Overview

• The six-month project restored 590 acres of peatland with a clay bund at Burwell Fen and a 300-metre waterproof liner to retain moisture and lock in carbon.
• Solar-powered pumps were installed to manage water levels sustainably across the reserve.
• Cranes and great egrets appeared within hours of re-wetting, signalling rapid recovery of wetland habitats.
• Excavations at Spinney Bank revealed a bog oak dating to 2894 BC alongside medieval artefacts and a 19th-century windpump base.
• A monitoring programme led by the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology will assess impacts on carbon storage, water quality, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity.