About the event

The Fenland of eastern England forms a flat low-lying expanse of land south of the Wash. The majority of this once wet and marshy region has now been drained for agriculture. The northern part of the Fenland basin is underlain by marine silts, but in southern Fenland there are thick accumulations of organic-rich Holocene deposits, often known as ‘fen peat’. Wherever rivers enter Fenland, they have changed the nature and extent of the Holocene Fenland environment and offered unique resources for past human occupation.

This Workshop aims to describe the stratigraphy and sediment architecture of Holocene deposits in the Great Fen area. Understanding the Holocene deposits of the Lower Nene fen-edge is essential for the continuing development of the Great Fen, the ongoing plan to re-wild ca. 3000 ha of former farmland in the Whittlesey Mere basin between Holme Fen and Woodwalton Fen National Nature Reserves.

In addition to an introductory lecture the field excursion will visit key locations including the Holme Fen Post, Rymes Reedbed and Engine Farm. The workshop will conclude with a summary session at Ramsey Heights.