Studies of the post-glacial history of British vegetation XVI. Flandrian deposits of the fenland margin at Holme Fen and Whittlesey Mere, Hunts

Abstract

Stratigraphic survey, pollen analysis, micro- and macrofossil plant identification and radiocarbon dating were employed to elucidate the origin and character of the deposits of the western margin of the East Anglian Fenland within the area of Holme Fen and the former Whittlesey and Trundle Meres, Huntingdonshire [England]. As a consequence of waterlogging, alder fen-woods became established on the Jurassic Clay fen floor some 6000 years ago; they were succeeded in turn by eutrophic Cladium-dominated fen which gave rise to floating scraw bog and ultimately to acidic raised bog, that persisted in Holme Fen and round Whittlesey Mere until after 1850 A.D. A considerable number of acidicolous flowering plants and mosses are now recorded sub-fossil from these deposits.