Bourne North Fen

Great Fen Project

David Rose

Conservation projects

Bourne North Fen

Bourne North Fen Project

Bourne North Fen aims to restore 50 ha of farmland to Lincolnshire’s lost peat-fenland, becoming a home for a wide variety of wildlife; linking up important nature reserves, creating a multi-purpose wetland which will store water for agriculture and improve water quality for consumers, and underpin a local eco-tourism economy.

This ambitious plan would boost Lincolnshire’s endangered fenland habitats by 30%; supporting iconic species return to the area such as bittern, crane, swallowtail butterfly and greater water parsnip. The new wetland would be connected via two rivers to form part of a nature recovery network that will tackle long-standing local water management issues in the driest region in the UK.

Sitting in between our nature reserves of Willow Tree Fen and Baston Fen, it offers the opportunity to restore and reconnect Lincolnshire’s lost fenland.
Tammy Smalley
Head of Conservation, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust
Four-spotted chaser

Ross Hoddinott/2020VISION

What are the project aims?

 

With the support of the landowner, the aim is to buy the site and restore the land to wet-fenland. Benefits of doing so include:

  • Creation of a nature recovery network
  • Reduced flood risk
  • Improved water quality
  • Enhanced biodiversity
  • Increased water capacity for agriculture
  • Resilience to climate change
  • Improved local eco-tourism economy

Project partners

Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust is leading this project but within a broader partnership approach through the South Lincolnshire Water Partnership (SLWP), which represents environment, public water supply, flood risk management, agriculture, business, tourism and leisure sectors.

Bourne North Fen will be a pilot landscape-scale project particularly focused on improving water resource management, which could be replicated elsewhere.

Grey Heron

David Tipling/2020VISION

More about fenland habitats

Learn more

Get in touch

Contact: Tammy Smalley, Head of Conservation
Tel: 01507 526667
Email: TSmalley@lincstrust.co.uk