Woodlands

Woodwalton Fen has areas of woodland made up of willow, alder, ash, oak and aspen. Holme Fen is the largest silver birch woodland in lowland England. There are also many areas of scrub - a habitat between the stages of grassland and woodland. 

The woodland and scrub areas of Woodwalton Fen and Holme Fen support many species of woodland birds. These include residents such as jays, green and great spotted woodpeckers, treecreepers and great, blue, long-tailed and marsh tits. In summer they are joined by many species of warblers including blackcaps, garden warblers and whitethroats. 

Wet woodland, which exists at both nature reserves, is rare in this part of the country and extremely rich in invertebrates. The birch woodland of Holme Fen is important for its 500 species of fungi and this led to its designation as a National Nature Reserve. 

Throughout the Great Fen, new small patches of woodland will become established. In wetter areas, willows will dominate whereas, in drier areas, other native trees such as oak, ash and alder will develop. 

Holme Fen and Woodwalton Fen nature reserves are managed by the Natural England team, whilst other areas of the Great Fen are managed by the Wildlife Trust team - always working together to share resources and best practice.