'To protect and enhance Ely’s wild spaces for the benefit of wildlife and the local community.’

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Cuckoo Bridge reedbed
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Railway loop
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Creswell park
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Ely Common East
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Roswell Pits SSSI
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Ely Common West

With its spectacular cathedral, gentle pace of life, and delightful riverside setting, Ely is a special place to live. Its rapid growth is putting increasing pressure on the city’s remaining wild spaces. The quiet backwaters of Roswell Pits and the nearby wetlands and meadows along the River Great Ouse are now some of the last fragments of nature around Ely. The area is so important nationally it has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

To help to protect this and other wild spaces around Ely the group Ely Wildspace was formed. This is a voluntary group, made up of local residents from Ely and the surroundings villages. The group have successfully campaigned to achieve ‘town green’ and SSSI status to help protect Ely’s wild spaces and are working collaboratively with other bodies to enhance the area.

Want to learn more?

Click on the links below to find out more about Ely's wild spaces and how to get involved.

Get Involved: We are running events all through the year.
Using Heritage Lottery funding: memories of Ely Pits and Meadows.