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With its spectacular cathedral, gentle pace of life, and delightful riverside setting, Ely is a special place to live. But its rapid growth has put increasing pressure on the city’s remaining green spaces.

The quiet backwaters of Roswell Pits and the nearby wetlands and meadows along the River Great Ouse are now the last fragments of nature around Ely. Over 1200 people have joined Ely Wildspace (originally called LCPRE) to keep these places wild for the animals, plants and people to whom they matter.

The area is so important nationally it’s recently been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. We are now working with agencies, landowners and our community to safeguard this wonderful place, enhance its habitats still further, and help people enjoy them in a sustainable way.

------- Latest News -------

A bird in the hand - two in the bush
07 May 2012 For the third year running a male nightingale has set up territory overlooking Roswell Pits - in fact this year there are two. They arrived from their African wintering grounds in mid-April and for much of the day and night can be heard singing alongside Kiln Lane - below the Environment Agency car park and just above where the vegetation opens out onto the two pits. Both birds have been mist-netted and ringed by Dr Stuart Sharp, who has special permission to catch nightingales. One of them is a first-year bird, which suggests that they may have bred successfully here last year (most first-year males return to breed in the area where they were born). With a bit of luck, now that the birds are ringed we can find out whether it’s the same individuals that are arriving each spring. Listen to a nightingale call by clicking here (recorded at Roswell pits just before midnight on St Georges' day, April 23rd).