Walking in the Fens
We are lucky in the Old West area of the Fens to have the extensive picturesque countryside on our doorstep. Whether you are walking along the Great Ouse in Little Thetford, woodland in Rampton or agricultural fields near Over there is plenty to discover.
On a recent walk around Aldreth, we were amazed by the diversity of wildlife we could spot within minutes! The walk started at the Aldreth Causeway; the route believed to have been used by William the Conqueror as he journeyed to Ely in 1071; back then a timber causeway lined the path, but this sank under the weight of their armour. As you walk down the causeway today the landscape is noticeably different, but if you use your imagination the past does not feel too far away.
The landscape opens up to provide beautiful views across the surrounding countryside, along paths in places lined by wildflowers. These have declined in recent years due to the intensification of agriculture across the UK, yet these delicate flowers will always bring a smile to our faces for their beauty, but also for their important value for pollinators.
As we reached the river there was one distinctive well-loved bird call to catch our attention – the cuckoo (actually 2 individual cuckoos!). Being able to so clearly hear and actually see the cuckoos flying between the trees was a highlight on the walk. Did you know – cuckoo numbers have declined by 65% since the 1980s? Another distinctive sound that caught our attention, but admittedly not so rare, was bathing cows, taking a break from the summer sun in the river; with fish, swimming by and dragonflies flying past.
We turned left before the bridge (TL 43840 72186) to walk along the field and then left again (TL 44272 72180) to walk along the side of Nine Acre Wood. Following the lane to join Church Fen Drove (TL 44538 72812) we stopped to admire common buzzards soaring high in the sky. Despite its name, the common buzzard has not always been ‘common’. In the 1900s, the species was persecuted as it was seen to be a threat to game birds and the population saw a decline. Luckily, in more recent times, the population has increased again with the species now found in every county of the UK.
Over the summer we have created a series of family-friendly walks for you to enjoy across the Old West including the one described here in Aldreth – why not give one a go?
We hope you enjoy our walks and would love for you to share your walk with us on social media.
Our walks can be found under the community resources section on our website.
