Fens are areas of marsh and open water. Tall sedges and reeds
grow there with other water-loving plants. They support many
species of bird and insect including butterflies and
dragonflies. Fenland was once most commonly found in East
Anglia. In the past, the local economy of fenland in East Anglia
depended on peat and fen plants. Peat turf was dug by hand and
used as fuel. Reeds were cut and harvested for thatch for barns
and houses. Sedge was used for livestock bedding, and willow was
used for wicker baskets or eel traps. Fens are waterlogged areas
'fed' by an alkaline water source. The vegetation is a mosaic of
sedge and reedbeds and damp 'fen' meadows, intersected by
drainage ditches, streams and open areas of water. As the plant
litter gradually decomposes, a rich dark peat is formed. Where
the build of peat is raised above the water table, and dries out
for part of the year, shrubs and trees such as willow and alder
colonise the area and woodland 'Carr' communities develop.
Plants found in managed fen in