Fenland

Fenland district sits in the north of Cambridgeshire, centred on the towns of Wisbech, March, Chatteris and Whittlesey. Much of the district lies on reclaimed peat and silt, drained by a dense network of dykes, drains and pumping stations that manage water levels and protect farmland that in places is at or below sea level. The River Nene reaches the district at Wisbech and the coastline of The Wash forms the northern edge; that coastal and river access shaped Wisbech as a historic port for agricultural trade. Much of the local economy is based on arable and horticultural production, with large fields and packing facilities for vegetables and bulbs.

Local administration is based at Fenland Hall in March and the district contains a mix of compact towns and dispersed villages. Seasonal washlands such as the Nene Washes provide flood storage and important habitat for waders and wildfowl. Wisbech contains a notable Georgian townscape and the Wisbech and Fenland Museum, which reflects the area’s archaeological and agricultural past. Rail services on the Ely–Peterborough line serve March and Whittlesey, linking the district to wider transport routes.