Fen Management Handbook - Scottish Natural Heritage

11.6.5 Water borne access
Waterways provide opportunities to manage and transport visitors. Providing good
moorings can help limit the impact of people on boats and direct pressure away
from sensitive areas. Easily accessible river banks are also welcomed by anglers,
who will not normally go through fen habitat unless there is no alternative. Boat trips
may allow visitors good views of the fen with minimum disturbance to the wildlife
(as at Wicken Fen).
Boat trips are an enjoyable
way to visit wetland sites
(S.Street)
Dykes, lodes and ditches limit access, and bridges focus it. A lifting bridge at Howe
Hill on the River Ant controls access to the fen at different times, helping to prevent
disturbance of Schedule I bird species during the nesting season.
11.7 Interpretation
Interpretation is all about increasing enjoyment and understanding. It is an important
aspect of reconnecting people with fens, and raising awareness of how special fens
are from many different perspectives. Interpretation can be key to attracting visitors,
so plays an important part in marketing.
Perhaps the most important
word on this panel at Cors
Bodeilio National Nature
Reserve in Anglesey, Wales
is ‘Croeso’ or ‘Welcome’
(P.Jones)
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