About Welney

Resting deep in the heart of the Fens, Welney sits on the Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.

Renowned for its Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Centre which plays host to the mass migration of Bewick and Whooper swans that over winter here, it has firmly placed itself on the map as an important conservation area and popular visitor attraction.

The wash around Welney is designed to flood to protect farmland and forms part of the Fen’s drainage system which was installed in the mid 17th century. This seasonal flooding in winter became a way of life for the people living here who, as a result, had to abandon shoes in favour of ice skates to travel from village to village. This necessity gave way to a widespread interest in ice skating throughout the Fens, with eventually becoming the centre of speed ice skating in England. It is proud to have produced a World Champion and several British Champions along the way.

Click on the links for more information about Welney and the surrounding area.