Wicken Fen (NT)

Wicken Fen nature reserve, Cambs, is owned by the National Trust. The first land acquisition was in 1899. The core of Wicken Fen is 255 ha of SSSI/SAC and 170 ha is the high quality, ancient undrained sedge fen. The total site is approaching 800 hectares as arable deep drained farmland has been bought and restored. Wicken has a very long history of natural history recording, with the earliest data from pre-1880. Significant effort in recording was carried out in the 1920s, 1990s, and since the Wicken Fen Vision was launched in 1999. The Vision aims to create a landscape-scale nature reserve of over 50km2 within one large drainage area, and the land area of the reserve has increased 2.5 times in the last 25 years. The most species-rich taxon groups are the Diptera (2072 species), Coleoptera (1775) and Moths (1252).

Last modified: 

Monday, January 8, 2024 - 17:49
Warrington-Stuart's picture

Latest addition: 

Clancy's Rustic & Delicate (9/2023), Skin Moth, Jersey Tiger and historic records of Ichneumonidae (Literature and Museum specimens)

Size: 

800.00hectares

Species total: 

9498

Ranking breakdown

Breakdown of species counts by category

Algae: 

315

Slime Moulds: 

7

Protists other than Algae and Slime Moulds: 

38

Lichens: 

131

Fungi other than Lichens, including fungoid organisms: 

699

Bryophytes: 

139

Vascular Plants: 

443

Sponges: 

1

Molluscs: 

98

Bryozoans: 

3

Annelid worms: 

29

Arachnids: 

342

Myriapods: 

20

Crustaceans: 

131

Springtails, proturans and 2-tailed bristletails: 

43

Insects: Odonata: 

29

Insects: orthopteroids: 

13

Insects: hemipteroids: 

453

Insects: Hymenoptera: 

876

Insects: Coleoptera: 

1 775

Insects: Diptera: 

2 072

Insects: Lepidoptera: butterflies: 

35

Insects: Lepidoptera: moths: 

1 252

Insects: remaining small orders: 

163

Fish: 

24

Reptiles: 

3

Amphibians: 

4

Birds: 

229

Mammals: 

34

other Animals (Placozoa, Myxozoa, rotifers, other worms, Hemichordata, etc.): 

97

Comments

New species

Warrington-Stuart's picture

Literature research has added several Ichneumonidae and Braconidae, plus some aquatic fungi to the lists. Current new species include Jersey Tiger, Grass-leaved Vetchling and Eared Leafhopper.