| Fen Facts | - In 1995 the RSPB acquired 267 hectares of arable land (formerly carrot fields), plus 31 hectares at the Botany Bay SSSI
- The site was divided into units and 140 hectares of wetland were created
- 106,800 reed cuttings were planted and 142,000 reed seedlings
- Car park and visitor trail opened in Spring 2004
- Visitor centre to open in 2007
- The Fen Ragwort was thought to be extinct by 1857, but a single plant was discovered 30 years ago and is now being re-introduced into the Fens.
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Highlights from this year include: - The introduction of the scarce fen ragwort
- The first breeding frogs on the reserve
- Highland cattle used for the first time
- A steady growth in numbers of reedbed birds
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Bearded tits
 | | Bearded tit, by M Richards, RSPB |
It's nine years since the first reeds were planted on former carrot fields by the river Little Ouse. These have attracted bearded tits, up from three pairs last year to at least 10 this year. When they were found in 2004, they were then the first bearded tits to nest in the Suffolk Fens since 1900. Highland cattle New this year are Highland cattle in Botany Bay, the one area of the reserve that is a natural flood plain wetland rather than being newly created. The cattle graze the monoculture of great pond sedge to improve the diversity of the wetland plants. Ordinary cattle were tried but would not eat the dense vegetation, but the Highland cattle seem much more at home and happily munch their way through the sedge. Fen ragwort Ninety plants of the rare fen ragwort have been planted in groups of ten around the reserve and on the river Little Ouse washland. They will be monitored to gauge survival in different water levels. Birdwatching
 | | As it was, carrot fields, photo: RSPB |
For birdwatchers, the regular presence of golden orioles continues to be the main attraction, and there were again two pairs in poplar plantations. However, Lakenheath Fen is rapidly becoming known as one of the best places in East Anglia to see hobbies – an elegant, slim-winged falcon that is a summer visitor to England. Two pairs bred and the peak count was 21 birds, a concentration attracted by the large numbers of dragonflies at the new wetland reserve. Invertebrates Other invertebrates at Lakenheath Fen include Roesel’s bush crickets, now found over much of the reserve in rough grassland. Formerly almost confined to coastal grassland in south and east England, its spread north and inland seems to be linked to climate change.
 | | Reed warbler, by M Richards, RSPB |
A search for caterpillars of the rare marsh carpet moth – the larvae eat only the ripening seed heads of meadow-rue – found 93 individuals (86 last year). Bitterns There were five nests of marsh harriers and a bittern summered, but hasn't yet 'boomed' – the bittern's distinctive call. "Bitterns would complete the set of reedbed birds and I would like to think they will breed at Lakenheath Fen by 2007," says Lakenheath Fen warden Norman Sills. Bitterns rely on fish to eat so in December 2004, 1,500 rudd were introduced into the reedbed. A school of young fish were seen this summer so Norman is optimistic that the fish bred. The RSPB is hoping to purchase 42 hectares of farmland on the north side of the river Little Ouse to extend the reserve into Norfolk. | 
