DUTCH biologist and conservationist, Dr Frans Vera took time out from his lecture visit to Cambridge University to visit Wicken Fen.
During his visit, Dr Vera was given a guided tour of the nature reserve by countryside and community manage, Martin Lester, and grazing ranger, Carol Laidlaw.
In the Netherlands, Dr Vera, has been a key figure in the development of the Ostvaardersplassen, a 56km² nature reserve which was created in 1968 when the South Flevoland polder was reclaimed. The reserve was designated an international Ramsar Wetland in 1989.
Martin Lester said: “Dr Vera is an internationally renowned expert on rewilding and it was great to learn more about his experiences with the creation of the Oostvaardersplassen nature reserve.
“He was very interested in the Wicken Fen Vision and in particular our extensive grazing programme, which is very similar to that of the Oostvaadersplassen”.
The Wicken Fen Vision is a 100 year plan to create a landscape scale nature reserve stretching from Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve to the outskirts of Cambridge, covering an area of approximately 56km².
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