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Fen Restoration Project
25 November 2008
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The restored fen will be great for bitterns
The RSPB has embarked on an ambitious four-year project to benefit wildlife. We are going to restore the fragile fen habitat at our reserves in the Yare valley.
Between 2007 and 2011, around 66 acres (27 hectares) of scrub will be removed from Strumpshaw Fen, Surlingham, and Rockland Marshes. Nearly three miles (5 km) of derelict ditches will be reinstated.
The scrub removal will restore large swathes of open fen. This will provide vital habitat for special wildlife, including swallowtail butterflies and bitterns. Some patches of scrub will be left undisturbed for warblers and other species that feed and shelter there.
The project will restore the open fen landscapes of the 19th Century, giving you great new views of the reserve. The work is necessary to restore this Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) to favourable condition, and will be carried out by contractors, RSPB staff and volunteers.
The project has been made possible by generous grants from Natural England and SITA Trust.
For more information