A Visit to Wicken Fen

Wicken Fen was the very first nature reserve owned by the National Trust and has been in their care since 1899. To quote the National Trust : 

`For more than 100 years we've worked hard to protect the rare species that live at Wicken through intensive management of the fen habitats. This has become increasingly difficult and by the late 20th Century it had become clear we could not protect this unique place because the nature reserve was just too small & too isolated. 

The Wicken Fen Vision is an ambitious project to create a landscape scale nature reserve stretching from Wicken Fen to the edge of Cambridge, creating new habitats for both wildlife and humans. In 1999, we launched the Wicken Fen Vision, a 100 year plan to extend the reserve from Wicken to the outskirts of Cambridge, covering an area of 5300 sq hectares. 

Our aim is to buy land as and when it comes up for sale, and restore it to fen and wetland habitat. We gradually raise water levels and use herds of free roaming konik ponies and highland cattle, as part of an extensive grazing programme to create new habitats. The breeds were specifically chosen for the ability to thrive in wetland conditions. 

An important part of the Vision is to provide space for humans to enjoy for leisure and recreation, in an area of the country which is undergoing rapid development and which has very little public accessible countryside.` 

Our interest for this visit was the amazing amount of insect life, mainly butterflies. Most of the images were taken with the Sony RX100 which is a great compact but does require some stealth when taking objects this close.

Ringlet - Aphantopus hyperantus 

Brown Tail Moth - Euproctis chrysorrhoea 

A plain white species when at rest, although the abdomen, as the name suggests, has a brown tuft of hairs which the female uses to cover the eggs with when they are laid. 

The species is distributed mainly around the south and east coasts of England, and in some years can become locally abundant. 

The caterpillars are well-known for their urticating hairs; they cause extreme irritation if in contact with human skin. They feed in a communal web on the leaves of hawthorn (Crataegus) and blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). 

Grasshopper

Large Skipper - Ochlodes sylvanus 

Four Spotted Chaser - Libellula quadrimaculata 

Green Veined White - Pieris napi 

Another Ringlet 

Large Skipper - Ochlodes sylvanus 

Cinnabar Moth Caterpillar

Cricket (Jeremy?) 

Two for the price of one - Large Skippers 

Brimstone - Gonepteryx rhamni - Not a bad haul I thought for a day! 

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On the island of Skomer

The whole purpose of this trip was to visit Skomer and hopefully photograph the puffins, so today was much anticipated. we checked first thing in the morning and to our relief, the ferry was running. In fact, because of the previous cancellations, it was running more trips than normal. We manage to get tickets for the 11:30 am with a return of 5:00 pm. So plenty of time to wander around the island. The day was gray and misty but lifted as soon as we stepped onto the shore giving us glorious weather for our stay.

So, onto our boat for the 15 min. trip.

One of the first indications that you are entering a special place, is the presents, overhead and on the water all around the boat, of hundreds of puffins. As we landed they were perched all around us just watching and seemingly unconcerned.

Having had our guide giving us the details of the great care to be taken around these wonderful creatures and the other inhabitants of the island, we headed off to the main puffin spotting area.

... and what was the first thing we saw? - a short eared owl! - but then ----

Puffins everywhere

..and more!

Puffins everywhere!. Dodging between the feet, skimming overhead, diving into burrows and just being puffins I guess!

They really were everywhere in this particular nesting area. It was good to see the food that they were bringing back looked like their normal fish diet. Follow this Link for more information.

There were other birds on the island, believe it or not, such as this Redstart.

Female Redstart

But the other highlight of the trip was to come. Just before we were to embark on our boat to return to the mainland ..... Back came the short eared owl!

This particular shot was taken just after we landed when we were treated to a brief flyby.

The Short Eared Owl returned with a display and a capture of what looks like a Skomer Vole for supper. We were well pleased to capture these images of this iconic creature at such close range. All in all, a great day, and a great few days away.

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Stackpole Estate clifftop walk

A `must visit` place in Pembrokeshire is the NT Stackpole estate which has some of the most stunning coastal views to be found anywhere. It’s difficult to imagine the many buildings that may have graced the Stackpole Court site over the centuries. Occupied since Norman times, the Stackpole Estate has seen its fair share of boom and bust over the centuries.

The Campbells built the early Georgian mansion of Stackpole Court in the Palladian style in the 1730s on the site of the earlier fortified house.

Two world wars heralded a century of decline at Stackpole. Half of the estate, around 6,000 acres, was requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence to form Castlemartin Range in 1938.

Sir John Campbell II inherited the estate in 1777 and began landscaping work on a grand scale. What was once a valley was later flooded to create the Bosherston Lakes, as part of a designed landscape, and thousands of trees were planted.

Thirteen years later, what was left of this historic estate was broken up and the farms were sold. Thankfully the coast, woods and lakes passed to the National Trust and were saved for the nation.

Stackpole Quay - the start of our walk

The first sight of Barafundle Bay and its magnificent sandy beach. Barafundle is a jewel of a beach set between limestone cliffs and backed by dunes and woods. This secluded bay can only be reached by a cliff path walk from Stackpole Quay, with steep steps at either end.

Looking back along Barafundle Beach.

The far end of the bay before you head into the trees to continue your walk.

More of the Stackpole coastline

Church Rock

And the small bay just beyond.

The famous Bosherston Lakes were created 200 years ago to provide a backdrop to Stackpole Court. Sadly, the house was finally demolished in 1963. The bridge is usually called the Eight Arch Bridge. I wonder why?

From the bridge we walked back toward Stackpole Quay and the chance to get a coffee and something for lunch. I believe that you can go on a slightly longer route than we did but ours was about 4 miles and was long enough for us today.

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Little Haven & Broad Haven

Pembrokeshire is one of our favourite places in the UK, and the small island of Skomer off the coast with it's amazing wildlife, an obvious attraction. So, with this in mind we booked a cottage in Little Haven which is an area we have stayed in before, and is not too distant from the embarkation point for the island. The weather did not look to promising when we arrived and was not much better on the Sunday, resulting in the cancellation of the ferry. Monday is a rest day which left us with fingers crossed for our last day of tuesday!

Little Haven as we walked down the hill toward the village from our holiday cottage.

On Broad Haven beach but not sure what this gate is for!

Little Haven beach - such crowds!

Some patterns in the sand.

Settlands Beach and flowers taken on the path above as we walked between the two Havens. I just loved the colours against the fluffy clouds in the blue sky.

Rosey contemplating the empty beach, and some colours in stones. It is amazing how many colours can be seen in stones piled on beaches.

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Swallowtails at Strumpshaw Fen

Swallowtail butterflies are large, colourful butterflies that form the family Papilionidae. Swallowtails differ from all other butterflies in a number of anatomical traits. Most notably, their caterpillars possess a unique organ behind their heads, called the osmeterium. Normally hidden, this forked structure can be everted when the caterpillar is threatened, and emits smelly secretions containing terpenes. The adults are often tailed like the forked tail of some swallows, giving the insect its name.

During the 20th century, especially after the Second World War, fen land management ceased and much of this butterfly’s habitat was lost. Today active management of the fen land, where reed and sedge are cut to allow other plants to grow, plays an important part in the survival of the swallowtail in Norfolk. With this continued fen land management, the future for the swallowtail looks brighter. 

On our visit to Strumpshaw Fen, we expected to have to search around for a while before seeing the Swallowtail. However, we walked into the site and found a crowd of people photographing them just by the visitor center! 

So we need not have gone any further. Having travelled to Norfolk though, we spent a few pleasant hours exploring this lovely site. Well worth a visit.

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Mullon & Duddon Sands

So, last day, and where shall we go which is not too far away? So the choice was to the nearest coastal area, a few miles south and the town of Mullon, on the edge of the Duddon sands. The town looked a bit of a dump being dull and unkempt, having nothing particular to catch the eye. Parking? Prizes are available for finding anything!! First though, we carried on through the town to an RSPB site called Hodbarrow.

In the past this area, the Hodbarrow mine at Millom was one of the most successful iron ore mines in Cumberland (now Cumbria) not only for the amount of ore that was excavated but also for the quality of the Haematite.

Mining had been tried at Millom before 1855 but with little success. Two men Nathaniel Caine and John Barratt formed the Hodbarrow Mining Company in around 1855. One of the biggest problems at Hodbarrow was due to water and when the old workings collapsed the low lying areas flooded leaving the company with very little choice but to press on and in 1868 extra boreholes were sank and a huge body of Haematite was discovered. 

In 1869 work began on shaft No.1, No.2 and No.3 but shaft No.2 had to be abandoned in 1870 due to flooding, so work had to be started on a new shaft No4 which was operational around 1874. The problems with sand & water became worse, and in 1880 a large embankment was built but this was not as successful as first hoped. The Haematite, which came out of Hodbarrow, was some of the best in the area and was very highly valued. A second sea defence was built in the early 1900s to protect the mines and workings from the sea. This proved very successful and is still in good shape today. 

The Hodbarrow mine ceased production in 1967 after 112 years. In 1968 the iron works closed it doors for the last time.

The remains of Haverigg Mill, Hodbarrow 

The reserve continues to be protected from the sea by a seawall completed in 1905. Most of the area of the reserve is taken up by Hodbarrow Lagoon, a flooded part of the former mine, which is described as a "coastal lagoon", the largest coastal lagoon in Cumbria. 

Great looking site but, like all sites, would need a few visits to appreciate what was visible and when. Still, a lovely morning walk and Rosey had some great images of a warbler. 

Then, back to town for lunch but no joy parking so back to the cottage to finish off the odds and bits left in the fridge. 

On the way back we encountered our first rain of the week. Pretty good for the lake District I would say. 

Then some packing ready for the off early tomorrow.

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