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Fen Management Handbook - Scottish Natural Heritage

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Extensive grazing has proven to be extremely successful in creating great structure<br />

within the fen swards, while increasing biodiversity across the fen.<br />

As part of the project a large visitor centre was built to provide facilities for<br />

interpretation and education programmes. The centre is heated by a very low<br />

energy ground source heat pump and has many recycled materials used in its<br />

construction. A number of additional pathways were constructed around the reserve<br />

and two viewing platforms were installed in order to increase visitor enjoyment and<br />

appreciation of the fen; one platform was provided specifically for viewing the fen<br />

raft spider in its natural habitat.<br />

Plans for the future<br />

Cyclical long term shallow peat scraping is likely to be proposed as a management<br />

technique, albeit on a much smaller scale than in the restoration phases of the<br />

project.<br />

Comments<br />

This is an example of water abstraction and nutrient enrichment causing dramatic<br />

changes in plant communities. The restoration work achieved through partnership<br />

working enabled the very first relocation of a public water supply to occur on<br />

environmental grounds alone.<br />

98<br />

Konik ponies grazing at<br />

Regrave and Lopham <strong>Fen</strong>

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