Cottenham Newsletter no 179 June July 2021

Cottenham

Newsletter

ISSUE NUMBER 179

JUNE/JULY 2021

ARCHAEOLOGY AT CLARKE CLOSE, COTTENHAM Before construction of the new housing at Clarke Close off Oakington Road was started, volunteers from Cottenhambased Fen Edge Archaeology Group helped contractors Pre-Construct Archaeology to excavate the site. It was fascinating to be able to get up close and personal with 2000 years of Cottenham history, although the very wet nature of the site made it hard going at times. The full report from P-CA (nearly 500 pages!) can be found online at https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/ archiveDownload?t=arch-1124-1/dissemination/pdf/ preconst1-330566_1.pdf

fourth centuries. This is typical for rural sites of this nature.

The coins were found in ditches and a midden (refuse heap), and appear to have been casually lost rather than buried deliberately.

But here is a short summary: The excavations revealed a predominantly agricultural landscape which was occupied from the prehistoric through to the Roman period. Evidence of Iron Age activity in the centuries leading up to the Roman period comprised a roundhouse, five ditches and two pits.

Unfortunately there was (unsurprisingly) no ‘treasure’. The fabled Cottenham Hoard will have to wait for another dig, another day.

The Roman period saw the continuation of use of the Middle to Late Iron Age boundaries and enclosures, but further subdivisions were made, and the area initially became more industrialised, with a pottery kiln and three ovens from the Early Roman period. These suggest that the site was close to a larger settlement, which aerial photographs of crop marks locate on the higher ground to the north. This industrial development was, however, short lived, and the area returned to agricultural use from around 70 AD until the late Roman period. Pottery and coin evidence from the site suggests that the associated settlement expanded during the second and third centuries AD, before a gradual decline during the fourth century, when parts of the site were used to dump rubbish.

Rubbish of course is just what archaeologists like to find – you can tell a lot about people from the things they throw away. Here the impression is of a low status rural agricultural settlement. There are very limited items of personal adornment, with the major part being domestic household objects and quern stones for grinding grain.

Most of the pottery consists of ordinary local varieties, with just a few sherds of higher status imported ware.

Twenty-six low value Roman coins were found, of which twenty-one could be identified as coins of the third and

INTERIOR & EXTERIOR

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There were few signs of activity after 400 AD. Among the very few medieval and post-medieval finds were half a silver long cross penny, two sixteenth-century farthings and a seventeenth-century French jetton (a counter used to make calculations on a chequer board) of Louis XIII, which had been pierced to be worn on a string or chain.

This article was prepared by David Gordon of the Fen Edge Archaeology Group from information in Pre-Construct Archaeology’s report. If you would like to learn more about archaeology in Cambridgeshire and beyond, take a look at our blog https://feagblog.wordpress.com/ and Facebook page for details of talks and other activities.

SUSTAINABLE COTTENHAM Make your clothing count With clothes shops now back open and summer on its way many of us will be thinking about refreshing our wardrobes, and having a clear-out too. Clothing has a big environmental impact, using a lot of energy and water both in its production and during use, and £140m worth of clothing is needlessly sent to landfill in the UK every year.

So whether you’re shopping for clothes or dropping some you no longer love, how can you make your clothing count?

Shopping 1. Review your wardrobe before you shop and make a list – what do you really need? Are there items you can bring back into use by repairing? Can you revamp things you’re bored of with a change of buttons, trim or dyeing? Ask well-dressed friends or family if they fancy doing some swaps.

2. Buy the best quality you can afford, and styles you will wear for a long time. Support local charity shops by buying preloved. If buying new, look out for organic or sustainable fibres, which are becoming more commonplace.

3. Look after your clothes. Wearing clothes for nine months longer can cut their carbon footprint by up to 30%. Remove stains as soon as possible. Check care labels and only wash when necessary, and at lower temperatures. Line dry whenever possible.

Dropping 1. Our local Arthur Rank Hospice charity shop is accepting donations but phone first to check they have space available (01954 716233). Make sure clothes and shoes are clean and in a condition that you would be happy to buy yourself. Consider giving away tattier items on Freecycle or on Facebook, Cottenham Freebies group.

2. Give Your Best (www.giveyourbest.uk) is a new way to pass on clothes to someone who really needs and loves them. Refugees and asylum-seekers can choose from the garments you upload, and you post direct to them.

3. Some shops offer vouchers for donating clothes, so you can drop when you shop. M&S, H&M, John Lewis and New Look all have schemes.

4. Never put clothes in the bin. As long as they are clean and dry, even worn out or damaged clothes can be put into clothes recycling banks (outside the Salvation Army church, High Street), or taken to Milton Recycling Centre.

There is lots of information and advice on caring for your clothes and helping them last longer at www. loveyourclothes.org.uk 1. Valuing our clothes: the cost of UK fashion https://wrap.org.uk/resources/report/valuing-our-clothescost-uk-fashion 2. Fixing fashion: clothing consumption and sustainability https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/ cmselect/cmenvaud/1952/full-report.html Litter Pick & Cycle Path Clean, 5 June We’re planning a litter pick on Saturday 5 June starting at 2pm, subject to COVID restrictions current at the time. Go to our FB page www.facebook.com/suscottenham/ or website for latest details. Or look out for posters around the village.

Because of COVID rules the litter pick is likely to meet at the garage of 11 Margett Street (opposite the Library) and there will not be any refreshments this time. The cycle path working party will meet on the Village Green as usual.

If you can’t join us on 5 June, did you know we have litter picking equipment you can borrow, such as grabbers, hoops, hi-vis jackets? Get in touch with chris@sustainablecottenham. org.uk to find out more. There’s a whole lot of litter that needs clearing up and every bit of help makes a difference!

Help for Nature In an exciting expansion of our activity, Sustainable Cottenham has set up a new sub-group for Biodiversity, or Nature Recovery. A number of volunteers have come forward and we’re delighted to have a knowledgeable group to work at local level and help to support the District Council’s ‘Doubling Nature’ strategy. If there’s a local nature/environment concern you’d like to pass on to the group, contact Chris Ward chris@ sustainablecottenham.org.uk

ARTICLES, DATES AND ADVERTISEMENTS E–mail, CD, memory stick and paper submissions are all welcome. Please contact the editor if you have any questions. Dates of events to be advertised in the next issue should span the months of August and September.

Issue Number 179 • page 3

COTTENHAM COMMUNITY ALLOTMENT The month of March saw the start of the brand new community allotment, set up as a place to grow fruit, vegetables and other plants, and a place where people in Cottenham can connect with each other through these activities. It is an exciting project designed to serve the community and encourage positive wellbeing for all ages – a place where those in need of support can meet others over the shared activity of gardening.

So far, following two digging weekends in mid March and volunteer days throughout the last two months, the ground has been prepared and the first plants have started to grow. We are still in the early stages, but as we develop we hope groups and individuals will be able to come to the allotment to share expertise, as well as learn and try

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their hand at growing and nurturing plants and vegetables.

Our hope in the longer term is that the allotment will not only provide produce for those who volunteer, but also provide food for those in need within our community.

We are still looking for volunteers who can join us, either on a regular or occasional basis, and some tools (spare forks, spades, trowels, rakes, hoes) that could be donated.

If you can help in either of these ways or would like to find out more about the allotment either contact us via email at cottenham.allotment@gmail.com or come along to one of our open days on Saturday 5th June or Saturday 4 July between 1:30-4pm. We look forward to the next stages in this exciting venture.

Kate, Sue, Cecilia and David

ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH COTTENHAM WITH RAMPTON UPDATE As COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease we see the return of some normality for our village and our lives.

Although both churches have remained open throughout the pandemic for use as a quiet space and private prayer, we are very pleased to be holding services again in the church building. The online offering will continue for some time but do think about joining us in All Saints’ Cottenham for one of our live services.

May saw the start of an exciting new type of worship and the launch of WORSHIP IN THE WOODS. This has provided a safe way of meeting, outside, to worship God through nature. God has so much to say to us through his creation, as the seasons change, we can discover new things about God’s world and God’s creation. We plan to

meet monthly so check our Facebook page for information about the next one!

The last year has also provided us with the opportunity to look at how we offer the use of All Saints’ Hall to the village and we are very pleased to announce that we now have office space for hire. We have a first-floor office measuring 3.3m by 6.8m available now with parking for one car, Wi-Fi and small kitchen area included and the use of shared toilet facilities. For more information, email admin@allsaintscottenham.org.uk.

We really look forward to hosting some more events over the summer to help bring the village together again, look out for more information on our website or Facebook page.

GARDENERS’ CLUB

Although the steps for coming out of lockdown announced by the government could potentially allow a meeting of the club at the end of June, the situation will be uncertain until a week or two beforehand. The committee has therefore taken the decision to delay the meeting until September, when things should have settled down.

In the meantime, I hope you will be able to enjoy your own gardens and the wider countryside. Here in our garden, and our neighbours’, the hedgehogs are appearing again on a nightly basis, and we have seen three together.

Perhaps there will be babies…

For further gardening club information please contact:

At the time of writing, hire of Franklin Gardens Community Room is not available, and we have not yet heard when it will be. I hope more information will be available in time for the next newsletter, and that I will be able to give details of the first meeting.

Sarah Dumont Tel: 01954 260482

Issue Number 179 • page 5

COTTENHAM PARISH COUNCIL CPC has a new Chair After seven years as a parish councillor, most of them as Chair, Frank Morris has stood down from the council. He was the driving force behind: the skatepark, the pavilion, Neighbourhood Plan, the new village hall and nursery and recognition of the importance of improved flood measures for Cottenham. There is much we should thank Frank for.

The new Chair is Peter Hewitt and Vice Chair is Tracy Hutchison – supported by 13 other parish councillors working in a committee system (including newbie Zach Faulkner).

The new team will try their best to improve our communications about what we do and why. We are very approachable if you have any queries. Important items on the ‘to do’ list include improving facilities at the recreation ground and around the village as well as liaising with the District and County Council to lobby on behalf of Cottenham.

Some people ask how parish councillors are elected: • Elections happen every four years and the next election is May 2022.

• If there are more candidates than the 15 places there will be a public ballot.

• The last time there was a public ballot was in 2014 and five of the current council date back to that election.

• If you would like to see a public ballot in 2022, please consider standing for the Parish Council – or encourage someone else to!

• In the meantime, we have casual vacancies as councillors resign or retire so we are often looking for people who are community minded to join the team.

• You are most welcome to observe one of our meetings before deciding to apply.

The new Village Hall and Nursery are built Two new buildings have finally emerged at the recreation ground which is accessed via a road alongside the primary school on Lambs Lane. The Village Hall is visible from Lambs Lane whilst the other, a modern 50-place nursery, is tucked behind Ladybirds pre-school building near the play area.

There is often confusion about the difference between Ladybirds and the nursery. The nursery will provide full day childcare (usually at least 8am-6pm) for babies and children up to school age all year round – a valuable and much needed resource for working families in the village. The nursery is expected to open in September and

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information on how to apply for a place will be publicised as soon as finalised with the newly appointed nursery operator.

Ladybirds is a playgroup and offers childcare for 2-to-5 year-olds in 3-hour sessions between 9am to 3pm during school term-time only.

Where did the money come from?

The total cost of both buildings, hall and nursery, was approximately £4 million.

Roughly £1.5 million of this comes from S106 money (which building developers pay to communities as part of their planning conditions for the various developments off Rampton and Oakington Road) and £0.4 million was from council reserves. The remaining cost was funded by a low interest loan repaid from about £1/week on Band D equivalent Council Tax. There will be some additional S106 contributions from house builders over the next few years. With that and future income from the hall and nursery we should begin reducing the Parish Council part of the Council Tax within a couple of years.

A bit of history Many residents have fond memories of the previous Village Hall which was built and operated successfully by the Sports and Social Club for many years. It became less profitable about 20 years ago and the Parish Council took over the building, with the Social Club renting the lounge area. Apart from occasional enjoyable and successful social and charity events, custom dwindled and the building’s age, and the lack of insulation and disabled facilities meant it was no longer fit for purpose. In addition, Cottenham has grown to nearly three times the size it was when the previous hall was built so it was too small for the needs of a growing village.

Plans for the new Village Hall So, we now have a bigger, energy-efficient Hall; one which is better suited to safeguarding different vulnerable groups and attractive enough to bring back the parties and wedding receptions. The intention is to complement rather than compete with other venues in Cottenham.

The upstairs Balcony Room is an impressive events space and is a bit more expensive, but hire rates downstairs are comparable to those in the old hall. It is already being booked by a wide range of community groups, exercise classes, parties and public meetings.

Cambridge Kids Club (pre- and after-school childcare) is based in the ground floor hall and the Parish office is in a relatively small room on the ground floor.

If the COVID roadmap goes according to plan we hope to open the ground floor fully in early July. The process of appointing a bar operator has begun. There will be a place for sportsmen and women to socialise with other residents and visitors to the recreation ground in the new Hall.

Developments At the time of writing, Persimmon are still waiting on the final paperwork from County Highways to allow them to start works on the new Rampton Road roundabout. The intention is to do the works over the summer holidays, however, unless permission comes through quickly it will jeopardise their ability to install on time.

Persimmon are also waiting final sign off to allow them to progress their footpath along Oakington Road.

Bellway are almost completed subject to some finishing off.

Kier have submitted a reserved matters application for the This Land site (land on Rampton Road behind the Rec and Rampthill Farm); it is anticipated that a decision will be forthcoming by SCDC in July. In the meantime This Land have appealed their original refusal notice for the same site.

Tennis courts Our grass courts at the recreation ground are now open until the end of August. Use of the courts is free (how many sports facilities can say this) and booking is simple, just visit our website for the link to the booking page.

All enquiries should be directed to the Parish Clerk. The key code and full terms and conditions of use will be sent to you upon booking. Hand sanitizer is available but please

bring your own if possible.

Swift boxes We are delighted to have worked with Action for Swifts to provide a ‘major housing development’ at the recreation ground. You may notice various boxes have been installed under the eaves on both the Village Hall and Pavilion buildings to provide new homes for swifts, which are considered an endangered species. We are extremely grateful to Cottenham Fire Brigade for helping us with the installation of the boxes. Many thanks to Cottenham Environmental Audit Group for providing the impetus and much of the funding for this project.

Office hours The Clerk is contactable via email and phone between 9am3pm weekdays only (sadly we aren’t available on weekends or bank holidays) and messages can be left outside of these hours. If you wish to meet in person please contact us in advance to arrange an appointment; we may even be able to meet in our new offices in a few weeks.

Jo Brook, Parish Clerk PSLCC Email: clerk@cottenhampc.org.uk Phone: 07503 328401 www.cottenhampc.org.uk www.facebook.com/cottenhamparishcouncil

Issue Number 179 • page 7

FLOODING IN COTTENHAM & SURROUNDING AREAS Flooding is not normally a topic of conversation, only becoming of interest when it happens. It has. This is our new reality. A number of members of our community have been subjected to this trauma on more than one occasion.

People in our village have been dealing with flooded gardens and backed up sewage this winter and spring, to the extent of having to seek alternative accommodation, due to an unusually high water table. Twice last August and Christmas, we suffered from flash flooding in Cottenham.

Both types of events are linked to our climate crisis.

Flooding near the roundabout at the junction of High Street and Broad Lane, Cottenham, in August.

The level of flooding we have experienced recently bears no comparison with the flooding we see on TV screens in such faraway places as Bangladesh and New Orleans, or indeed sometimes nearer to home. In recent years there has been severe flooding in Kent, Somerset and the north of England; the effect on communities, whether structural, physical or mental is devastating.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) acknowledges that the general risks of flooding are: • • •

Risk to infrastructure from floodplain and water sources – risks that are often ignored Risk of flooding from rivers and sea due to excessive rainfall – a result of climate change Sea level rise – climate change

Why is it getting worse and what makes our area vulnerable?

Within our local area, surface water run-off from the developments by Rampton Road, Oakington Road and even from as far away as Northstowe is likely to increase the risk of flooding in Cottenham. To the south-east of our village, a further 8,000 homes scheduled for the ‘new town’ of Waterbeach will add further complications. The wisdom of building on flood plains is questionable, even without the effects of climate change bringing with it the prospect and certain consequences of rising river and sea levels.

Developers are required to make “adequate provision” for drainage, but will it prove to have been sufficient?

Issue Number 179 • page 8

What is being done?

• Recent flash flooding in Cottenham has spurred the County Council to undertake the long overdue cleansing and repair work of drains and gullies, previously carried out in 2015. Some “jetting” was undertaken in November. Apparently this work used to be carried out regularly as a matter of course prior to privatisation.

• A Flood Risk Forum was formed by the Parish Council to liaise with bodies such as the Environment Agency, the Highways Agency and local authorities. The Forum has already set up a Flood Emergency Plan and a Flood Action Group, which many of our members have joined.

• The only preparation for flooding in the parish remains a limited supply of sandbags. The District Council also has some in stock which ‘may not be available in time’! The Cottenham Flood Risk Forum recommends that residents should purchase their own sandbags and ‘other flood protection equipment’! Whilst such minimal provision might be sufficient to deal with the effects of low level flash flooding, it doesn’t provide adequate protection if the flooding is more serious.

What can we do? People often joke about ‘“Cottenham by the Sea”, but unless action is taken sooner rather than later, it will become a reality.

• Join the Flood Action Group - the larger the group, the more it can achieve.

• Flood the inbox of political representatives to gain support in combating flooding. The cost of national flood defense measures, on a scale that needs to be undertaken, will be considerable but, if nothing is done, or if only half measures are carried out, the resultant effects will be disastrous. See our website for information and suggestions for communications.

• Home-improvements? There are changes we can make as individuals. For example, if you are thinking of enlarging or replacing your drive or laying a patio, make sure that it is permeable so that surface water can drain away.

• Browse our website for further ideas: ontheedge270. wixsite.com/intro • Join On The Edge – we are Extinction Rebellion’s local village group seeking to make things better. Contact us at: ontheedge270@gmail.com Only with strong local involvement will this issue move up the national agenda.

P.S. Paradoxically, there is already an acute water shortage both in Cambridgeshire and beyond, which will be exacerbated if big planned developments are allowed to proceed. We will address that issue in the next edition of this Newsletter.

On the Edge

Poetry Corner: Generational Habits We don’t want to be like our parents.

If asked we are “nothing like them!”

But we might twiddle our thumbs or grind our teeth and catch a glimpse in the mirror and in disbelief under our breath we whisper “Oh, it is my mother” But then the wool’s pulled off our eyes and exasperated words leave our lips…

“No, it’s actually me!”

And what do we do with this new found truth…

We might act like it doesn’t exist or force our faces into different shapes.

But really it is the truth that we resist.

Yes we are like our parents.

Laura Berry

Readers are invited to send in either original poetry or short stories for inclusion in the Cottenham Newsletter. Short stories should be no longer than

Letters to the Editor: Dear Editor, A word of praise for our greengrocer on the High Street.

He has continued to provide us with a colourful display of flowers, plants and vegetables under the sun blind throughout the dreary months of Covid 19.

The wide variety of fresh vegetables, salads and seeds inspires us to try new recipes, including Chinese, Indian or Carribean and improve our skills at international cuisine.

Thank you Les Ward With kind regards, Jean Hall Letters for publication may be sent to the Editor, and should include the name and address of the sender, although this may be omitted from publication if requested.

Please keep correspondence short and topical. Please note that the Editor may use his discretion regarding publication, and his decision is final. The views expressed by correspondents and other contributors are their own and are not necessarily shared by the Editor.

600 words. The objective should be to entertain the general readership – go on, have a go!

Issue Number 179 • page 9

COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S ANNUAL REPORT 2020 – 2021 The pandemic 27 million people watched the Prime Minister announce the first lockdown on Monday 23 March 2020. Activating our regular emergency planning training, Cambridgeshire County Council immediately hit the “pandemic” button and converted itself into a social support organisation. I have not been comfortable trumpeting the county council contribution, preferring to emphasise the extraordinary team effort that resulted from all of us working together, regardless of background, organisation or affiliation, towards the sole outcome of making lives better: as one of the volunteers put it perfectly, “bearing each other’s burdens”. The county council resumed holding meetings (online) in May. Greater Cambridge Partnership The Greater Cambridge Partnership passed its Gateway Review, unlocking £200 million more, and resisted a hostile takeover bid by the Mayor. At the Greater Cambridge Partnership Executive Board meeting on Thursday 10 December 2020 I attacked James Palmer’s interference in the Cambourne to Cambridge scheme as “a failure of governance”, which had delayed the project by two years and wasted even more years of my life.

“Planning for the Future” The Planning White Paper was published in August, proposing a more rules-based approach to planning permission, based on three land categories – Growth, Renewal, Protect. I circulated a “Summer Reading” piece every other day that month. The fact that much of the opposition had come from Conservative councillors and MPs helped me formulate my own responses to the consultation.

The first question in “Planning for the Future” was “What three words do you associate most with the planning system in England?” One of the most succinct responses came from Robert Carnwath CVO, who had been a Supreme Court Justice from 15 April 2012 to 18 March 2020. He is with Landmark Chambers, which has supplied some of the most formidable planning barristers we have ever faced, often in Gypsy and Traveller appeal public inquiries. After a lifetime in practice his summation of the planning system in three words was “robust, but over-cluttered, and under-resourced”.

“Gear Change” Heralding a step change in cycling and walking, and seizing the unique opportunity provided by the pandemic, the

Issue Number 179 • page 10

government’s “Gear Change” brings £2bn of new investment, Local Transport Note 1/20 setting new standards for cycling infrastructure, and Active Travel England with a new national cycling and walking commissioner.

Green Ark The government published its Oxford Cambridge Arc spatial framework policy paper, and boosted its Development Corporations Programme. The Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership hosted the launch of the Economic Prospectus for the Oxford Cambridge Arc. Bridget Smith, Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council and lead of the environment workstream, gave an inspiring speech on branding it the Green Arc. She played brilliantly on the homonymous notion of a Green Ark, as an international exemplar for zero carbon living and environmental net gain, taking us through to a future no longer threatened by climate change.

Flooding Up to 55mm of rain fell, in various locations, in less than 24 hours between 23 and 24 December 2020. The Environment Agency declared water levels their highest since 1998. An extraordinary meeting of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Flood and Water Partnership allowed all flood risk management authorities to share accounts of the flooding that we had experienced and what we might do better next time. We had received over 750 reported incidents, with just over 300 involving water inside homes.

Storm water surcharge of sewerage systems caused widespread problems of drains backing up.

The road from Willingham to Earith At the county council budget meeting, the Leader, Steve Count, proposed spending £7 million to stop the B1050 sinking into the river.

Oakington Road – Rampton Road Collectively we finally achieved a pedestrian link through to Rampton Road, sparing pedestrians from having to walk unprotected along Oakington Road from the “Redland Grange” development. I still lament the lost opportunity of achieving comprehensive development of the Bellway, Persimmon and Redrow estates, in particular providing a vehicular through route linking Oakington Road and Rampton Road, thereby allowing vehicles with origin or destination on the development to avoid loading the junction of Oakington Road and Rampton Road.

“Affordable Housing” Luke Hall, Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government, wrote to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Board Members about the £100 million housing programme: “I have concluded that the programme has made insufficient delivery progress and that the value for money being achieved is below our expectations. I will not be extending the timeframe or continuing to fund the programme on its current basis.” This is really galling, because Stephen Hills, the former Housing Director who negotiated this part of the devolution deal, would have put this money to good use in accelerating “affordable housing” delivery in South Cambridgeshire.

“Bus Back Better” The government revealed its national bus strategy and promised to support the proposals to the tune of £3 billion.

Air Quality Air pollution tool: enter a postcode and house number at addresspollution.org and get a report on levels of three pollutants: fine particulates known as PM2.5, larger particulates called PM10, and NO2.

Addenbrooke’s 2050 Cambridge Biomedical Campus launched its 2050 vision, to be up there with Kendall Square in Boston Massachusetts. Our knowledge-based economy is in competition with other parts of the world. A recent survey by Cambridge Ahead of under-40year-olds had identified close access to green space as a top priority for those who live and work in the area. Anthony Browne MP has been arguing that no allocations should be made in the next joint Local Plan for any more housing than required by the formula of the standard method in Planning Practice Guidance.

This would not be enough to accommodate even the growth in employment already in the pipeline, which has been much faster than catered for in the current Local Plans 2011 – 2031. By

contrast, he is silent about the two development corporations envisaged by both Rishi Sunak and Robert Jenrick, one at Cambourne and one at Cambridge, “which includes plans to explore the case for a New Town at Cambridge”.

Tim Wotherspoon

Issue Number 179 • page 11

100TH BIRTHDAY DURING LOCK DOWN Celebrating birthdays in the lockdown can feel rather sad not being able to celebrate as we would like to. Fitzwilliam team has always managed to make the residents’ birthdays still feel very special. With Kitty turning 100 the staff knew they had to shake their capes extra hard as they wanted to make sure Kitty had the most memorable 100th birthday ever.

Kitty chose her outfit she wanted to wear for her special day and the staff had some accessories for her to wear, a crown and a sash saying “100 and Fabulous”, which Kitty certainly is.

To start Kitty’s perfect day, it had been arranged for an indoor visit from her son Trevor and daughter-in-law Avril, who are her two named visitors. Kitty used to live with them before coming to Fitzwilliam and misses them very much. Also, Kitty’s daughter Maureen visited using the pod method. Kitty was overwhelmed that she was able to see her family on her special day.

Amy, Lifestyle Coordinator had decorated the main room with banners, balloons, flowers, and confetti. Blair, Fitzwilliam head chef had made a very large 100th birthday cake. Trevor and Avril provided the sandwiches, sausage rolls, mini cakes and of course a glass or two of prosecco.

The staff said it was imperative to make Kitty’s 100th birthday special, which they certainly achieved, and it really helped spread some well-deserved cheer around Fitzwilliam House. The residents helped to make Kitty feel like a queen, clapping her when she came into the prepared birthday room and singing Happy Birthday.

Issue Number 179 • page 12

Kitty has lived at Fitzwilliam for two years and is extremely popular and a big part of Fitzwilliam family. Kitty says she loves it at Fitzwilliam and often asks can she stay indefinitely, which the staff say yes as she is part of Fitzwilliam now and everyone loves having her around.

Kitty says all the carers are so friendly and that everyone looks after her impeccably.

Kitty said everyone contributed to making her 100th birthday so special and she cannot believe she was 100, the time goes so quickly. She was thrilled with the number of cards she received and especially the one from the Queen, which will be framed and placed in her room.

Kitty thanked everyone for making her 100th birthday so magical.

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R J BENSON CARPENTRY Local fully qualified reliable carpenter. Please call 07961811454 or email robbenson15@ gmail.com for advice/free quotes.

TOAT – “TOM OF ALL TRADES” Tom Wykes Handyman. No job is too big or too small – garden/house clearance, shelving, plumbing and so on – call Tom for a quote on 01954 250324, 07762 559259. .........

FENCING – P MARTIN FENCING, all types of fencing undertaken, over 30 years trading, please call 07802 440494 or 01954 250568 email pmartinfencing@gmail.com for a free no obligation quote and advice. .........

PEAT’S GARDEN SERVICES Lawn and hedge cutting, pruning, planting, rotovating, turfing, weekly and monthly visits, all garden work undertaken. All garden waste removed. For a free estimate call Pete Bullen 01954 250771 or 07749 863047. .........

HOUSE/PET SITTER, fully insured and CRB checked. Tailor made service having your pets looked after in their own home with anything from daily visits to living–in, assuring security.

This is a reliable/discreet/confidential business with visits in an unmarked vehicle. Excellent references. Email: ginnyr38@gmail. com Tel: 01223 232972 or 07980 042601. ........

ANTIQUE, MODERN & BESPOKE UPHOLSTERY using traditional materials and techniques. Based in Cottenham, Victoria Morris Upholstery offers a professional (AMUSF Qualified) and reliable upholstery service for your most treasured antiques or favourite chair. For all enquires and/or a free consultation, contact Victoria on 01954 270050 or 07547 496931 or by email: vmupholstery@hotmail.com or visit www. victoriamorrisupholstery.co.uk .........

THE VILLAGE FOOT CLINIC Wilburton Clinic & mobile chiropody for: nail cutting/nail thickness reduction. Corns, callous and cracked heels. Diabetes etc. Assessment and treatment £32. Marisa Jolley MCFHP MAFHP. Tel: 07909 943171. .........

AGRIPEST If you’re looking for a friendly, reliable and competitive pest control service then please get in contact with AgriPest today! Rats, mice, wasps, moles and much more! Please call Neil on 07889 018041 or email AgriPest@outlook.com. Thank you. https://www.facebook.com/AgriPestcambs/ www.agripestcontrol.co.uk .........

Why not advertise in the Newsletter! Items for sale, announcement of family events, local products and/or services...

10p per word, with some proceeds going to the MAGPAS charity. Send advertisements and payment to the Advertising Manager.

Cheques should be made out to ‘Cottenham Newsletter’.

Issue Number 179 • page 13

CONTACTS: Police General Switchboard Doctors

Newsagents Shaun’s News Council Offices 101

Dr. T Blumenfeld, 188 High Street 250079 Firs House Partnership, 42 Telegraph Street 251180 Urgent Care Cambridge (formerly Camdoc) 0 330 123 9131 District Nurse Team 01223 726469

Cottenham CareCar

Co–ordinator, 10:00am – 4:00pm, Gerry Brett

251929 Cottenham Community Centre 202109 Cottenham Charities 250387 Cottenham Day Centre 200873 Cottenham Gardeners Club 260482 Cottenham Tennis Club info@cottenhamtennis.co.uk Cottenham Toy Library Christina Koester 270334 Village Society Glynis Pilbeam cottvillsoc@gmail.com 251544 Cottenham WI Margaret Briggs 250870 or Margaret Squires 488427 Dentist Wiese and Associates, 40 Margett Street 251696 Chemist 222 High Street 250556

Child, Teen & Family Counselling

Julie McCrae www.juliemccraecounselling.com 07482 723265 Counsellor & Therapist Ruth Barnett, ruby61247@yahoo.co.uk 202556, 07961 644006 Samaritans Cambridge Centre 01223 364455 Veterinary Surgeon Village Vet Cottenham 252122 Schools Village College and Community Office 288944 County Primary, Lambs Lane 250227 Under–Ones Baptist Church 251066 Pre–School Ladybirds Pre-School, Rec. Ground 250891 Kids Only (Out of School Club) 250025 Ballet School tutusrus@ntlworld.com or 200533 Brownies 1st Cottenham Lisa Nicoll 201575 2nd Cottenham Julie Percival 200854 3rd Cottenham Chris Hurworth 203764 Guides Deanna 250388 Scouts 2ndcottenham@gmail.com Army Cadet Force 2Lt Mark Parker, Longstanton Detachment Commander 5035parke@armymail.mod.uk Parade night Wednesday 7:30-9:30pm ACF Cadet Centre, The Old NAAFI Shop, Magdalene Cl, Longstanton, CB24 3EG

250398

County Council Switchboard 0345 045 5222 SCDC Switchboard 0345 045 0500 Parish Council Jo Brook, Clerk 07503 328401 clerk@cottenhampc.org.uk

District Councillors

Neil Gough cllr.gough@scambs.gov.uk, 07919 990299 Eileen Wilson cllr.wilson@scambs.gov.uk, 07825 770899

County Councillor Neil Gough

cllr.gough@scambs.gov.uk, 07919 990299 01223 301426

British Red Cross Shop Citizens Advice Bureau

66 Devonshire Road, Cambridge, CB1 3BL 0844 848 7979 Social Services Histon Team 01223 718011 Mobile Warden Scheme 200080 NSPCC Cottenham Area Team 01733 558245 RSPCA 24 hour cruelty & advice line 0300 1234 999

Railway Station Cambridge Passenger Enquiries

0845 7484950

Driving Instruction TOPS Driving School 252239 Taxi Panther Taxis 01223 715715/424424/523523 Library Margett Street 0345 0455225 Library at Home Service (formerly Doorstep)

0345 045 5225 your.library@cambridgeshire.gov.uk 583651 252298

Office hours: 9:30am-2:30pm Wednesday and Friday Baptist Church Church Office 252378 Catholic Church St Laurences Church 01223 704640 Methodist Church simon.oliver@cantab.net

07554 202929 Salvation Army Paul Cooper, Captain 252419 Royal British Legion Ann Scott 251468 ann.scott23@ntlworld.com Cottenham Brass Band Diana Braverman (Sec.) dianabraverman@hotmail.com Bridge Farm Riding School 252284 Allotments Cottenham Charities 250575 Sustainable Cottenham Christine Ward 251813

Parish Church Revd. Lynda Davies Parish Administrator Matt Unwin-Riches

Cottenham Dissenters’ Cemetery

Kate Lees 252378, minister@cottenhambaptist.org.uk Sarah Berenger 07484 221369, s.berenger@btinternet.com

EDITOR & ENQUIRIES:

Adrian Ient, 2 The Wrens, Cottenham CB24 8XD. Tel: 01954 775004 e–mail: cottenhamnewsletter@gmail.com

BUSINESS MANAGER:

Peter Robertson, 30 Lyles Road, Cottenham, Tel: 01954 200080

WEBSITE:

www.cottenhamnews.org.uk

Issue Number 179 • page 14

THE WILD FEN EDGE When it comes to local places to spot new and interesting birds, the first places you might visit are the various nature reserves we have within a few clicks. There are the RSPB reserves – Ouse Fen, Berry Fen, Fen Drayton, Fowlmere, Ouse Washes. Then there are the National Trust places like Anglesey Abbey and Wimpole Hall as well the likes of Wicken, Tubney, and Burwell Fen. Further afield there’s the Wetland Trust site at Welney and other RSPB reserves such as Lakenheath.

A couple of sites that don’t usually get mentioned in the general guidebooks (although one of them is in one specialist guide to East Anglia) and they are our very own Long Drove and Smithy Fen.

green sandpiper, snipe, dunlin, redshank, greenshank, little ringed plover, sanderling, and common tern. In the Fen Reeves Wood a nightingale was reportedly heard recently, but it apparently stayed only a day or two. And, another for the gull aficionados, Kumlein’s gull, which brought in quite a few birders from off the patch to see this rarity.

Speaking of our patch, a Nuthatch (possibly the first in modern birding memory) turned up for a few days in the trees around All Saints’ Church and the gardens thereabouts. Also, listen out for summer visitors, such as Turtle Doves, White Throats, and Lesser White Throats along Church Lane.

David Bradley

Long Drove stretches from the entrance at Beach Road all the way past the various farms, the back of the landfill site, several ponds, and on to the gravel works and then the Cambridge GC. The drove itself is a public highway and most of those various spots are only observable from the road itself, nevertheless, there is often something to see in the fields, in the skies, and babbling about on the ponds.

Watch out for buzzards and other raptors, small birds such as linnets and goldfinch, and plenty of gulls. For the gull aficionado (never seagull, by the way) there are often great flocks of mixed birds: black-headed gulls, lesser black-backed gulls, great black-backed gulls, herring gulls, common gulls (which are quite rare). Most winters and into the spring there are often some slightly less common gulls, such as Iceland, Caspian, and yellow-legged gulls, which might even draw birders from wider afield. A couple of winters back there was a hooded crow (common in Scotland, but a rarity this far south).

Turning to Smithy Fen, however, the recent flooding of the paddocks at the bridge and the farmland adjacent to the load but beyond the traveller site has turned up a veritable mega list for local birdwatchers. None of the sightings are strictly “megas”, which is usually a term reserved for an incredibly rare bird. Nevertheless, several locals who send me sightings for this report, including Ian, Brenda, Marilyn, and others have put together a list of birds one might not expect to see, but for those flooded paddocks and fields.

Among them: yellow wagtail, grey wagtail, white wagtail (European version of our pied wagtail), water pipit, sedge warbler, stonechat, wheatear, wigeon, shelduck, garganey,

Please email any interesting bird sightings to me at birds@sciencebase.com I have also set up a Google Group to discuss the local flora and fauna – Wild Fen Edge. If you’d like to join, send a request to that same email address and I’ll add you.

Deadline: FOR NEXT ISSUE 20TH JUNE ADVERTISING

To discuss your advertising requirements Contact cottenhamnewsletter@gmail.com Artwork, if required, is charged separately, (minimum £10.00) depending on the amount of work involved.

Quotations are available on request.

Issue Number 179 • page 15

CAMBRIDGE OPEN STUDIOS Visit local artists this July when they open their studios free to the public. The codes indicating which weekends the artists will be exhibiting are as follows: Weekend (1) 3/4 July; Weekend (2) 10/11 July; Weekend (3) 17/18 July; Weekend (4) 24/25 July E-Guide Book & App Visit www.camopenstudios.co.uk to download the E-Guide Book available from June onwards.

Download the App to assist with planning your local routes.

Iona Howard – Printmaking/Book Arts Prints using figuration and abstraction to portray the landscape. Recent prints of the Cambridgeshire Fens, West Penwith and The Lizard, Cornwall. www.ionahoward.com Oasland’s House, 4 Broad Lane Cottenham CB24 8AJ Working Studio. Weekends: 1, 2, 3

Amanda MacPhail – Ceramics/Pottery I will be showing my lively illustrated and designed bone china, under cover outside. Lots of space for distancing.

Demonstrations given. www.amandamacphail.com amanda@amandamacphail. com 01954 250496 The Wooden House Twenty Pence Road, Cottenham CB24 8SP Working Studio. Weekends: 1, 2

CONTACT THE EDITOR:

Esther Montero – Textile Art All time favourite paintings recreated in textile using a combination of appliqué, free machine embroidery and hand embroidery. em.prieto@btinternet.com 01954 251375 3 Sovereign Way Cottenham CB24 8XR Exhibition. Weekends: 2, 4

Emma Malfroy – Mixed media/Collage Collage, paintings and prints, using hand-painted papers, exploring pattern and colour. Images inspired by the natural world, narratives and places. www.emalfroy.co.uk emalfroy@yahoo.com 07934 385416 11a Oakington Road Cottenham CB24 8TW Working Studio. Weekends: 1, 3

Adrian Ient, 2 The Wrens, Cottenham CB24 8XD. Tel: 01954 - 775004 e-mail: cottenhamnewsletter@gmail.com

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