The Fens
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.
On TV
More episodes
Clips
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A Konik pony foal takes its first faltering steps
Duration: 03:00
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Cuckoo chicks dupe reed warblers into raising them
Duration: 01:27
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Thousands of migrant whooper swans return from the Arctic
Duration: 02:53
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Narrator | Toby Jones |
Producer | Ian Gray |
Broadcasts
- Fri 10 Jul 2020 21:00
- Sat 11 Jul 2020 16:15Â鶹Éç Two except Wales & Wales HD
- Fri 7 Aug 2020 08:00
- Sun 22 Aug 2021 20:00Â鶹Éç Two except Wales & Wales HD
- Thu 9 Jun 2022 19:00
- Fri 10 Jun 2022 01:40
- Fri 9 Dec 2022 00:40Â鶹Éç Two Wales HD & Wales only
- New Year's Day 2023 07:10
- Sun 29 Jan 2023 23:45Â鶹Éç Two Wales & Wales HD only
- Thu 19 Oct 2023 00:20Â鶹Éç Two Wales HD & Wales only
- Tue 13 Feb 2024 18:40Â鶹Éç Two Wales HD & Wales only
- Fri 15 Nov 2024 19:00
- Wed 20 Nov 2024 20:40
- Thu 21 Nov 2024 01:35
- Saturday 17:40Â鶹Éç One Wales & Wales HD only