Nene Washes
| Nene Washes | |
|---|---|
|
Looking north over flooded fields at Eldernell, January 2005 | |
| Location | Cambridgeshire, England |
| Nearest city | Peterborough |
| Coordinates | 52°34′40″N 0°05′08″W / 52.5778°N 0.0855°WCoordinates: 52°34′40″N 0°05′08″W / 52.5778°N 0.0855°W |
| Area | 15 square kilometres (3,700 acres) |
| Designated | 5 March 1993 |
The Nene Washes are a Special Protection Area[1] along the River Nene in the English county of Cambridgeshire. They consist of a number of washlands such as Whittlesey Wash or Guyhirn Wash, which can be deliberately flooded to protect settlements or more important farmland when the river is high.
They extend for around 21 kilometres (13 mi) east of the City of Peterborough and cover more than 15 square kilometres (3,700 acres). The washes are significant for their over-wintering populations of Bewick's swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii) and pintail (Anas acuta).
The RSPB owns and manages 500 hectares (1,200 acres) of the Nene Washes,[2] with public access at Eldernell.
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