Wicken Fen, one of Europe's most important wetlands, supports an abundance of wildlife. There are more than 9000 species, including a spectacular array of plants, birds and dragonflies.
The raised boardwalk and lush grass droves allow easy access to a lost landscape of flowering meadows, sedge and reedbeds, where you can encounter rarities such as hen harriers, water voles and bitterns.
Wicken Fen Vision, an ambitious landscape-scale conservation project, is opening up new areas of land to explore. Our grazing herds of Highland cattle and Konik ponies are helping to create a diverse range of new habitats.
Arrival & Parking Facilities
- There are brown signs from Stretham and Soham. The entrance is signed and the main car park is down a narrow lane.
- There are 2 designated disabled car parking spaces right in front of the visitor centre on a firm surface. These spaces are the shortest distance from the Visitor Reception.
- There are 3 additional spaces in the main car park. The visitor centre and entrance is 250m away from the main car park along a surfaced road.
- Cycle racks are available outside the Visitor Centre.
- Areas of the main car park are occasionally roped off for coach parking.
- There is an overflow car park to the rear of the main car park. This is a flat grassed area.
WCs
- There are WCs next to the main car park, including a right-hand transfer accessible WC with space to turn a wheelchair through 1500mm diameter circle. There are no adult changing facilities but baby changing facilities are available here. All the WCs have automatic hand driers, stone floors and brick walls surfaces, with fluorescent lights.
- There are more WCs behind the cafe, including a right-hand transfer accessible WC with space to turn a wheelchair through 1500mm diameter circle.
Visitor Reception and Retail
- This wooden building is at the end of Lode Lane, across a 1200mm wide even wooden bridge and with a boardwalk surface to the door. The single entrance door is non-power operated, approx 1250mm wide, opens inwards to about 90 degrees; this door is always pinned back when we are open. There is a second set of non-assisted double doors into the visitor centre 1500mm wide, one door is often open to 90 degrees. Staff and volunteers can assist with opening the doors if required.
- The floor is tiled, with ceiling windows and large windows to provide natural light. Additional Fluorescent lighting is used in the winter.
- The reception desk is over 950mm high. There is space for a 1500mm diameter turning circle in front of the reception desk and space of >1000mm to browse retail. There are seats if required.
- There is an induction loop at the desk
The Fen and Bird Hides
- There is boardwalk access around the fen made of recycled plastic. It is an even surface, 1200mm wide with edges. Suitable for wheelchairs, motorised buggies and prams. There are passing places. It provides access around the fen in a ¾ mile loop taking in a range of habitats and passing the wind pump. There are occasional gentle, short slopes.
- The boardwalk is accessible from the visitor centre through 1250mm automatic doors.
- There are two bird hides accessible from the boardwalk. The Roger Clarke hide; accessible by a small ramp, door width 1000mm and wheelchair viewing points. The boardwalk hide; accessible by a ramp (length 21m, gradient 1:7, door 1000mm width ) and has wheelchair viewing points.
- The Nature Trail, Butterfly Trail and Adventurers’ Trail are un-surfaced paths which are uneven and often muddy underfoot even in summer. The Nature Trail leads to two tower hides. The new tower hide has steps up to it and the older tower hide has steep steps to climb up. The Adventurers Trail leads to five bird hides with steps to the entrances.
- The initial section of the Adventurers Trail is more widely accessible - see Lodes Way section.
