Over the weekend, hundreds of people took advantage of the cold weather to go ice skating in Upware, Cambridgeshire. The Fens, which are flooded meadows that freeze over, provide ideal conditions for Fen skating, which is different from skating on frozen lakes or rivers due to the shallow ice. Fen skating has been around since 1879 and has a rich history in East Anglia.
According to David Smith, a member of the Fen Centre organising committee, there were at least 1,000 people on the ice at Upware. Skaters travelled from up to 100 miles away, including from London, to skate on the Fens. Smith was delighted to see such a broad age range of skaters, from children under eight years to people over 80 enjoying the activity.
Skating on the Fens requires a minimum of 2 to 4 inches of ice for safety, according to an ex-coordinator of Fen skating, Roger Giles. Competitive Fen skating began in 1879, and ever since, speed skaters have competed for the world or Fenland title whenever the Fens freeze over for a long enough period.
Smith explained that hundreds of people turned up on Sunday, and it was great timing as it kept the children and adults from being stuck indoors. Skating is a healthy activity that is great for families who want to spend more time outdoors. However, Mr Giles predicted the icy weather had “nearly come to an end.
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