During the time of the Enclosures the "wastelands"like the fens were given to the poor of the parish for the purpose of providing them with fuel.

The large-scale digging of peat for fuel had the effect of reducing the level of the fen surface which remained too wet for the establishment of scrub or carr woodland. These later stages in the natural succession of the fenland habitat were delayed. Despite the lowering water table, the richest and most interesting flora and fauna associated with the open growing conditions of the fen were being preserved.

The first documented evidence of peat cutting can be found as part of the Enclosure Awards in the records offices in Norwich and Ipswich.

The parishes of North and South Lopham were enclosed in 1812. The 'wasteland' in South Lopham was divided between the two parishes by the Charity Commissioners. At this time the fen comprised two areas of land known as The Great Fen and The Little Fen, divided by a shallow ditch, now known as Worby's Drain.

In reference to Great Fen, the Commissioners granted the poor of the two parishes:

" such area of fen and wasteland as the commissioners think necessary and the same to be divided between the two parishes by a ditch and boundary fence to separate the parishes in such proportions as the commissioners think just and proper"

This divided the Great Fen in two and created, what is today, Great Fen and Middle Fen separated by Middle Great Drain.

Great Fen & Little Fen was granted to the poor of South Lopham at a total allotment of:

"124 acres, 4 roods, 27 perches"

Middle Fen was granted to the poor of North Lopham at a total allotment of:

"103 acres, 2 roods and 11 perches"

Redgrave Fen is referred to in a later text written by the Charity Commissioners for Suffolk (1840):

Under an Enclosure Act passed in 1815 an allotment of nearly 80 acres was set out for the poor legally settled and residing within the Parish of Redgrave, whether owners or occupiers and to be employed for providing fuel for them or therwise for their use under such orders as to the Lords of the Manors of Redgrave and Botesdale, and the Rector, Churchwardens and overseers of Redgrave, or the major part of them should seem beneficial.

The land is unprofitable for any other purpose than supplying fuel and is kept and employed for that use."

There is reference to the area of Redgrave Fen by the late Rev. T. Holt Wilson, Rector of Redgrave (23rd November 1894). A small part of his account reads as follows:

"Many years ago the Fen was chiefly valuable for the peat cut on it, but since coal has become more accessible it has been found more valuable to cut sedge and to use it or sell it. In 1881 there was very little peat cut and now in 1894 there is hardly any cut. Before sedge cutting became general, stock used to be allowed onto the Fen and the money paid for their pasturage after expenses were deducted used to be distributed in bread. Stock are not allowed on the Fen and consequently there has been no income except £4 a year for shooting and occasional sale of peat or sand, varying in amount, generally from 12/- to £1 per year".

Peat exploitation during the mid 19th century was of particular significance to the fenland flora. We have no clear knowledge of when this activity was first practised, but it was possibly even before these "wastelands" were officially bestowed to the poor. It was clearly on the decline by the time that the Rev. Holt Wilson writes, though it may have continued spasmodically into the early 1900s. Peat digging at Thelnetham Fen continued until 1945.

Although this practise of peat digging has now definitely ceased, it has left us with a legacy of interesting features on Redgrave and Lopham Fen.