Since 1600, more than 99% of the original Fen wetlands in England have been drained for agriculture. The Great Fen project in Cambridgeshire is one of the most exciting ongoing habitat restoration projects ever undertaken in Britain.
Run by the Wildlife Trusts for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire,
Northamptonshire and Peterborough, its aim is to create a 3,700
hectare wetland between Huntingdon and Peterborough. This large
area between the two fragments will provide a haven for wildlife
and people, and open new opportunities for recreation, education
and business. The Great Fen shelters wildlife including migratory
birds, and some 450 species of fungi that support thousands of
insects. Rare plants such as the Fen Violet and Fen Woodrush will
also benefit from the new habitats.
Healthy Planet decided to raise money for the project in spring
2009. We worked with Stephen Fry, who adopted a plot in the Great
Fen on behalf of his mother. The mother's day campaign was a great
success - our article featured in the BBC's top ten list of news
articles read that weekend worldwide. Subsequent Healthy Planet
donations raised £2000 for the project, which went towards habitat
restoration in a critical area known as the Summer Standing,
adjacent to Holme Fen, the largest silver birch tree woodland in
lowland Britain. Thank you to Stephen Fry and everyone else who
donated.
"Our project's profile and funding continues to receive a
substantial boost as a result of working with Healthy Planet. Thank
you."
Stephen Fry (2009) President, Great Fen
Project
"Working with Healthy Planet was easy and fun; you'll find they
are very creative when it comes to fundraising, taking a more
market-based approach that is refreshing and different from
standard fundraising techniques. Setting up an adopt-a-hectare
scheme for the Great Fen Project required low start-up costs and
thanks to the participation of our president, Stephen Fry, it
played a big role in raising our profile"
Kelly Dickson, former Great Fen Campaign
Manager (Now with Fauna & Flora International)
Follow the project's progress at: http://www.greatfen.org.uk/