Local people making their corner of rural Britain unique
This week
SaturdayÌýÌý26 May 2007
Billed as one of the least visited places in Britain, Sutton Fen has just been purchased by the RSPB as a nature reserve. But will public ownership spoil it? Helen Mark finds out.
Helen becomes the 51st visitor in over a century to the area, an isolated habitat in the middle of the ever-popular Norfolk Broads. Here she learns why from the RSPB's Ian RobinsonÌýwhy they purchased Sutton Fen late last year, creating its . She also listens to one of the fen's most elusive residents -- the bittern.
Helen also meets artist , who's been painting broadland scenes for more than 30 years. Sutton Fen is essentially his back garden.
Next Helen hears about the history of the fen from historian Keith Bacon. The fen's been in private hands for centuries, which may account for its isolation.Ìý
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ÌýSedge cutting is a big part of the maintenace of the fen, and ÌýHelen learns to cut itÌýfrom marshman Gary Elliott. Gary's been working the fen site for more than a decade. But his father, who was also a sedge cutter for 40 years, tried to get him to take up another line of work.Ìý
Press Listen AgainÌýfor your visit to this most ellusive ofÌýUK locations.
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