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The Fens

Episode 2 of 3

Exploring the restless rhythms of the British countryside. Hidden away in the most easterly part of the British Isles are the Fens of East Anglia, a landscape of wild wetlands and fertile farmland.

Hidden away in the most easterly part of the British Isles are the Fens of East Anglia, a landscape of big skies and distant horizons, wild wetlands and fertile farmland.

Water has always been the driving force here - its ebb and flow has shaped the Fens for thousands of years. The ancient wetlands covered hundreds of square miles and overflowed with wildlife. Today, well over 90% has gone, drained over the centuries and converted into farmland. Yet despite these changes, it is still possible to glimpse the richness of those wetlands.

Every winter, thousands of migrating whooper swans return to the flooded pastures of the Ouse washes from their Arctic breeding grounds. Here, they join thousands of other waterfowl in one of Britain’s greatest wildlife gatherings.

On the Welney Wetlands, spring sees ‘mad’ march hares boxing over mates. It was once thought these bouts were male hares boxing for dominance, but it is often the females throwing the punches to fend off the attentions of over-eager suitors.

58 minutes

Last on

Tue 13 Feb 2024 18:40

Credits

Role Contributor
Narrator Toby Jones
Producer Ian Gray

Broadcasts

  • Fri 10 Jul 2020 21:00
  • Sat 11 Jul 2020 16:15
  • Fri 7 Aug 2020 08:00
  • Sun 22 Aug 2021 20:00
  • Thu 9 Jun 2022 19:00
  • Fri 10 Jun 2022 01:40
  • Fri 9 Dec 2022 00:40
  • New Year's Day 2023 07:10
  • Sun 29 Jan 2023 23:45
  • Thu 19 Oct 2023 00:20
  • Tue 13 Feb 2024 18:40