THE FENS

The Fens,  are a naturally marshy region in eastern England. Most of the fens were drained several centuries ago, resulting in a flat, damp, low-lying agricultural region.

Most of the Fenland lies within a few metres of sea-level (mostly below). As with similar areas in the Netherlands, much of the Fens originally consisted of fresh or salt-water wetlands, which have been artificially drained and are protected from floods by drainage banks and pumps.  The support of this drainage system means the Fens have become a major arable agricultural region in Britain for grains and vegetables.

The Fens today are protected by 60 miles of embankments defending against the sea and 96 miles of river embankments. Eleven internal drainage boards maintain 286 pumping stations and 3,800 miles of watercourses, with the combined capacity to pump 16,500 Olympic-size swimming pools in a 24-hour period or to empty Rutland Water in 3 days!

Well, that’s the official version cribbed from the web and now for my impressions in note form.

Few hills giving a flat landscape.

Huge skies caused by the absence of hills.

Unable to see beaches and sea from roads because of dykes.

Dykes and ditches everywhere.

Soil looks like mud and probably is mud.

Long straight roads with sharp bends at the end.

Superb sunsets but lacking foreground interest.

Wind turbines everywhere.

Static caravans, there must be thousands!

The lower photo is Huttoft beach- more of that on the next posting.