Wicken Fen sedge harvest festival celebrates Fen practice

The sedge harvest is an important task in the management of the fen at this time of year and for generations was hand cut, dried in the sun and used for thatching.  

As technology evolved, hand-cutting tools known as scythes were taken over by more modern machinery.  

But the process and its purpose essentially still remains the same - and is considered the best approach for the vast amount of wildlife.

A handheld scythe being used to cut the sedge. (Image: Mike Selby) Ajay Tegala, Wicken Fen’s Senior Communications and Marketing Officer, said: “We have a painting here that shows scythes being used in the late 19th century. 

“Back then, during Victorian times, families living on the fen had a strip of land they would manage and harvest on rotation.  

“When we harvest the sedge now, we’re basically mimicking what they were doing because that’s what’s best for the wildlife here.  

The blade of a hand held scythe being sharpened. (Image: Mike Selby) “We use the more modern technology and machinery known as the 'Fen Harvester’ now. We also cut on a three-year rotation, with one third of the fen cut every year.  

“This means you create three different heights of vegetation. If we cut all at once, you would lose that habitat.  

“When you cut with strips, a creature can move a few metres over if it needs cover.

The Fen Harvester is the reserves most modern piece of equipment. (Image: Mike Selby)

"Similarly, harvesting means the fen doesn’t get overgrown and dry out over the years.  

“The area needs to be wet and open for the rare insects and plants to thrive.” 

The Kubota STW40 being demonstrated as part of the harvest. (Image: Mike Selby) Visitors to Wicken Fen’s “Sedge Fest” on Saturday (August 17) were treated to an insight into the fascinating heritage of the sedge harvest.  

They were able to look at examples of early scything tools and had a chance to watch them being used for the harvest cutting by hand.

The Fen Cottage was hosting wood craft demonstrations, and the iconic windpump was working.    

The Wicken Fen windpump. (Image: Mike Selby) A Mayfield scythe was on display as one of the early examples of machinery being introduced for the harvest.  

Ajay added: “Many people who have worked on the fens have early memories of using these. 

 "It was used right up to the end of the last century and the start of the 21st.” 

A Mayfield scythe is an early example of mechanisation that was introduced for the harvest. (Image: Mike Selby) There was also a Massey Ferguson 35 tractor, a Kubota STW40 tractor and their huge “Fen Harvester” on show.  

Ajay said: “It was becoming harder for us to keep on top of the harvest, even with tractors.  

“So when the ‘Fen Harvester’ was invented, we took on a prototype and have had this since 2018. 

The various pieces of equipment and tools used for the sedge harvest. (Image: Mike Selby) “It is a huge piece of modern machinery and looks like a combine harvester.   

“And a sedge harvest that was taking us a few weeks to do could be complete within a few days. It was a game changer.” 

The sedge harvest started mid-August. (Image: Mike Selby) Wicken Fen is the National Trust’s oldest nature reserve.  

It is home to more than 9,000 species including plants, birds and dragonflies.

May 1 of this year marked 125 years since the National Trust acquired the first two acres of land – and it is now over 2,000 acres.  

Sedge was traditionally used for thatching and kindling. (Image: Mike Selby) For the 100-year anniversary, it shared an ambitious vision to expand and support the biodiversity of the fen and enhance its role in terms of carbon capture.  

Since then, the nature reserve has doubled in size.  

• Wicken Fen is hosting a range of other events throughout the summer holidays. Minibeast Superheroes is taking place on August 23 and August 28; Wicken Wellbeing Walk is on August 29; and there is also a SoundPools art installation by artist Kathy Hinde on daily until September 29. More information is available on its website.