Follow the Fen Edge Trail
Fen Islands
Within the fenland there are several ’islands’ that lie above 5 metres, the largest of which is Ely (including Witchford, Sutton, Wilburton, Haddenham, Chettisham and Littleport), the others being Whittlesey, Chatteris. March (including Doddington and Wimblington) and Stonea.
Isle Of Ely
The Isle of Ely is a multi-lobed ridge underlain by Jurassic Ampthill Clay & Kimmeridge Clay, with patches of Cretaceous Woburn Sands & Gault Clay. The ridge is capped by Glacio-fluvial deposits & Oadby Glacial Till. It reaches an elevation of 26m OD. The Isle is surrounded on three sides by the Fen Edge and on the southern side it adjoins the North Cambridge Terraces. It has mostly poorly drained soils on bedrock clay & Oadby Till but also some lighter soils where the Woburn Sands bedrock outcrops and on patches of Glacial Gravels. There is one geological SSSI, Roswell Pits, near Ely but no LGS.
March, Chatteris and Stonea
The March, Stonea & Chatteris Islands are all underlain by Jurassic Ampthill Clay and are capped by Glacio-fluvial deposits, Oadby Glacial Till, Head, March Gravels and River Terrace Deposits, with some patches of Peat at the edges. Elevations barely reach 10m OD. These islands are surrounded by the Fen Edge. There are poorly drained soils on bedrock clay and Oadby Till, & well-drained soils on Glacial Gravels, March Gravels and River Gravels. There are no geological SSSI & no LGS.
Whittlesey
The Whittlesey Island east of Peterborough forms a west-east aligned ridge comprising March Gravels and patches of River Terrace Deposits and Peat overlying Jurassic Oxford Clay. It reaches an elevation of 8m OD. It is surrounded on three sides by the Fen Edge. There are large clay pits to the west of the island. There are poorly drained soils on bedrock clay and well-drained soils on March Gravels and River Gravels. There are no geological SSSI & one LGS, King’s Dyke Pit.
Fossils on the Fen Edge: Whittlesey
Peterborough Geological and Palaeontological Group has produced a great download on the Fossils of King’s Dyke and Must Farm.
A journey across a landscape and time
The Fen Edge Trail is our exciting project linking the geology and landscapes of the Fen Edge to the local history, culture and wildlife. Taking the 5 metre contour as a guide, there will be walks around several of the ‘fen islands’ including Whittlesey, Chatteris, March (including Wimblington and Doddington) and the Isle if Ely (including Littleport). See the Fen Edge Trail website for the full list of walks and to download the Walk Guides.
