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Ouse Fen

Ouse Fen
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Bittern walking on edge of reedbed

In the Cambridgeshire Fens, once part of one of Europe's great wetland wildernesses, an ambitious scheme is underway to restore a working sand and gravel quarry to a vast nature reserve with extensive reedbeds, open water and grassland.

Hanson Aggregates and the RSPB are working together to create an exciting new nature reserve at Needingworth Quarry, between Huntingdon and Cambridge. The project involves the phased creation of a wetland nature reserve following the extraction of 28 million tonnes of sand and gravel over the next 30 years. Much of this aggregate will be used for building in the Cambridge Growth Area.

The project has been designed to create habitats of high value to wildlife and incorporate 32 km of new public access. The 700 ha wetland will include the biggest reedbed in the UK, some 460 ha. It is being constructed in phases over the next 30 years in 20-40 ha blocks divided by low earth banks.

While visitor access to the Hanson-RSPB Wetland project is not promoted at present, occasional guided walks are held for those wishing to see the site. Please see our Events page for further details

Contact information

Fens Area Office
The Grange
20 Market Street
Swavesey
CB24 4QG
Telephone: 01954 233260

Map

Important note

This site is one of several that due to its size, location and/or conservation sensitivity is not capable of accommodating visitors (unless stated).

Where possible, we have indicated the nearest equivalent RSPB nature reserve suitable for visiting. If you require further information, please use the contact details provided.

This does not affect any statutory rights of access under CROW or SOAC legislation.

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