature reserves. Here is our guide to the UK\u2019s best nature reserves, and the best wildlife to spot.<\/p>\n
- Find a nature reserve near you<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
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<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>About Woodwalton Fen<\/h2>\n
One of only four surviving fragments of east-English fenland that once extended over 850,000 acres, Woodwalton Fen<\/a> has been a wildlife refuge since its purchase in 1910 by banker-cum-entomologist Charles Rothschild.<\/p>\n
The reserve is one of the UK\u2019s oldest (est. 1919) and statutory protection was afforded in 1954. The site is home to more than 5000 species, some of which are endangered, and many are rare or scarce.<\/p>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Woodwalton Fen in summer\/Credit: Geograph<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n Woodwalton Fen sightings<\/h2>\n
Spring-season highlights \u2013 to name just a few \u2013 include violets (both fen and water), early marsh orchid<\/a>, damselflies<\/a>, cuckoo<\/a> and assorted warblers. Soft step along the ditch margins and \u2018ratty\u2019 may be spotted, or at least heard \u2013 listen out for the \u2018plop\u2019 of a water vole, dropping down into the water.<\/p>\n
Moving forward to summer, and spectacular things on the wing include the scarce chaser, purple emperor and hobby. The endangered tansy beetle lives here; perhaps most likely seen in June, feeding on the tops of bankside tansy plants.<\/p>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Woodwalton Fen at sundown\/Creidt: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div> <\/body><\/html>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2023\/01\/Woodwalton-Fen-sunset-ae783dc.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
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