While Botanic Gardens have an important role to play in educating visitors about local fauna there is another role that some Botanic Gardens are involved with.
The Cambridge University Botanic Garden has maintained a display of the flora of the local Cambridgeshire Fenlands on the same site, since the 1964 (see right).
Ex-situ refers to plants which have been removed from their original habitat and brought to places like Botanic Gardens for safe keeping. In-situ relates to plants that are cared for in their natural habitat or others that are restored to the wild to encourage environmental restoration.
In addition to its Fenland plant displays, the Cambridge University Botanic Garden has had a long-term interest in the preservation and redevelopment of Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire. Wicken became the first natural habitat to be granted national status in 1899. The Wicken Fen Wildlife Reserve is owned and managed by the National Trust and is a popular destination for botanist, bird watchers and conservation visitors.
Fenland Habitat Typical Fenland habitats range from open water to managed reed beds, to carr woodland.
East Anglia is known for the quality of its reed for thatching of roofs.
Find out more about these ideas: Themes, Biodiversity, Conservation, Ecology, Plant Sciences and Sustainability.
Changing Perspectives: 