Your County

In October 2007, the BBC highlights some of Britain's natural wonders in The Nature of Britain.

A series of programmes - starting on 10th October - will be shown on BBC television, fronted by Alan Titchmarsh.

Alan will be touring the country, and the eagle eyed amongst you will spot our nature filled county cropping up throughout the series.

Look out for features about Hampton Reserve near Peterborough and the Great Fen Project. Plus, we tell you how to get swanning about in Welney.

Hampton Reserve

Watch the Nature of Britain feature about Hampton Reserve by clicking the Urban Life link below.

Aerial view of the Hampton Reserve

When the Hampton residential area's designs were mused over in the 1980s, there were numerous concerns about the wildlife in the area. Many were worried about Europe's largest population of great crested newts which reside in and around the old claypits.

There was never any need to worry however. O & H Hampton, who manage the reserve, have sponsored Peterborough based charity Froglife to look after the amphibians in the area.

The ridges and furrows left by the clay extraction create the perfect habitat for amphibians, reptiles and many species of invertebrate, and the reserve still boasts Europe's largest population of great crested newts.

Froglife are always looking for volunteers. You can find out more by clicking the link below.

Woodwalton Fen by Alan Mott

The Great Fen Project

Stretching from Peterborough to Huntingdon the Great Fen is the all-singing all-dancing combination of Woodwalton and Holme Fens.

Recently granted £8.9m of Lottery funding, the project aims to create a 3,700 hectare stretch of wetland, helping to preserve and increase the amazing wildlife that already exists in its expanse.

When the project is complete the area will be enhanced to the extent that new species might even breed there.

In the meantime the Great Fen Project will educate youngsters and adults about conservation and nature, reduce the risk of flooding in the area and create tourist opportunities.

You can find out more about the project by clicking the link below.

Swan sunset at Welney

Welney Wetland Centre

There is no better time to get out and about in Cambridgeshire, because Welney comes alive in the winter.

The nature reserve is teeming with wildlife, from the common buzzard to swallows and marsh harrier to whimbrel, it is a settling ground for many a bird after their nesting season in distant lands.

Despite the recent flooding, which made the wetlands even wetter, the centre has managed to protect the majority of the area. You can see most of it for yourself from the observatory or come along for a swan feed.

You can find out about how the the Welney Wetland Centre is tracking a group of seven swans - they're somewhere near Iceland at the moment - by reading our article here.