Roswell Pits Nature Reserve

Roswell Pits is a 20-acre nature reserve on the eastern edge of Ely, formed from old clay quarry pits that have filled with water and developed into a rich wetland habitat. The reserve is managed for wildlife — particularly birds and invertebrates — and the network of paths around the lakes makes for a pleasant hour's walk away from the cathedral and the tourist centre.

The reserve is particularly good for dragonflies in summer, with several species breeding in the reedbeds and open water. In winter it attracts diving ducks and wildfowl. It's a short walk from the railway station, making it an easy addition to a cathedral visit.

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A story
The Roswell Pits were created in the early 19th century when clay was quarried here to reinforce the banks of the nearby Great Ouse — the fenland rivers regularly flooded and the banks needed constant maintenance. When the quarrying stopped, the pits flooded naturally and became a chain of lakes that gradually colonised by wetland vegetation. Dragonflies, water voles, and great crested grebes all breed here now in what was, two centuries ago, a muddy industrial site.

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