Lakenheath: New flower beds created at RSPB Lakenheath Fen ready for summer season

Bog bed (Image: Archant)

Staff and volunteers at RSPB Lakenheath Fen have been transforming the reserve over the past few weeks, with four new flower beds and other work being paid for via the funding from Waste Recycling Environmental (WREN).

Wildlife-friendly garden (Image: Archant)

Three new plant beds have been built on the visitor centre lawn, each with a specific theme.

The first contains water-loving pond plants, the second peat-loving fenland plants, and the third sand-loving Brecks plants.

A fourth bed, which is in front of the visitor centre, contains examples of wildlife-friendly plants that demonstrate how they can give nature a home in their gardens. It includes a selection of plants that are attractive to bees, butterflies and other insects.

The grant has also paid for a new reserve trail and the installation of the reserve’s very first wildlife hide, Mere Hide.

The fen’s communications officer, David White, said: “These fantastic plant beds provide reserve visitor’s with a special insight into the plants of the local area. They showcase the importance of the location of the reserve, which is on the border between the peaty Fens and the sandy Brecks.

“The sandy Brecks bed is my personal favourite as it contains some really special plants. Although some of them are tiny, they are very rare and fascinating to see close up. When the plants in the peaty Fenland bed are in flower, there will really be a riot of colour!

“We are very thankful to WREN for their extremely generous grant towards visitor improvements. Mere Hide has been extremely popular and the plant beds are the icing on the cake. I am sure they will be a source of fascination for many reserve visitors.”

A grant from WREN also helped pay for the reserve’s visitor centre. WREN distributes landfill tax credits for for Waste Recycling Group.