Turf Fen

Downs, Moorland in Cambridgeshire East Cambridgeshire

England

Turf Fen

IHP Cotes Farm, The Cotes, Soham, from the railway Credit: Christopher Hilton

Turf Fen is a small village located in Cambridgeshire, England. It is situated in the heart of the Fens, a region known for its vast low-lying flatlands, marshes, and peat bogs. The village is surrounded by picturesque countryside, characterized by open fields, canals, and drainage channels.

The landscape of Turf Fen is predominantly rural and agricultural, with farmland dominating the area. The fertile soil of the Fens makes it ideal for farming, particularly for growing crops such as potatoes, sugar beet, and cereals. The fields are often crisscrossed by a network of footpaths and bridleways, providing opportunities for walking and cycling enthusiasts to explore the beautiful countryside.

One notable feature of Turf Fen is its proximity to the Cambridgeshire Fens Moorland, a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest. The moorland is an important habitat for various wildlife species, including rare and protected birds like the bittern and marsh harrier. Visitors to Turf Fen can enjoy birdwatching and nature walks in this unique and ecologically significant area.

The village itself is small, with a close-knit community. It features a few residential properties, a local pub, and a village hall. The tranquility and peacefulness of Turf Fen make it an attractive destination for those seeking a rural retreat or a taste of traditional English countryside life.

Overall, Turf Fen offers visitors and residents alike a chance to experience the natural beauty and simplicity of life in the Fens, with its wide-open spaces, rich agricultural heritage, and thriving wildlife.

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Turf Fen Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 52.365775/0.29553383 or Grid Reference TL5676. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

IHP Cotes Farm, The Cotes, Soham, from the railway

Christopher Hilton

Westcote, Blockmoor Road, from the railway

Christopher Hilton

Road junction at Barway Level Crossing, from the railway

Tucked into the land between the roads is Soham Dog Park.

Christopher Hilton

Fields north of Barway Road, from the railway

In the foreground, Two Pole Drove runs parallel to the railway line. In the distance, traffic marks the line of the road from Soham to Ely.

Christopher Hilton

Woodland by the railway line, near Half Acre Lane

The curving track of Half Acre Lane on the map, following a contour line, marks out this little area of higher ground, in which a small wood grows on what would once have been an island.

Christopher Hilton

Fields and drain south of Stuntney, from the railway

The village of Stuntney lies on slightly higher ground that would once have been an island in the Fens (the "-ey" suffix is a giveaway, descending from the Anglo-Saxon "ea", island), and to the left the land can be seen rising out of the flatlands that were once marsh.

Christopher Hilton

Rising ground south of Stuntney, from the railway

Christopher Hilton

Middle Fen Drain south-west of Stuntney, from the railway

The village of Stuntney lies on slightly higher ground that would once have been an island in the Fens (the "-ey" suffix is a giveaway, descending from the Anglo-Saxon "ea", island), and to the right the land can be seen rising out of the flatlands that were once marsh.

Christopher Hilton

Byway at Blockmoor Fen

This byway leads from Soham Cotes to the A142 Ely to Soham road.

Bob Jones

Bank of Soham Lode

Low-lying fenland near Soham.

Bob Jones

Soham Lode

Soham Lode is an artificial river, effectively a drainage ditch. The water in the river is considerably higher than the surrounding land, which is at sea-level.

Bob Jones

Unrelenting Fenland

Ely Cathedral can be seen in the distance across Blockmoor Fen, north of Soham.

Bob Jones

Track to Nornea Farm

This metalled track leads eastwards from the A142, near Stuntney.

Bob Jones

The green alternative

This grassy track runs parallel to the metalled track, between Nornea Farm and the A142 Ely to Soham road.

Bob Jones

Maize field at Nornea Farm

Nornea Farm is situated a mile east of the A142, near Stuntney.

Bob Jones

Holy Cross Church, Stuntney

The present church at Stuntney was almost completely rebuilt in 1876 on the site of a much earlier building, going back to Norman times. For a small church Stuntney Holy Cross is well particularly endowed with five beautiful stained glass windows, three of which were erected by the Cole Ambrose family.

Bob Jones