the
SUMMER/AUTUMN 2010 | NO. 23
NEWS FROM CAMBRIDGEPPF
Wandlebury and the Gogs get a cycle route A new cycle route has been built from Babraham Park & Ride to the main entrance at Wandlebury. The route runs alongside the main road on the highway verge and follows CambridgePPFs successful grant application to the previous Government s Housing Growth Fund, provided by the Department for Communities and Local Government. This was in conjunction with Cambridgeshire County Council and supported by Cambridgeshire Horizons. This grant has also been used as match funding for Cycle Cambridge, which aims to get people cycling more safely, more often.
HIGHLIGHTS page
Helped by perfect construction weather, the shared use foot and cycleway has been delivered ahead of schedule and under budget. Cambridgeshire County Council and their design consultants and contractors implemented the 2.5 metre-wide route, which now extends from where the current cycle path ends at Babraham Park & Ride up to the Gog Magog Hills and its much-loved recreational area, which includes our Wandlebury Country Park. Carolin Gรถhler, chief executive of CambridgePPF, is delighted that the hard work to achieve this funding has paid off and said we are grateful for all the support page 2 >
Farming at Coton
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CB1 decision
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Street clutter campaign
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Events Diary
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Theatre and art
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Patrons Club
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Hinxton fundraiser
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JOIN US FOR THE AGM ON 7TH OCTOBER AT 7pm Orchard Community Centre, Central Avenue, Orchard Park. See page 14 for details.
News Farming at the Coton Countryside Reserve give us your views Over recent months our Properties and Finance Committees have worked hard to further our ambitions for the farmed land at the Coton Countryside Reserve.
the second phase of the master plan. We have canvassed local people (see Ring issue 22). If you have not yet commented we are happy to hear further ideas and thoughts. See box for ideas and please let us know by 16 August. Please tell us what you think:
Our aim for the Reserve is to: farm the land in a more sustainable and environmentally sensitive manner, keep artificial inputs to a minimum and achieve higher level stewardship for the land carry out food production via a profitable, commercial farm enterprise provide access to the countryside for local people on foot, bicycle and horseback, as well as disabled access improve the soil and water Wandlebury and the Gogs continued...
and expertise received. There is a real need for more and safer cycle and pedestrian routes to link the city with nearby green spaces. This will be a tremendous improvement and an excellent way for local people, including families and young children, to get to the Gogs in a more environmentally friendly way, by bike, pram or on foot, as well as more freedom for users of wheelchairs and mobility scooters. It will create another way to enjoy the great outdoors just beyond the city limits. We are keen to get quality right and negotiations are still
resources, protect and enhance the local wildlife run public education and events programmes. The Reserve will be a major recreational area and in time demonstrate how a working farm in the Green Belt can provide greater ecological diversity and improved public access. We have begun the selection process for a new farm tenant and in the next months we hope to finalise a tenancy and begin further enhancement of the local countryside whilst developing underway to integrate directional signage and tree planting. Right from the outset we wanted to achieve environmental gain and planed to re-create a single avenue of trees along the field boundary with Heath Farm as lost local landscape feature which would also benefit local wildlife. In time there will also be improvements to the bus stop at the brow of the hill seating, signage and improved route maps - and in the near future further extensions of the route are planned to the byway southeast of Wandlebury and eventually Babraham. In late summer the second phase of works will begin, which will see the upgrade works
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Do you feel more paths are required within the Reserve or leading to it? If YES where? (e.g. footpaths, cycle paths, horse track, other, for dogs etc) What are your views and ideas on how the farmland should be managed? What wildlife do you enjoy at the Reserve? What facilities and features would you like to see implemented? What events and activities would you like to see at the Reserve? Any other issues you feel need to be tackled? Please send your comments to enquiries@cambridgeppf.org or write to us with your name and address details.
happening within the country park and includes enhanced cycle parking and park information please note the policy of no cycling within the park will remain to keep the tranquil air of Wandlebury. Come and join us for a small celebration of the Phase 1 works. Bring your bike and own picnic. Friday 6 August 2010 11.30am official opening ceremony at Babraham Park and Ride end. From 12.00pm you can come and enjoy the new route to Wandlebury Country Park. Icicle Tricycle will be offering free ice cream and there will be lots of cycling freebies available.
News CambridgePPF helps stop inadequate CB1 development in its tracks Plans for the CB1 development near Cambridge s train station are heading back to the drawing board after Cambridge Past, Present & Future raised concerns about the quality of the proposed scheme. Rather than letting sub-standard blueprints get approved, CambridgePPF added its voice to the local debate in early June calling for inadequate plans to be rejected and a comprehensive redesign to take place. A few days before the City Council s final meeting on the topic, CambridgePPF issued a press release to local media. This highlighted concerns within the council s own planning team and questioned the disappearance of quality design that would befit a world-class city. An open letter was also sent to councillors on the eve of the decision urging them to vote carefully.
As a result, an article appeared in the Cambridge News and the charity s chair Robin Pellew was interviewed on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire. The next day, Phase One of the scheme was not approved by the voting councillors.
Cambridge was being asked to accept a group of bog-standard office and residential blocks that did not meet the design challenge.
CambridgePPF has a strong voice and can influence local planning decisions. Hopefully, we will now get a development that preserves and enhances the character of the area. We will watch with interest as new plans take shape for this important gateway into the city. Spillers Mill (also known as Foster Mill) at the heart of CB1
Commenting Robin Pellew said: This would have been a major disappointment for a strategic location that warrants architecture of the highest quality. We are delighted planners and local decision makers stood up to developers. Our campaign proves that
Ripening up ready for Orchard Day CambridgePPF are holding a celebration of Autumn fruits on Saturday 2 October from 10:00am to 4:00pm. The third popular fun and educational day is held in the tranquil surroundings of Wandlebury: Lots of demonstrations and produce identification activities. There will be a community apple press for people to see in use and a human fruit machine! If you have any other ideas for interesting stalls or activities, please do let us know by the end of August.
Volunteers to help with the human fruit machine, making refreshments and manning the welcome stall etc. would be very
welcome. Please contact Carolin Gรถhler: ceo@cambridgeppf.org See Page 8 for more details
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Rangers report Our rangers across our five sites report on the lively activities from the last six months. They are Jon Gibbs, Nick Beale, Frances Cooper and Claire Scott, with weekend assistant rangers and volunteers in support.
Jon Gibbs has been Head Ranger since 2002.
Claire Scott reports from Wandlebury
Marbled White Melanargia galathea
Marbled White butterfly seen for first time After the cold, extended winter months we have recorded larger populations of some species of butterfly and moth at Wandlebury this summer. Of particular note was the healthy population of Small Copper butterflies, mainly concentrated on the Hill Figure Field. Some of the grassland butterflies emerged earlier than in recent years, such as the Common Blue, which was already spotted early in June on the Hill Figure Field. It is also a good year for skippers and day flying moths such as the Six-spot Burnett Moth. One of the most spectacular seen on honeysuckle is the Elephant Hawk Moth.
Patch. This is the first confirmed sighting by us of a Marbled White at Wandlebury. Since the first viewing we have seen them on sunny days, sometimes feeding on scabious and knapweed which are their favourite nectar sources. Their most common breeding grounds are chalky downland slopes.
The Marbled Whites lay their eggs while flying, with a good chance that they will fall on the grasses that the caterpillars will eat!
It has been a good year at Wandlebury for the Six-spot Burnet Moth, Zygaena filipendulae and the Common Blue, Polyommatus icarus.
The most exciting viewing has been of the Marbled White. At the beginning of July five or six appeared in or around Varley s Field and next to the Arable
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Rangers report Claire Scott has been with CambridgePPF since 2002 and is our Education Ranger.
Nick Beale, a Ranger since 2001 is also an amateur actor in his spare time.
Park gives children the runaround Have you ever wondered what CambridgePPF can offer the PlayStation generation? Someone who knows is Graham Steed, leader of the 12th Cambridge Scouts. "We often bring our troop to Wandlebury. It's the ideal place to learn new skills like orienteering and map reading. But most popular by far are games nights, like the one we had on 8 July when 50 Scouts and Cubs aged 7-13 ran around for two hours nonstop followed by a barbecue. It's often said that youngsters don't spend enough time outside. But get them to Wandlebury and you soon see how much they enjoy all that the great outdoors can offer. (Pre-booking the Wandlebury BBQ is essential contact Jon Gibbs, Head Ranger: ranger@cambridgeppf.org).
Year round the Park is a favourite destination for hundreds of
young visitors, whether with community groups, on school trips, or for an al-fresco birthday party. Groups are welcome to visit independently, but please let us know when you would like to come or you can contact us about ranger and education team led activities. The team are happy to organise activities tailored to your needs, including our popular Nature Activity Birthday Party Package booking@cambridge.ppf.org for more information. And this summer holidays, there's a packed programme of children's activities at Wandlebury. With nature safaris, bat-hunting, time travel and animal art activity days, there's no excuse for staying indoors! See page 8 and 9 for more information.
Local cubs inspired to enjoy the outdoors by their recent trip to Wandlebury
Frances Cooper combines being Education Adviser with part-time Ranger duties.
A bats ideas for a good night out in August! When another frazzled Saturday evening BBQ beckons go for something different: enjoy an evening at Wandlebury on 14 August in the company of fellow nature enthusiasts and learn about the fascinating world of bats. Bats are a protected species so it is encouraging that winter counts at Wandlebury indicate that numbers are increasing. Jon Gibbs, Head Ranger, leads Beginners Bats which runs from 6.00 9.30pm. He says: August is an important time for young bats as they leave the roost. They are vulnerable as they learn about their surroundings and how to hunt. They also need to eat as much as possible to build up fat to see them through their winter sleep. The species found at Wandlebury are Daubenton s, Natterer s, Brown Long-eared and Pipistrelle (the commonest). Depending on our luck we could see any on the night. But we ll hear them first thanks to the echo-location bat detector. People always find that fascinating . Jon promises a fascinating evening for adults and children alike: Although it is aimed at beginners there is interest for everyone. Build bat boxes, take a guided walk - and many myths about bats to be debunked !
Bats don't like to live in dirty cobweb filled houses, they don t get caught in your hair and they are not blind! Enjoy an August twilight in the woods and have your eyes opened to how we can live in harmony with these amazing animals. To book see page 8. summer/autumn 2010 CAMBRIDGE PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE | 5
An eye on planning The role of CambridgePPF as an independent local planning watchdog is to influence the design of new buildings, green spaces and communities so that they are as attractive as possible and to protect the green and historic character of the Cambridge area. We campaign for quality: OK is not OK. Although central government has now relaxed its direction on how rapidly the region expands, and intends to leave it to local authorities to decide, it is likely that an ambitious building programme in the greater Cambridge area will continue. There is a serious shortage of homes over 10,000 names are on the waiting list for affordable housing in Cambridge and South Cambs and people want to move to where they can travel to work without using their car and avoid adverse impact on the local environment.
Cambridge Past, Present & Future recently wrote to Clare Blair, Cambridge City Council, Executive Councillor for Climate Change & Growth, asking that community Public Houses in Cambridge be offered the same planning protection as other Community Facilities in Cambridge. The full text of our letter and Councillor Blair s response can be found on our website www.cambridgeppf.org and highlights include: Cambridge Past, Present & Future has noted with concern the continuing spate of closures of community public houses in Cambridge and their proposed redevelopment as housing... The Cambridge Local Plan offers protection to Community Facilities stating that they are essential to the quality of life of residents and must be conveniently situated and states that to remove such facilities it must be demonstrated there is no longer a need within the local community for the facility ...the definition of Community Facilities in the Local Plan does not include Public Houses. There are many problems facing public houses in the UK and the rate of closures is still running at 39 a week. The community pub is especially under threat and requires protection if we are not to end up losing them in large sections of the city while drinking is concentrated is larger and more impersonal establishments in central areas. While we would not argue that a community pub which is demonstrably unviable and for which there was no longer a need within the local community must be
retained, they need some reasonable planning protection in order to survive where they are potentially viable businesses; particularly where they have important historic connections or are situated in Conservation Areas or on riversides.
CambridgePPF Chairman Robin Pellew OBE commented: "A good local pub is an asset to its area and community. We feel that this part of our culture and heritage is under threat and is worthy of protection. It is unfortunate that we are losing local community pubs where people meet and talk while at the same time seeing the creation of larger and more impersonal bars in central areas of our cities and towns." The Cambridge News has picked up this story and has run a number of articles in support including an editorial comment about this issue.
Conservation Areas under the microscope Conservation Areas have a key role to play in maintaining the special character of our towns and villages. But if they are to realise their full potential, they need wide public engagement and strong local authority backing to ensure that buildings, trees and open spaces within their footprint are properly protected and enhanced. At a free regional seminar in June organised by CambridgePPF in Cambridge Carolin Gรถhler, CEO emphasised that many aspects of Cambridge and the surrounding villages are changing for the worse with inappropriate infill buildings and poorly maintained streetscapes. We are working to counteract these trends by lobbying hard and broadening the debate. The event, organised with English Heritage, attracted around 50 people representing civic groups, professionals and local residents. Professor Peter Landshoff, Chair of East of England Civic Societies and CambridgePPFs Planning Committee, chaired the event. David Grech (Historic Areas
Some of the Heritage Working Group discuss pub closures
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An eye on planning Conservation Areas under the microscope continued
Adviser, English Heritage) gave an overview of new planning policies (www.englishheritage.org.uk ) on issues such as climate change and energy conservation in relation to older buildings. It was surprising to learn that well-maintained traditional sash windows can perform well, and the case for retaining them rather than replacing with UPVC is strong. David emphasised the importance of gathering evidence on the historic environment. John Preston, Historic Environment Manager for Cambridge later stressed that local people can play a vital role in helping, for example, to document the features of the environment to form the backbone of the Conservation Area appraisal document. Other speakers were Diana Oviatt-Ham, Principal Tree Officer for Cambridge, who underlined the value of trees in retaining the special character of a place, and architect Oliver Caroe, who maintained that the historic environment must play its part in helping to reduce the impact of climate change. Summing up, Peter Landshoff pointed to the increasingly important role the voluntary sector will play as government budgets are pruned. His final
if you want to conserve and enhance your area, don t wait to be asked, get involved now with your local civic society. rallying cry was
A full report of the seminar can be found on our website.
Getting involved . CambridgePPF continues to get involved and campaign for good practice. Can you help with our efforts to support initiatives to reduce street clutter?
June 2004
July 2010
Taking a lead from the National Civic Voice Street Pride campaign, - Cambridge Past, Present & Future is keen to support City and County Council initiatives to reduce street clutter in the beautiful City of Cambridge and surrounding villages. There are already inspiring guidelines from English Heritage, Civic Voice, DfT, and cycling groups. CambridgePPF wants to provide a focal point and act to encourage good practice and circulate ideas. Penny Heath, a member of the CambridgePPFs Heritage Working Group, attended a workshop in London in June 2010, organised by Civic Voice which gave a useful overview of survey techniques, complexity of ownership, lack of public influence and a campaign strategy framework. For example - Did you know that the only two street elements that require formal public consultation, are shop fronts and shop signs? As well as removing clutter, CambridgePPF believes new road and cycle schemes should be sensitive and worthy of our historic streetscape and pathways and where they are
routed through green spaces they should reflect a more rural nature. Cambridge as a historic and internationally significant city deserves the very best of modern solutions. We are looking for people who would like to join a working group to get this project off the ground. Can you join us? Plans are to build a visual website page and invite members to send in images of good and bad elements of street design To find out more, please contact Street Pride working group members, Carolin Gรถhler or Penny Heath at ceo@cambridgeppf.org CambridgePPF is one of 230 civic societies that have joined Civic Voice, the newly-launched successor to the Civic Trust, which came to an untimely end last year. See: www.civicvoice.org.uk Among its campaigns are Street Pride, in which we are actively participating. We are continuing to take the lead with the East of England Civic Societies: see the CambridgePPF web page.
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Diary | Summer & Autumn 2010 EVERY THURSDAY ALL YEAR Walk your way to health at Wandlebury Country Park Join our weekly Healthy Walk at 10 am (extended walk) or 10.30 am (shorter walk), finishing at 11 am for coffee. Meet at the Stable Rooms. Walking is a safe way to health and fitness, as well as a chance to meet people and make new friends. The walks are free of charge (£2 parking fee applies unless you are a CambridgePPF member). No need to pre-book please arrive 10 minutes early to register on your 1st walk. Supported by South Cambridgeshire District Council.
AUGUST Tues 3 August, Wed 11 August, Tues 17 August, Wed 25 August Summer Holiday Activity Days: Nature & Art at Wandlebury 10 am 12.30 pm Meet at: Wandlebury Stable Rooms (Education Centre). Enjoy some time in the great outdoors and do some art inspired by the animals and plants you encounter. Why not stay on afterwards for a picnic? Ages 6 plus, £6 per child (CPPF members £4), adults free. Booking is essential as places are limited. Bring a drink and a snack. Wed 4 August, Wed 18 August Summer Holiday Activity Days: Travel back through time at Wandlebury 10 am 12.30 pm Meet at: Wandlebury Stable Rooms (Education Centre). Track down evidence of the past around the site, then get messy making wattle and daub panels and Celtic styled artefacts. Old clothes advised! Ages 6 plus, £6 per child (CPPF members £4), adults free. Booking is essential as places are limited. Bring a drink and a snack.
Tues 10 August, Tues 24 August, Tues 31 August Wandlebury Nature Safaris 10 am 12.30 pm Meet at: Wandlebury Stable Rooms (Education Centre). Be a nature detective: come and track down the mini-beasts in our ponds, meadows and woodland. Why not stay on afterwards for a picnic? Ages 6 plus, £6 per child (CPPF members £4), adults free. Booking is essential as places are limited. Bring a drink and a snack.
Sat 11 September Tree Identification at Wandlebury 1 pm 4.00 pm Meet at: Wandlebury Stable Rooms (Education Centre). Join a Ranger for a workshop and acquire the basic skills for tree identification using bark, bugs, twigs and shape, then go on a tree trail around the Country Park to put those skills to use. Adults only, dress according to the weather. Booking is essential as places are limited. Cost: £6 per adult (CPPF members £4).
Sat 14 August Beginners Bats at Wandlebury 6 pm 9.30 pm Meet at: Wandlebury Stable Rooms (Education Centre). Come along to Wandlebury Country Park for an introduction to bats, build a bat box to take home and finish the day with a walk to try and find some bats. Dress according to the weather and bring a torch if you wish. Cost: £7.50 per bat box (CPPF members £5) Booking essential as places are limited.
Tues 21 September Preparing for our Futures: what do YOU think? An evening debate and workshop for local people 6.30 pm 9.30 pm Join us at the Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge CB3 0WA. It is predicted that in 15 years time 1 person in 5 will be over 65. How should new dwellings and communities be designed to prepare for that? How will they be paid for? Come and take part in the debate. Free event but please book in advance. See our website for more details and booking information.
Sat 21 August Plantlore Walk at Coton Countryside Reserve 2 pm 4.00 pm Meet at: The Martin Car Park Join a Ranger on a guided walk around the Coton Countryside Reserve and find out more about the history and uses of many of our native trees and plants. Dress according to the weather, wear sturdy footwear. Booking is essential as places are limited. Free donation appreciated to support the Reserve.
SEPTEMBER Sat 11 September Re-enactment of Stourbridge Fair at The Leper Chapel 12 noon 4 pm - Stalls and entertainments with a medieval flavour, organised by the Friends of the Leper Chapel, with support from Cambridge Past, Present & Future for Heritage Open Day Weekend come at midday for the traditional opening of the fair or drop by through the afternoon.
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Sun 26 September Early Autumn Guided Walk 10 am 12.30 pm Meet at: The Martin Car Park Enjoy an autumn walk - wildlife, views and update on the development of the Reserve. Dress according to the weather, wear sturdy footwear. Free donation appreciated to support the Reserve.
OCTOBER Sat 2 October Apple & Orchard Day at Wandlebury 10 am 4.00pm The third popular fun & educational day in the tranquil surroundings of Wandlebury: Watch pruning demonstrations in the old orchard, bring apples along from your garden for experts to identify and provide detailed information on the species, origin and heritage; children can take part in den building and other craft activities. An array of culinary treats are on offer including apples, juice,
Diary | Summer & Autumn 2010 cider and honey produced locally and find out more about orchards and beehives. There will also be a community apple press for people to see in use and a human fruit machine! Adults: £1.00, Children 50p Sun 3 October Coton Countryside Reserve Autumn Guided Walk 10 am 12.30pm Meet at Martin Car Park; See details as per 26 September. Thurs 7 October CambridgePPF AGM 7 pm, Orchard Community Centre, Central Avenue, Orchard Park, CB4 2EZ Guest Speaker: Dr Alex Nichols Understanding the Agricultural Environment . This links to our work on Coton Countryside Reserve Master Plan (see page 2). Sat 9 & Sun 10 October Tadlow Granary at Wandlebury: Figures and Landscape 10 am 4.30 pm Exhibition featuring the work of two professional artists Patricia Palmer and Mary James, working with water based materials and oils, inspired by people, countryside and landscape. Fri 15, Sat 16, & Sun 17 October Art Exhibition at The Leper Chapel: Jo Miller & Erica Bohr Friday and Saturday from 11 am 8 pm and Sunday 11 am 4 pm. Jo Miller and Erica Bohr invite you to a joint exhibition of film installation, in which their audience is able to reflect on the nature of light, sound, space and the rhythms of time. Sat 30 October Halloween Fun at Wandlebury 4 pm 7.00 pm Meet at: Wandlebury Stable Rooms (Education Centre). Come along in fancy dress and join the Halloween fun, carving pumpkin sculptures and then join the Rangers on a candlelit twilight walk before returning to the Stable Rooms for hot soup. Don t forget to bring a torch if you wish. Booking is essential as places are limited. Cost: £6 per pumpkin (CPPF members £4)
Sun 31 October Halloween Storytelling at Wandlebury 3 pm 4.30 pm Scary tales for all the family from seasoned yarnsmiths, the Cambridge Storytellers. Tickets on the door: £7, £5 concessions & children,
NOVEMBER under 5 s free. Sat 21 November Moonlit Walk at Wandlebury 9 pm 10.00 pm Join the Rangers on a guided walk around Wandlebury and see it as you ve never seen it before, by the light of a full moon! Dress according to the weather and bring a torch if you wish. Booking is essential as places are limited. FREE donation appreciated Fri 26 November Ceremonial Tree Planting at Coton Countryside Reserve 2.30pm 4.30pm For all our volunteers and supporters - celebrate achievements to date. Join us for a ceremonial planting, walk up the hill, enjoy the evening views of countryside and Cambridge s historic skyline. Afterwards enjoy a warm drink in the barn. Free event but please book in advance. Fri 3 Sun 5 December
MILL OPENINGS 1 August, 5 September
Hinxton Watermill Open Days 2.30 pm- 5.30 pm Discover this working watermill, dating back to the Doomsday Book, owned by Cambridge Past, Present & Future, in picturesque surroundings in the village of Hinxton. CambridgePPF members free, Adults £1.50, Children: 50p
29 August, 26 September
Bourn Post Mill Open Days 2.00 pm - 4.30 pm Between Bourn and Caxton A chance to see inside one of the oldest windmills in the country with Cambridge Past, Present & Future volunteer guides. CambridgePPF members free, Adults £1.50, Children: 50p.
For all events Please dress according to the weather, wear sturdy footwear and protection against the sun. All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Further information and additional events These may be advertised please check our website, watch out for notices and let us have your e-mail for regular e-mail updates.
DECEMBER
CambridgePPF Contact:
Storytelling at the Leper Chapel Please check the website for more information nearer the time.
Tel 01223 243830
Sat 18 December Christmas Crafts at Wandlebury 11.am 4.00 pm Drop in at any time Meet at: Wandlebury Stable Rooms (Education Centre). Come along and take part in the making of traditional Christmas crafts, decorations and gifts, listen to the choir singing carols and finish with a short twilight walk around the County Park . Cost: £5 per child (CPPF members £3)
CambridgePPF Office enquiries@cambridgeppf.org or Head Ranger ranger@cambridgeppf.org For more information & directions:
www.cambridgeppf.org
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Around and about| Coton Scarecrow workshop a hit at the Coton Countryside Reserve
Scarecrows large and small were created
In June artist Chris Goodwin kindly gave up his spare time to help us with Scarecrow making. Over twenty-five people dropped in and worked on their visions of scarecrows. One family was represented with three generations and with little argument created the flower-pot faced adaptation. Others brought baby clothes and went for minieditions. One Coton family declared they thoroughly enjoyed doing something totally different that was creative and great fun! We certainly made some pretty awesome scarecrows of all shapes and sizes! Our six year old daughter enthusiastically joined in making not just one large one but also a little scarecrow. They went on to say We would highly recommend that people come with their friends to join in with this highly unusual activity, which is not only creative but great fun too!
Supervised by a great team of people and done in a beautiful setting.
Our young orchard is growing This spring the young orchard at the Coton Countryside Reserve achieved its first landmark target now the orchard is over 100 trees strong! Following the initial planting phases of over 70 regional old apple varieties from Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, we have now added, with the help of volunteers, Bramley apples and pears, plus soft fruit (gages, cherries, plums) from East Anglia. The trees were caged using plastic shelters and sheep mesh to protect them from rabbit damage and to prevent chewing by muntjac deer, which shelter in the nearby thickets along Bin Brook. Thanks to a grant from Natural England under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, a further bench has been installed by the Ranger Team. The bee colony at the rear of the orchard is growing and increasingly popular with local beekeepers maintaining their various types of hives in the sheltered but sunny corner of the orchard. In mid to late summer you may be able to spot young pheasant chicks in the long grass or you can observe young kestrels practicing their flight in the sky.
Some scarecrows walked off to the village allotments. Those that remained, for the next three weeks, initially puzzled passersby making them wonder about the amount of people around the old barn but they soon realised the countryside connections and loved the unusual surprise.
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Volunteers planting some of the 100 trees
Around and about| Leper Chapel and Wandlebury Hosting theatre and art Wandlebury and The Leper Chapel provide inspiring settings for cultural events and performance. In recent years we have looked for opportunities to collaborate with arts organisations and individual artists to bring some wonderful theatre, music and art to our properties. By coming to these events many people have discovered our places for the first time or experienced them in new ways. Heavy rain until five minutes before the performance started reduced the turnout for the aptly named Rain or Shine Theatre Company s performance of the Importance of Being Earnest at
This was an intense and captivating interpretation of this old Shakespeare classic. The performance was more of a reflection and reaction to the play rather than a straight acting of the story. Great use was made of the diverse scenery at Wandlebury, with the action moving at pace between grand open planes to intimate tree bowers. The quality of the light added hugely to the experience. The energy of the performers was breathtaking; they also managed to stay in character superbly, even when acting as guides. An unforgettable experience for those who are willing to forgo the comforts of a traditional theatre. Insitu moved on to The Leper Chapel to give sell-out performances of Macbeth in early July and Twelfth Night to end the season. The Leper Chapel is an intimate and atmospheric place for storytelling. Cambridge Storytellers brought ancient Egypt to the Chapel with tales of mystery, evil and magic in June.
Wandlebury in early June. Those who were not deterred enjoyed a real treat. As one of the audience commented, The sun certainly shined on the righteous! The play was great still so witty; the venue was sublime how clever of you to turn on the birds and turn off the rain! . In contrast audiences for insitu Theatre s promenade performances of King Lear enjoyed balmy June evenings as they followed the action across the Wandlebury landscape.
In December freelance writer and actor Robert Lloyd Parry will perform M R James ghost stories, bringing a little gentle terror to his audience. Keep an eye on our website for more details of these performances. Both the Tadlow Granary at Wandlebury and The Leper Chapel will host art exhibitions in the autumn. At the Granary, Figures & Landscape , showing on 9 and 10 October, will feature the work of two professional artists Patricia Palmer and Mary James, for their third exhibition at Wandlebury. Patricia s favourite medium is oil on canvas. She is exploring ideas based on the landscape, the oil paintings will be varied in scale and format, and more representational than her work shown previously. Mary James works with water based materials in a variety of ways using people and the countryside as the main source of inspiration. The exhibition at the Leper Chapel on 16 and 17 October will feature film installations recent Art School graduates Joanne Miller and Erica Bohr. Look out for more details on our website.
Historic Fair Remembered at the Leper Chapel
found when he visited the Fair in the 18th century.
Our revival of Stourbridge Fair, is becoming a firm fixture in the Cambridge calendar. Come and find out about the fascinating history of the Fair and its links with the Leper Chapel. There will be a variety of entertainment to enjoy throughout the afternoon medieval dancing, storytelling, and costumed history talks. Pedlars and our resident alchemist mingle with the crowds and stallholders sell a variety of goods including some which Daniel Defoe would have
This year s event takes place on Saturday 11 September. Join us at 12 noon for the Fair proclamation. Also see page 8. See the Cambridge Storytellers at the Fair and at Wandlebury for Halloween.
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Events and activities Annual General Meeting & Guest Lecture CambridgePPF s AGM will take place on Thursday 7 October at 7.00 pm at the Orchard Park Community Centre, in the new Orchard Park development on the northern fringe of the city. After the business of the AGM, we are delighted to have Dr Alex Nichols as our guest speaker. He will talk on Understanding the agricultural environment giving an insight into farming in Cambridgeshire and its positive and negative effects on the environment as well as outlining government schemes to support farmers and their stewardship of the countryside. Alex Nichols started his career as a crop scientist and agronomist working on disease management in wheat and the benefits of lowinput arable farming systems. For the past eleven years he has worked on environmental schemes for Natural England across much of East Anglia. Currently he manages a team of advisers covering Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. Trustee Vacancies At the AGM, we have two vacancies to fill on the Board of Trustees. Dr Nick Barnes has completed his two terms as a Trustee and Valerie Holt has stepped down due to other demands on her time. If you are interested in standing for election as a trustee please contact Janet Cornish in the CambridgePPF office with a brief CV - e-mail: properties@cambridgeppf.org tel: 01223 243830 ext 202.
Summer holiday fun in the great outdoors Looking for things to do with your children during the summer holidays? Perhaps you have grandchildren coming to stay? Our Education Team will be running activities at Wandlebury on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 10 am to 12.30 pm throughout the school holidays. There are lots of different activities to choose from; Travel Back Through Time , Nature Safaris and Nature and Art sessions. For dates and booking details see the Events Diary on page 8 and 9.
As you cross the foot and cycle bridge to Coe Fen from Sheep's Green you may have noticed a small walled riverside area containing an old boathouse and roofless folly. This is known as 'Hodson's Folly' after the Mr Hodson who apparently built it in the 19th Century as a private area in which his daughters could bathe in the River. The Heritage
Support the Wandlebury Wanderers and CambridgePPF . These are our two teams running in the Chariots of Fire relay race on Sunday 19th September 2010. They will be raising money for Wallace Cancer Care and Home Start. To sponsor them please follow the link to their Virgin Giving pages from our website.
Working Group of CambridgePPF are currently considering ways to rescue this walled area from neglect and would be extremely interested in any information regarding its history. We would especially appreciate old photographs of the site. Please contact Nigel Bell planning@cambridgeppf We are also keen to have volunteers looking at planning applications (SCDC and/ or City Council). Please contact Nigel.
12 | CAMBRIDGE PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE summer/autumn 2010
Thanks to the generosity of NW Brown Group Ltd. some of our members were able to join a summer party on St John s College Lawn. This was an excellent opportunity for members to meet each other and to encourage new supporters. We hope to be able to invite other members to such events in the future.
Working to keep Cambridge special Cambridge Past, Present & Future a charity working to keep Cambridge and its surroundings special by positively influencing planning developments, delivering environmental education and managing the green spaces and historic buildings in its care for the benefit of all. Founded in 1928 by a group of local business people, town councillors, aldermen, academics and city officials, the then Cambridge Preservation Society's objective was to work with local authorities to keep a vigilant eye on development - an ethos that still holds true today.
Join our new Patrons Club
What we have achieved: We have been around for over 80 years, some of our major achievements include: Protecting Grantchester Meadows from development through the purchase of restrictive covenants in the 1930s Aiding the establishment of the Cambridge Green Belt in the 1960s Saving the Gog Magog Hills from development Protecting Cambridge s oldest complete building, the Leper Chapel Setting up Cambridge s first Country Park at Wandlebury Currently creating Cambridge s new Countryside Reserve at Coton Supporting the local Green Infrastructure Strategy, benefiting wildlife and people with more green spaces for all.
CambridgePPF is creating a club for people and organisations to become Patrons of the charity. Since its inception we have been very grateful to all those people, companies and Colleges who have supported us through the previous Patrons scheme. The new Patrons Club, now with an annual subscription (see page 15 for all membership subscription details) is intended to help support our efforts to shape the future of our city. Because scale of the current development proposals and the cost of running our activities we want more people to join us. If you would like to join, convert your current membership to the Patrons Club or find out more please contact Mary Nealon, Head of Development, e-mail development@cambridgeppf.org We will be writing to existing Patrons separately regarding the new arrangements, ED.
CambridgePPF people Helen Wells joined the CambridgePPF team this June to assist with administration and membership renewals. She has lived and worked in the Cambridge area for many years in a variety of local organisations and has an interest in Cambridgeshire s heritage and preservation of the area s green spaces.
Volunteer snippet from Anne French... "I've been working as a part-time voluntary development assistant since the beginning of the year. I love coming into the friendly office at Wandlebury - the carpet of aconites as seen from the windows is second to none - and particularly relish treats such as the visits of luxury ice cream men and clay oven pizza chefs, as well as the excuse to got to Burwash Manor to buy asparagus on the pretext of looking for tombola prizes. ( We can t thank Anne enough for her very successful forays for tombola prizes it made a huge contribution to the success of the Hinxton tea party! Ed) It s also very
Helen assisting with the successful fundraising tombola at Hinxton in June.
interesting to get an insight into the daily life of this unique charity
and satisfying to feel that I am helping its work in some small way."
Goodbye Win We were very sad to say goodbye to Win Gibbs in May. Win gave sterling service as our volunteer Admin Assistant for more than five years coming in on most Wednesdays. She was always cheerful and helpful even when faced with documents to shred or piles of envelopes to stuff. To say thank you the Office Team took her out to lunch at Anglesey Abbey.
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How you can get involved Contact us - CambridgePPF Cambridge Past, Present & Future Wandlebury Ring, Gog Magog Hills, Babraham, Cambridge CB22 3AE Tel: 01223 243830 Email: enquiries@cambridgeppf.org www.cambridgeppf.org Chairman Dr Robin Pellew Treasurer Donald Douglas Chair of Properties Committee Dr Nick Barnes Chair of Planning Committee Prof Peter Landshoff Chief Executive Carolin Gรถhler ceo@cambridgeppf.org Properties Manager Janet Cornish properties@cambridgeppf.org Head of Development Mary Nealon development@cambridgeppf.org Head Ranger Jon Gibbs ranger@cambridgeppf.org Planning Support Nigel Bell planning@cambridgeppf.org
Six ways to help keep Cambridge special
1. Become a member With more members we stand a better chance of being heard. So if you are not already a member, why not join us now? Please use the form on page 15.
2. Support our
member get member scheme
Have you asked your friends, colleagues and neighbours if they too support CambridgePPF? Page 15 of the Ring carries an application form or you can suggest they visit our website. If you know several people who might be interested in joining do photocopy the form or contact the office for copies of our membership leaflet. If you make sure we know you recruited the new members you may be in line for a prize.
3. Join the Patrons Club Lead by our President, Nigel Brown OBE, we are in the process of launching a new annual Patrons Club. Patrons will have special privileges, benefits and opportunities within CambridgePPF see Page 13 for more information.
4. Support us with a legacy Please consider including a gift in your Will to CambridgePPF. Any gift, large or small, given to CambridgePPF will be used to help ensure that we can continue our work to meet the changing needs of the communities of Cambridge and the surrounding villages. Thanks to legacies received in the past, we have been able steadily to expand our operations. If you would like to find out more about leaving a legacy to CambridgePPF do please get in touch with Mary Nealon, who will be happy to discuss these matters, in the strictest confidence with you. Telephone 01223 243830 ext 204 or e-mail development@cambridgeppf.org
5. Make a donation We need to raise funds every year so your donations make a real difference to our work. Donations can be for general support or to a particular area of our work or an appeal. Just let us know your wishes.
6. Volunteer Without volunteers our work could not continue. There are many opportunities to get involved such as: running the Healthy Walks programme helping with nature & building conservation work joining one of our Project Working Groups providing support in the office and everything in between! Volunteers bring a wide range of invaluable skills and interests from all walks of life. It is a really worthwhile and pleasurable way to contribute.
Current volunteer vacancies Editors and designers wanted - we produce The Ring twice a year and many people contribute articles and photographs. We are looking for people to join the editorial and design team. The Ring has been transformed since the relaunch last year and we want to continue to provide a fresh and enjoyable membership news publication. Meetings take place a couple of times before each issue (often with delicious cakes!) with time working at a computer screen to undertake editing, writing and design. Photographer wanted - we have some talented photographers around the team but sometimes need to arrange images at relatively short notice. Would you be interested in helping? Please get in touch with Mary Nealon on development@cambridgeppf.org
14 | CAMBRIDGE PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE summer/autumn 2010
Membership| Join us APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
Please complete the whole form in BLOCK CAPITALS and send to:
Cambridge Past, Present & Future, Wandlebury Ring, Gog Magog Hills, Babraham, Cambridge CB22 3AE.
Please enrol me/us
Individual (1 person only)
£ 20
please tick appropriate box:
Family (2 or more adults, same household, children under 16 free)
£ 30
Voluntary organisations/ Parish councils/residents associations
£ 35
Young person 16-25/unwaged
£ 15
Patrons Club (single membership, for more information see page 13)
£ 250
Patrons Club (joint membership, for more information see page 13)
£ 350
Life member (single payment, one person)
£ 300
Joint Life Member (single payment, two persons)
£ 500
I would like to donate an extra
£ ....
Total
£
For more information about gift and corporate membership please get in touch.
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
Supporting CambridgePPFs planning watchdog activities Working to keep Cambridge and its surroundings special Creating new publicly accessible green spaces, such as the Coton Countryside Reserve Free entrance to our historic properties on Open Days (Leper Chapel, Bourn Windmill, Hinxton Water Mill) Free parking at the Wandlebury Country Park Twice yearly newsletter Reduced-price entry at many events and activities Invitations to members-only events.
.
My details:
Title: _____ First Name(s): __________________________________________________ Surname(s): ______________________________________________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ Post Code: _______________________________________ Tel __________________________________ E-mail:
_______________________________________________________________________________
NB. In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 the information on this application form will be kept on a secure database at Cambridge Past, Present & Future. No information held will be divulged to any third party.
Payment:
By Direct Debit: - Reduce our administration costs - please complete the Mandate below. By Cheque: - I enclose a cheque made payable to Cambridge Past, Present & Future.
Direct Debit: Instruction to your Bank or Building Society to pay Direct Debits. I would like to pay my membership fees by Annual Direct Debit:
Service User Number:
Name and full postal address of your bank/building society:
6 9 6 2 4 4
To The Manager: Bank/Building Society: Bank Address: Postcode Name(s) of Account Holder(s): Bank/building society account number: Branch sort code:
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CAF Reference Number:
F S 2 6 8 6 CAF, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent ME19 4TA
Instructions to your Bank or Building Society Please pay CAF re Cambridge Past, Present & Future Direct Debits from the account detailed in this instruction, subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this instruction may remain with CAF re Cambridge Past, Present & Future and, if so, details will be passed electronically to my Bank/ Building Society. Some Banks and Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit instructions. Signature(s): Date:
Gift Aid Declaration for UK Tax Payers To make your support go further please fill in this declaration: I would like Cambridge Past, Present and Future to reclaim the tax on all membership subscriptions and donations that I make until further notice, at no extra cost to me. I understand that I must pay an amount of UK income tax or capital gains tax equal to any tax reclaimed.
Name (print full name): ____________________________________________
Signature: __________________________________ Date: ______________________________________
Please notify us if you no longer pay tax. Office use only:
Issue Date
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Code
Ring No.23
M No.
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Events and activities Hats off to a berry successful fundraiser
But providing a sumptuous tea of sausage rolls, cheese straws, fresh cream scones, strawberry meringues and endless urns of tea for such numbers would not have been possible without Joyce Fordham s dedication at the cooker-face of mass catering for several days, stoically assisted by Heike.
Taking tea in a beautiful English garden is fast proving it can profit community causes as well as local taste buds. The Midsummer Strawberry Tea in aid of two of Hinxton s most historic buildings raised a profit of £1,551 reports Sue Elliott. Nearly 200 people turned out for the fundraising tea in Hinxton, held in a grand marquee donated for the day by a very generous village family following their daughter s wedding. More than 130 adults plus scores of children and relays of helpers enjoyed a sumptuous tea, watched entertainment from clog dancing to a parade for the maddest midsummer hat contest, spent time browsing art and crafts stalls and viewing exhibitions and displays in both mill and church. The event was a joint effort to help swell the funds needed to refurbish Hinxton Watermill including woodwork repairs, replacing frost-damaged stonework on the bridge and repainting along with the ongoing upkeep of the village s 12th century church.
Some of the amazing hats.
The winners of the cycle star prize in the Tombola.
Sumptuous teas and marquee.
Teams from across Hinxton and neighbouring villages worked tirelessly co-ordinating efforts in the village including arranging the delivery of more than 25 delicious cakes, whilst CambridgePPF organised publicity and sold tickets via its website and office at Wandlebury.
More than 50 tombola prizes from around the region were collected thanks to the efforts of volunteer Anne French: The response from the people of Hinxton was amazing and we had some wonderful support from business large and small in Shelford, Duxford, Sawston as well as Hinxton. Wellcome donated a mountain bike for the star prize in the tombola and the Red Lion pub has been very generous along with several businesses at Burwash Manor, Barton. Visitors were able to wander from the marquee and garden to the mill (in its newly repainted finery) operating under the expert eye of Martin Fordham, while at the church a variety of craft stall-holders contributed further by making donations from any sales made during the afternoon. But for the amazing dedication and galvanising skills of Sue Elliott at the Mill Cottage, none of this would have been possible. ED. ...four merry millers
This edition of the Ring edited by Mary Nealon. For the next issue of the Ring, the Editor s deadline for the submission of any contributions is 23 Dec 2010. Photos by Claire Scott, Carolin Göhler, Cambridge Storytellers, Martin Thompson, Nick Barnes, Penny Heath, Theresa Prevost, Charlotte Sankey and others. Printed on 50% recycled paper and 50% reclaimed. The views expressed in The Ring are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the position of Cambridge Past, Present & Future.
Registered Charity No 204121. Non-profit making company limited by guarantee, registered in England No 239835.
16 | CAMBRIDGE PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE summer/autumn 2010
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