Cottenham
Newsletter
ISSUE NUMBER 173
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019
Fen Edge Festival 2019
MILLFIELD ALLOTMENTS RAMPTON ROAD, COTTENHAM
Why not consider the benefits and satisfaction of enjoying year-round fresh vegetables from your personal efforts? With an allotment you will know exactly where and when your vegetables were grown and can be sure that no harmful chemicals have been used to enhance their appearance. The land on Rampton Road also produces fine fruits such as strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants, blackberries and many more. Guaranteed sun-ripened to give the best taste and not transported hundreds of miles before being artificially ripened. Any excess can be frozen in their prime condition or used to make jam. An allotment can give you most of your ‘Five A Day’ all year round. If you enjoy being outside in the fresh air but need motivation to get more exercise, growing fruit and vegetables will give you a tangible reward. As an allotment holder you will be part of a group that is able to purchase seeds and plants every autumn at up to 50% discount from Kings Seeds. Rentals start from 30 September each year and a half-plot costs £12.50 inclusive of water charge. It is expected that plots will be kept in a tidy condition and for that reason new holders are required to pay an initial deposit of £30. This will be returned if the plot is surrendered in a tidy condition (Trustees discretion). Help and advice is always readily available from other allotment holders. If you are interested in having an allotment please contact David Munns by email: davidfmunns@live.com or text: 07748 650014
INTERIOR & EXTERIOR
Issue Number 173 • page 2
Above: Bob Lee on the allotment.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD For several years ‘Operation Christmas Child’ has been generously supported by the people of Cottenham and I am appealing for your help again this year. The aim of ‘Operation Christmas Child’ is to send gift filled shoe boxes to some of the neediest children in the world. Operation Christmas Child is one element of a charity called ‘Samaritans Purse’, an international, Christian relief and development charity that works through local churches to demonstrate the love of God by helping to meet the needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease and famine. So, what is ‘Operation Christmas Child’? Shoeboxes filled with small gifts are given to needy children, many of whom have little of their own including toys to play with, to demonstrate that someone cares about them. Boxes are distributed to parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Gifts may include soft toys, colouring books and pencils, dolls, balls, cars, skipping ropes as well as toothbrushes, hair accessories and warm hats, gloves and scarves. We usually include
FEAST PARADE
Plans are in full swing for the organisation of the Feast Parade on Sunday 13 October. If anyone would like a stall on the Green, please get in touch on cottenhamfp@gmail.com. The cost is £10. Please do come and watch. Line the High Street with your jubilant cheering! The participants will appreciate it. Their creations and enthusiasm to take part are a sight to behold – fun for all the family. This is also a fundraising event, so we would appreciate any money that you can spare. Please donate into the buckets as the parade passes you. The funds raised get shared between local charitable organisations and local community groups. If you would like to apply for a share, please contact me on cottenhamfp@ gmail.com by 31 October. Finally, if there are any entrants that have not yet reserved their place in the parade, it’s not too late. Please contact Zach on cottenhamfp@gmail.com to make arrangements. Emma Bodsworth
a Christmas card, but no religious material of any type is included as boxes are given to needy children regardless of ethnicity or faith. So how can you help? You could fill your own box or donate some items to go into a box. It is easier if you have a leaflet which gives full details of what can be included. These will be available from October from the Community Centre and from me. I also hope to have them in some shops in the village. If you enjoy knitting, you might knit a hat, mittens or a small scarf. Another way of helping is to come to All Saint’s Church Hall on Friday afternoon 8th or Saturday 9th November to help wrap and fill the shoe boxes. Come and join in or just have a coffee and watch what goes on. It is hard work, but a lot of fun and you are sure to receive a warm welcome. Finally, but importantly, you could contribute towards the cost of sending the boxes. It costs £5 per box which sounds a lot but covers the cost of transportation, shipping and distribution. Over the years I have been overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of all those who have helped, many of whom have become great friends. Please consider getting involved this year and help some of the neediest children in the world. My sincere thanks for your support and perhaps I will see you at the Church Hall this year? More details and information from Sue Hooks on 250560.
COTTENHAM WI
Everyone is welcome to attend one of our upcoming meetings. These will be held at Cottenham Village College in the Tony Cooper suite at 7:30pm. 9 October We are holding our very popular craft evening. This is led by members who have skills that they will help others to learn. If you don’t wish to learn a new skill then there is always a chance to catch up with friends over a cup of coffee. 13 November Dr Tim Wreghitt will talk about his experiences of setting up a stand for the Chelsea flower show. As there is a speaker for this meeting there will be a small charge of £3 for non members towards the speakers costs.
COTTENHAM COMMUNITY CINEMA At 7:30pm on the first Sunday of each month, Cottenham Community Centre Coffee Shop becomes our very own cinema showing the best current releases and some classics. We also show kids’ films at 2pm some months.
Below you will find anagrams of the titles of five films seen at Cottenham Community Cinema in 2019, together with the month they were shown. Can you decipher the name of the film? (Answers on page 19)
At the time of writing, we haven’t yet decided which films we’ll be showing for the rest of the year. But by the time you read this, you will be able to find out by looking on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ CottenhamCommunityCinema/) or looking out for the posters around the village. I wonder what we will choose!
1. Oh, hairy band poems (March)
In the meantime, I thought it might be fun to have a little film quiz.
5. Owl rides (September)
2. Old alien ants (July) 3. Defrost Mr Fire (January) 4. Nursery prompts a nip (June) Hope to see you at one of our films soon! Issue Number 173 • page 3
GARDENERS’ CLUB
This summer we have been treated to some garden delights. In June our annual Lunch Party was held in the lovely garden of Dawn and Ken Marr; July’s out-of-hours guided tour of the Botanic Garden was an enjoyable privilege, and in August we managed to dodge the showers for our Evening Drinks Party in the delightful garden of Jean and Trevor Lawrence. Coming up on Friday 25 October, Mike Petty, Social Historian, will talk about Pickwick’s Gardening Scrapbook. The meeting on 29 November features Andrew Sankey, Horticulturist, speaking about A Cottager’s Christmas.
Meetings are held at Franklin Gardens Community Room, usually on the last Friday of the month. Refreshments are served from 7:30pm, followed by a talk starting at 7:45pm. The evening closes with a raffle, with prizes generously donated by members. At this time of year halfprice membership is available for £7, which lasts until the AGM in February. Guests are very welcome to try a single meeting for £2, after which it is hoped they would become a member. For further information please contact Sarah Dumont Tel: 01954 260482
TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR SLEEPING BEAUTY Cottenham Theatre Workshop are delighted to announce that you can now order your tickets for our Christmas pantomime – Sleeping Beauty! The show will run from Wednesday 4 December – Saturday 7 December 2019 at Cottenham Village College. Weekday performances begin at 7:30pm and there are two performances on the Saturday, a matinee showing at 1pm and an evening showing at 5:30pm. Tickets are available on our website, www. cottenhamtheatre.com or through our third party provider Ticketsource by calling 0333 666 4466 (additional booking fee applies). We’ll also be selling tickets at the
Issue Number 173 • page 4
Cottenham Community Centre (dates to be announced). Keep an eye on the website/Facebook page for more details. Finally, you don’t just have to be on stage to be a part of CTW, we’re always looking for new volunteers in our backstage and front of house teams. If you’ve got any questions, please feel free to contact us at cottenhamtheatre@gmail.com or visit our website. Also follow us on our Facebook page! We hope to see many of you at the performances – enjoy the show. CTW Committee
SUSTAINABLE ACTIVITIES
Next litter pick and cycle path tidy will be at 2pm on Saturday 2 November 2019 This time the village litter pick will be meeting at the British Legion Hall. The cycle path working party will assemble on the Village Green as usual. Refreshments for all volunteers will be served back at the British Legion Hall from 4pm. Please note, for all our litter pick events, children may take part provided they are under the close supervision of a responsible adult. Equipment will be provided but wear suitable clothing for the weather – we will still go ahead even if it rains. It is a great help if we know in advance how many people might be taking part, so if you would like to join us please email Peter Pilbeam on pgp1@hermes.cam.ac.uk or phone Christine Ward on 01954 251813.
SUNDAY SOCIALS
If you haven’t joined in already, our Sunday Socials will continue through the autumn: 2 – 4pm at the British Legion Hall, 121 High Street (near Broad Lane) on 20 October, 10 November and 8 December 2019. Everyone is welcome to come along. We will be sharing afternoon tea, time together chatting, playing games, listening to music, exchanging skills and tips and so on. We hope these get-togethers will be an opportunity for Cottenham residents of all ages to meet friends and neighbours and make new ones. The team running them includes youth worker Andrea Cowley and volunteers from Care Network and Sustainable Cottenham. If you’d like to find out more, contact Andrea on 0789 9904959 or email cottenhamconnected@ sustainablecottenham.org.uk Please come along and help us decide whether/how they are worth taking forward.
REDUCING SINGLE USE PLASTICS We’re proud that, working with the Fen Edge Festival committee, we were able to provide reusable cups for all the bars at the hugely enjoyable 2019 festival. This meant well over 1500 single-use plastic cups being saved from landfill! Looking ahead, thanks to the positive response of Festival goers, the initiative gives FEF organisers strong grounds for adopting a more wide-ranging plasticfree and environmentally friendly approach next time. What’s more, we have a box of attractive blue-printed half-pint reusable cups available to borrow through FECA to help do away with single-use plastic at other village events. If you’re interested in borrowing the cups, contact Christine Ward on 01954 251813. We are working on a wide range of other activities to reduce reliance on singleuse plastics in Cottenham – if you want to be part of this please contact us.
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 December and January.
Issue Number 173 • page 5
SUSTAINABLE COTTENHAM
SusCott is an expanding volunteer group of Cottenham residents. Our aim is to help residents and businesses make adjustments to their lifestyles and practices to improve the sustainability of the village. For more information contact Christine Ward on 01954 251813 or chris@sustainablecottenham.org.uk Website: www.sustainablecottenham.org.uk
• food and liquid remains – remove any food and rinse containers, and empty all liquids from bottles. Squash bottles and replace caps before recycling. More information on what can and can’t be recycled can be found in the South Cambs magazine or on the website at: www.scambs.gov.uk/bins
PARISH COUNCIL
Most of us recycle but there are still some items that cause issues. This is because when the wrong items are put in the blue bin, this reduces its quality and hence value. If there are a lot of incorrect items it can cause large quantities of materials to be rejected and not recycled. It costs Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service £10,000 every month to remove and dispose of incorrect items in blue bins.
Neighbourhood Plan Since the Regulation 16 consultation, our Working Group has reviewed all the comments received, responded to some requests for clarification from the independent Examiner and provided clearer versions of some of the maps. These are all available on the South Cambs website at: https://www.scambs.gov.uk/planning/ local-plan-and-neighbourhood-planning/neighbourhoodplanning/cottenham-neighbourhood-plan/ Once the Examiner has digested all these inputs, he will report back with recommendations on how the Plan can be made acceptable for you to vote on at a referendum. He might require further consultation on some of it and could throw it out altogether but we hope not. Some of it is already being applied, as you may know.
These items do NOT belong in your blue recycling bin: • nappies, wet wipes, sanitary towels – place in black bin • tissues and kitchen roll – can be put in green bin for composting • black bags – place in black bin • clothes, textiles, shoes – donate, swap, place in a textile/ shoe bank or Household Recycling Centre
Major Building Developments The Bellway and Persimmon sites on Oakington Road are now well on the way to delivering 171 homes. There will be an increase in traffic and disruption because of the upgraded Oakington Road / Rampton Road roundabout (works due to start towards the end of this year).
LET’S RECYCLE EVEN BETTER
Issue Number 173 • page 6
Redrow’s 200 home development on Rampton Road, followed shortly by the 151 homes to be built by This-Land Limited and the 56-place Gladman residential care home will extend the disruption for some months to come. All the developers are invited to a regular liaison meeting with representatives of the Parish and District Councils so do make us aware of any problems and we will try to improve things. Village Hall/Nursery update By the time of publication, we will know whether or not our ”value engineering” exercise has brought building costs within our budgets and reached agreement with the County Council to allow s106 “early years” funds to contribute to the Nursery costs. Highways The proposed works for traffic calming on Histon Road should now be under way or complete. These will improve driver awareness of the need to be mindful of pedestrians by improving road markings and adding a 40mph buffer zone on the approach. We’ve suggested a similar scheme to re-position the 30-mph and introduce a 40-mph buffer zone with traffic calming signage on Oakington road once the developments have stabilised next year. Longer term, we are looking at the feasibility of introducing 20mph limits in parts of the village and checking what speeds people drive at today on our arterial roads and, if above 24mph (the threshold to consider a 20mph limit), how extensive and expensive any road modifications would be. Please see separate article for more information. Following the consultation on long term transport plans in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough which does not seem
to do much for Cottenham residents, we have begun to explore how a Community Transport Service (already partfunded under the s106 developer agreements), might fund a shuttle service to and from Waterbeach railway station combined with a faster bus service to Cambridge. If you see any problems, please report them directly to County Highways at: https://highwaysreporting. cambridgeshire.gov.uk/ or by calling 0345 045 5212. To see what roadworks that are being carried out go to www.roadworks.org. Beach Road update At the time of writing the County Council are still looking at a permanent solution; a plan is expected around the end of August/early September. However they then have to resolve the matter of funding. In the meantime the temporary works to repair the worst areas has ensured that the road can continue to be used safely, which it can if driven to the conditions. Additional signage has been installed warning users of the temporary surface. Although it doesn’t look pretty, the road meets CCC’s HOS (Highway Operational Standards) in that there are no defects currently meeting CCC Investigation Levels. The Local Highways Officer will monitor the site in the interim, to ensure that the road remains within CCC HOS, and react to any issues that arise. Tenison Manor adoption Some things – not many - take longer to fix than Highways problems. The failure to get Tenison Manor roads adopted has rumbled on for nearly two decades, occasionally causing problems when owners want to sell. With help from
Issue Number 173 • page 7
Anglian Water, Bovis and Persimmon, the Parish Council is close to agreeing to take over certain maintenance responsibilities for the surface water drainage, including the Broad Lane “balancing pond” so the roads can be adopted by the County Council, hopefully within 2019. Chat Bench Hopefully by now you’ll have seen the sign or even used our chat bench on the Village Green (top end near the noticeboards). Following a resident request we are trialling the idea for 6 months. The scheme is intended to help combat loneliness and was taken from a similar scheme in Somerset. Anyone who is feeling isolated or disconnected is encouraged to sit on the bench and strike up a conversation with a friendly stranger. New Life on the Old West project The project team from ACRE has informed us that they are making their grant submission to the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Heritage Grant in the autumn. Subject to a successful bid the landscape conservation work is expected to take place 2020-23 (projects in Cottenham include fruit tree planting, the creation of a pond complex on Broad Lane and works to Fen Reeves woodland). Further details are available in the August Full Council reports pack available on our website. Staff news We’re delighted that Beth Fleetwood has joined us as Temporary Assistant Clerk. Among other things Beth will be looking after highways issues and our recreation ground bookings. You can contact her at asstclerk@ cottenhampc.org.uk
Issue Number 173 • page 8
Office Opening Hours The Parish Office is open every Monday between 9:45am12 noon. Appointments are available outside of these hours by emailing or phoning – details below. The Clerk is contactable between 9am to 3pm weekdays only and messages can be left outside of these hours. Please note that our staff don’t work on weekends or public holidays. Jo Brook, Parish Clerk PSLCC Email: clerk@cottenhampc.org.uk Phone: 07503 328401 www.cottenhampc.org.uk www.facebook.com/cottenhamparishcouncil
COTTENHAM LIBRARY Family History drop in sessions 7pm to 9pm. Third Monday in the month. The next dates are: 21 October and 18 November
CAROLS ON THE GREEN
The event this year will be held on Tuesday 10 December from 6pm. Further details to follow but if you would be interested in having a stall to help enhance the event please contact us. Once again we’d love to hear from anyone who would like to help sponsor the event. All sponsors will be mentioned in publicity materials. We had a fantastic response from companies and residents last year so if you’d like to spread some Christmas cheer tree please get in touch. Jo Brook, Parish Clerk, Cottenham Parish Counci
LET’S REDUCE FLY-TIPPING Fly-tipping is the illegal disposal of waste. It can be anything from a bag of waste to a truckload. Leaving items by recycling centres, charity shops or by bins is fly-tipping too. Around two thirds of fly-tips come from households, so it is crucially important that you understand your Duty of Care to avoid a £400 fixed penalty notice or an unlimited fine. To help us deal with fly-tipping incidents efficiently, please report them to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Waste Partnership. Here is how: Online: www.scambs.gov.uk/environment/envirocrime/ By phone: 03450 450 063 If you witness fly-tipping, call 999 to report crime in action. Please do not put yourself in harm’s way.
ADVOCACY VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT Total Voice Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are looking for two volunteers to join its advocacy service to help people living in or using local care settings. For more information contact James Sheard the Volunteer Coordinator on 01223 555849 or 07585 002572, james.sheard@voiceability.org. Find out more here: www.totalvoicecp.org
When reporting fly-tipping, please note as many details as possible - the exact location - the size of the fly-tip - the type of waste dumped - the date and time you spotted or witnessed the fly-tip - photos of the fly-tip and fly-tippers if you have witnessed it - the vehicle registration number and details - the description of people involved - the direction they were travelling
Issue Number 173 • page 9
UPDATE FROM HEIDI ALLEN MP Well, nobody can accuse politics these days of being boring! The events of the past month have certainly tested our parliamentary democracy to the full. As a result of the fast-moving national situation, I spent the month of August holding pop-up surgeries at various locations in and around the constituency. I am enormously grateful to the café owners, publicans, supermarkets and my team for facilitating these. It is always so important for me to hear the opinions of my constituents and gauge what the feeling is on the ground. So, in an effort to hear from all of you, in alphabetical order, thank you to the constituents of Bar Hill, Bourn, Cambourne, Dry Drayton, Fowlemere, Gamlingay, Girton, Grantchester, Great Eversden, Guilden Morden, Queen Edith’s, Sawston, Shelford, Shepreth and Swavesey who turned out in droves to express their opinions and share their concerns. If I haven’t visited your patch yet, please keep an eye on my website as I’ll be holding more meetings shortly. It is my responsibility to represent these concerns on the national stage and consequently, I have been working extremely hard to ensure that our parliamentary process is upheld and that my constituents are placed front and centre of any future decisions that impact the United Kingdom. By the time you read this, events will have moved on again but please keep talking to me to express your opinions and ideas as we navigate uncharted territory. Roads were a focus this month for me, as I attended the Duxford Road Safety Day, arranged by one of the families in my constituency whose lives have been devastated by dangerous driving. Since becoming aware of the laws
surrounding dangerous driving, I have worked with several families in the constituency (for over two years) to try to get the law changed; meeting with the then Secretary of State, Rory Stewart to ask when the legislation to make the law tougher would be brought forward. In spite of consulting on this and preparing a response which toughens up dangerous driving punishments, the government has not yet brought this before the House. We urgently need to ensure that this law is changed, so that more lives are saved. I will continue to push for action on this important reform issue. I returned to Duxford at the tail end of August to celebrate the Duxford Soap Box Derby which is always one of my favourite constituency events. This brilliant event raises vital funds for Cancer Research UK and brings out the clowns in all of us! Residents career around a grand prix track in any sort of improvised go-kart vehicle – I think I even saw someone travelling in a bath! The power of the South Cambs community to do good should never be underestimated. I’m looking forward to hearing the total amount raised. As ever, my newsletter can only provide a snapshot of my work but if there is anything you would like to talk to me about, please visit my website for details of my upcoming surgeries – https://heidiallen.co.uk/ constituency-surgeries/. In the meantime, if you would like to contact me, please email heidi.allen.mp@parliament.uk or call my office on 01223 830037. My team and I are always available to help constituents with any concerns.
High quality pet food Dog/cat leads, bedding & toys Poultry and small holding feed & equipment Horse Feed and Bedding Riding clothes, hats, boots, body protectors Grooming & yard accessories Fuel – Flogas, logs, kindling, house and smokeless coal Wild Bird food & feeders Open 7 Days a week Monday – Saturday 8.00am-5.30pm Sunday 9.00am-2.00pm Closed bank holidays Issue Number 173 • page 10
Over Road, Willingham, Cambridge, CB24 5EU Tel 01954 260798 info@highgatecountrystore.co.uk www.highgatecountrystore.co.uk
Key Dates: Feast Day Sunday 13 October Rememberance Sunday Sunday 10 November Armistice Day Monday 11 November Carols on Green Tuesday 10 December
EDITOR’S COMMENT I have received a handful of comments about the new-ish style of the Newsletter. I’m talking about the introduction of colour pages as well as the bird report, among other things. I believe that colour brightens up the Newsletter and breaks up the text - it’s not a new idea of course, magazines started being printed in colour about 100 years ago. It does cost a bit more money and we have secured extra advertising to pay for it. People do tell me that they like the colour pages. In terms of the bird report, Jasper Kay decided to step down and David Bradley has
Letters to the Editor:
kindly taken over. I thank them both for their hard work. I appreciate that for some people these changes might take some getting used to. On the point about publication of letters: if people send me letters I normally publish them. I don’t receive many at all and that’s why there are hardly any letters printed. I’d like to add that I’m always open to constructive feedback on the design and content of the Newsletter. On a final note, if you would like to contribute to the Newsletter I would love to hear from you. Adrian Ient, editor
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.
Physic Oakington Therapy Centre 76 Gilbert Road Cambridge CB4 3PD
Roger Giddings Osteopathy
Mike Salt Sports Massage
01223 237459
www.physic.co.uk
admin@physic.co.uk Issue Number 173 • page 11
COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT 38.7 C at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden on Thursday 25 July 2019 was the highest temperature ever officially recorded in England. Beach Road melted and had to be closed to traffic. We are actively looking into a permanent reconstruction using materials resilient to a more extreme climate. Friends of the Earth have praised the County Council’s decarbonizing example by investing in renewable energy and battery storage, to stabilize the grid against fluctuations arising from the intermittent nature of renewable generation. This article https://takeclimateaction.uk/stories/whatssecret-behind-cambridgeshires-local-energy-drive says “local politicians had the foresight to set high-quality growth aspirations tailored to meet future challenges, including climate change and connectivity between homes and jobs”. Cambridgeshire is one of eight places around the country selected for Future Parks funding from the National Trust, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the government. We are receiving a grant of £700,000 to work with the Local Natural Partnership and other wildlife and outdoor groups to meet growing demand for accessible open space. This is the time to be thinking how, for example, to provide “stepping stones” enabling mammals, birds and insects to move between one wildlife sanctuary and another. We are also closely monitoring the development pressure (from extra visitors) on places like Fen Drayton Lakes from Northstowe and Wicken Fen from Waterbeach. When Marshall announced in June 2010 that it would not be vacating its Cambridge site, the biggest local urban extension, of 12,000 houses, had to be abandoned. o
HIGHGATE BUTCHERS
TRADITIONAL BUTCHER Highgate Farm, For allOver yourRoad, meatWillingham, Cambridgeshire, CB24 5EU
requirements
Homemade pies, sausages & quiches Tel: 01954 260444
Email: highgatebutchers@gmail.com
Issue Number 173 • page 12
This was the second big blow to the Local Development Framework, following the Gallagher suspension of the whole-town Northstowe application in September 2008. At the time, they predicted that land values would not return to their 2007 levels until 2021. The airport area is now being put forward for consideration in the next joint Local Plan, and the Aerospace and Defence Group is moving to Cranfield, Duxford or Wyton. The first 1,600 new houses at Waterbeach will be centred on the lake and link the village to the Cambridge Research Park roundabout. The Town Centre Strategy has been submitted for Northstowe, whose secondary school will open end September. Applications for the two parts of phase 3 (the remaining 5,000 houses) are coming up shortly. Cambridgeshire Constabulary is closing Parkside Police Station and opening an enlarged custody suite in the Milton area, closer to the new towns of South Cambridgeshire. The Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Local Transport Plan was open for public consultation over the summer. In the East Cambridgeshire section, a cycleway proposed from Wilburton to Cottenham will complete the links between our village and all the neighbouring villages. Good progress is being made on the cycleways that I promised, to Oakington (along the south side of the road) and Waterbeach (beginning with a bridge over the A10 at the Denny End Road junction, to be delivered by occupation of the 150th dwelling of Key Phase 1). The surface from Rampton to the Busway is being improved, and new solar studs are being fitted between Cottenham and Histon. Current thinking is that the Greater Cambridge Partnership Histon Road improvement scheme, which may start in
November, is best executed by closing the road to inbound traffic (south of the A14) for the duration of the works, rather than attempting to do it piece by piece with traffic lights. Continuous access for cyclists and pedestrians would be guaranteed throughout. We are discussing with bus companies whether extra services can be provided. The Greater Cambridge Partnership is running one of three pilots across the country in participative democracy, by setting up a Citizens’ Assembly to debate in depth the challenges of improving public transport and managing congestion in Cambridge. Ten thousand invitations have been issued across the Cambridge Travel to Work Area, and those responding will be whittled down to sixty or so, selected to be representative of residents of Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire, as well as those who live outside this area but travel to work inside Greater Cambridge. Intelligent charging is being explored as a means of demand management and revenue raising to subsidise public transport. This could be on the basis of a vehicle’s emissions (to improve air quality) and/or to limit the number of vehicles at peak times. The common perception of a congestion charge is a toll to enter the zone. However, half the vehicles in the city at peak times are being driven by Cambridge residents for journeys under two miles. It would be much more effective to charge all vehicles on the roads at certain times of the day. But then you have to consider who should be exempt. Other congestion-managing measures include the following, all of which are under active discussion: • Traffic signal optimization • Travel planning • Peak spreading • Park & Ride • On-street parking restrictions and pricing • Off-street public parking pricing strategy and capacity • Workplace parking levy • Extending the Cambridge core scheme, currently operated by rising bollards • Reallocating roadspace to bus and cycle lanes We have commissioned work from the Combined Authority’s consultants on the Strategic Bus Review, Systra, to scope out a bus network fit for the twenty-first century, investigating: Routing, to better serve key current and future employment and residential sites in Greater Cambridge;
Overall connectivity including with rail and park and ride services; How best to serve rural areas; A cleaner fleet of ultra-low and zero emission vehicles; and Accessibility of public transport to disabled people. Some weekend services will be suspended when the project for lengthening trains on the railway to King’s Lynn starts in October, with eight-car services likely to be introduced in the new timetable from December 2020. Both platforms at Waterbeach station will be extended. Network Rail has published its Cambridgeshire Corridor Study into requirements for additional track, platforms (including a Cambridge South station), rolling stock and stabling to meet expected growth in demand to 2043. East-West Rail is a separate project, and there may be an opportunity to open up eastern access to Cambridge Central station as part of upgrading lines proceeding into East Anglia. Tim Wotherspoon
GRANTS AVAILABLE Cottenham Parish Council offers a number of small donations and grants to enable projects planned by local voluntary and community organisations. The deadline for applications is Friday 25 October 2019. There is no guarantee of success as we may receive applications for more than our available cash and we also have to ensure that the money is only spent on a variety of lawful purposes. We cannot make donations or grants to individuals. Applicants should give a general description of what their organisation does along with details of what any grant will be used for. It is essential that you provide an indication of the number of local residents who will benefit from your project which must generally be completed within one year of the grant. If you are successful, we require you to provide details of how and when the money has been spent in accordance with the original intentions. For a copy of the application form please see our website or email rfo@cottenhampc.org.uk or write to: The RFO, Cottenham Parish Council, Right Side Entrance, 250a High Street, Cottenham CB24 8RZ.
Issue Number 173 • page 13
HIGHWAYS UPDATES Roads and Pavements Patrols One of the most annoying problems villagers face arise from wear and tear of our roads and pavements. Potholes or subsidence can cause damage and blocked drains causing localised flooding. Lack of County Council funding for regular high-quality maintenance makes everything worse as patching replaces preventive work.
identify and address their concerns, observing weight and speed limits. Companies that have signed up (at County level) include: Amey, Balfour Beatty, Cornwell & Son, Mick George Ltd, Skanska. Cottenham Parish Council recently sent out copies of a Commercial Company Covenant to local hauliers, we would like to thank Masters Logistical who promptly signed up.
The Parish Council, via its Highways Committee, reports as many faults as we know about. We maintain a list of jobs Remembrance Parade that have been reported and continually chase the County Please sent be aware thatof there will be Company a Temporary Roadto local Cottenham Parish Council recently out copies a Commercial Covenant Highways Department to check on progress. This is not a Closure on Sunday 10 November 2019 between 10:30am hauliers, we would like to thank Masters Logistical who promptly signed up. quick process because jobs wait their turn for funding. and 11:30am for the Remembrance Day service which We cannot keep an eye on all roads and pavements within will take place at the War Memorial. The High Street will Remembrance Parade the village, so encourage Cottenham residents to report any be closed to traffic from The Green to Telegraph Street. Please be aware that there will be a Temporary Road Closure on Sunday 10 November 2019 problems they see, directly to the County Council. The more Denmark Road will be closed from The Green to Telegraph between 10:30am and 11:30am for the Remembrance Day service which will take place at the individuals report a problem may help accelerate its solution. Street. The planned alternative route is along Rampton War Memorial. The High Street will be closed to traffic from The Green to Telegraph Street. The link to the Cambridgeshire County Highways website Road, Lambs Lane, the interlinking part of the High Street Denmark Road will be closed from The Green to Telegraph Street. The planned alternative below gives you information about lead times and the process and Telegraph Street. There will be access to the Village route is along Rampton Road, Lambs Lane, the interlinking part of the High Street and for reporting problems. Once faults have been logged, you College from the High Street at the Histon end of The Telegraph Street. There will be access to the Village College from the High Street at the Histon will receive updates and we can also keep an eye on them. Green. Access will be available for residents of the affected end of The Green. Access will be available for residents of the affected roads. Stewards will be roads. Stewards will be on duty to ensure safety. Martin McCarthy on duty to ensure safety.
Chair (Highways Committee) Cottenham Parish Council https://www.cambridgeshire. gov.uk/residents/travel-roadsand-parking/roads-andpathways/roadworks-and-faults/ how-long-does-it-take-to-fix-a-road-fault/
Commercial Company Covenant – A Voluntary Code of Conduct for Commercial Vehicle Operators Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) receives many concerns from residents about the impact lorries and other large vehicles have on our local area, including: noise, vibration, volume of HCV traffic and pollution. As a result, CCC have adapted a covenant, originally created by ‘Community Roadwatch’, for Parishes and local communities to use with local haulage firms to agree certain conditions, such as adhering to agreed HCV routes, to cooperate with local communities to
16 COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
Issue Number 173 • page 14
POPPY APPEAL AND REMEMBRANCE SERVICES This year, Remembrance Sunday falls on 10 November. In the morning there will be the usual service at the War Memorial. The parade will leave at about 10:45am from the CBS car park and the service begins at about 10:55am Armistice Day is on the following Monday and there will be the usual service at the War Memorial at 10:55am. As Ralph Carpenter’s exhibition of Cottenham during the WWI years was so popular, he has agreed to hold another exhibition this year, based on the WWII period. During the two weeks preceding Remembrance Sunday, the British Legion Hall will be open to the public from time to time. There will be a display of WWII photographs and refreshments will be available. And we are preparing for our usual Poppy Appeal activities for this year. We will be distributing trays of poppies and collection tins around the village and collecting doorto-door throughout Cottenham and Rampton. We will collect outside the Co-op and Post Office on the morning of Saturday 26 October. As always, we are looking to recruit door-to-door collectors. Each person only needs to collect in a small area which usually takes about an hour or so. If you wish to lay a wreath on behalf of yourself or an organisation, and have not already informed us, or if you would like to help with door-to-door collecting for the Poppy Appeal, please contact Ann Scott, Tel: 251468.
Deadline: FOR NEXT ISSUE 20TH OCTOBER
Diary Dates: Remembrance service: Sunday November 10, War Memorial, 10:55am. approx. Armistice Day service: Monday November 11 War Memorial, 10:55am approx. WWII exhibition in RBL Hall: Tuesday 5 November 10:00-12 noon Wednesday 6 November 10:00-12 noon Friday 8 November 10:00-12 noon Saturday 9 November 10:00-12 noon
EXHIBITION
of World War II photographs The Royal British Legion are delighted to announce that there will be an exhibition by Ralph Carpenter in the Legion Hall, of Cottenham in the World War II period. Refreshments will be provided. The Hall will be open on the following dates from 10:00am until 12 noon: Tuesday 5 November, Wednesday 6 November, Friday 8 November, and Saturday 9 November
ADVERTISING To discuss your advertising requirements Contact Liz Porteous on 01954 250468 cottenhamnewsletter@gmail.com Artwork, if required, is charged separately, minimum £5.00. depending on the amount of work involved. Quotations are available on request
Issue Number 173 • page 15
Poetry Corner: The Scarecrow
On Growing Old
Stuffed and moulded, sewn together, I was hung on a pole, like the sacrifices of old. My face disfigured, in tattered cloth no one came near, i was alone and cold.
Time to write a poem i said. Wot poem? she said. Wot? i said. Wot? she said. Why are you wotting? i said, Why did you wot my wot? she said. What is this land of wot! I declared, Wot is this poem you have to write? she said. One where i write an everyday question, i said. Wot? she laughed. Wot indeed! i said. I nodded and scratched my head.
I am an Old Age Pensioner, But I don’t know what it means, Cos I don’t feel any different, From when I was in my teens. It’s true my hair is falling out And I haven’t all my teeth, And though I’ve but on weight a bit, I’m the same guy underneath. The things that used to puzzle me Are mysteries to me still, I still don’t know if God exists, And I don’t suppose I will. I still have dreams of scoring runs At Headingley or Lords, And I’d love to play my old guitar With more than just three chords. And I’d love to score from the half-way line With the perfect curving ball, And I’d love to sing a solo In the Royal Festival Hall. I’ve always wanted to be slim, But it’s nothing but a dream, Cos I can’t say no to chocolate, Or strawberry ice cream. For all these things I’d like to do, I fear it’s much too late, My age implies I’m over the top And past my sell-by date. For I am a Senior Citizen, As old as old can be, So I’ll just sit here and close my eyes, Please tell me when it’s tea.
Laura Berry
Jasper Kay
I was nibbled and eaten by rodents and beetles, my limbs hung limp, my chin to my chest. Insides came outside, hanging by a thread I watched as the wind ripped a hole through my vest. I could see right through me, with no neck it was easy to the dark clouds beyond, over the tree tops. The storm arrived and completed my misery as i bent to my knees by the weight of the drops. The rain washed me away across the ground, the birds came down and pecked my eyes. My body parts were strewn all around. Blinded i accepted my demise. Now i am replaced by another the poor bugger (or the poor ….)
Wot?
SHORT STORIES AND POETRY
Issue Number 173 • page 16
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 600 words. The objective should be to entertain the general readership – go on, have a go!
Small ads: HALO HEATING SERVICE LTD We aim to provide the most ethical, sustainable and cost effective heating and plumbing service to Cottenham and the surrounding area, whilst maintaining the highest standards and exceptional customer service. Please call Sam on 07745 551588, email: sam@haloheat.co.uk or find us on Facebook ......... TOM’S TECH SUPPORT. All your technology needs covered. Setup, troubleshooting and advice for computers, laptops, mobile phones, printers, Internet/Wi-Fi, and TV’s. Call 01954 775004, Email: tom@ient.me ......... TUITION. ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (EFL). Teresa Haymer Cert Ed TEFL MA – General English, all levels, Business English, other ESPs; Homestay Immersion Courses. Email: teresahaymer@gmail.com or text to: 07410 978290 ......... HANDYMAN SERVICES COTTENHAM Need help fitting a kitchen or bathroom? Leaking washing machine, sink or shower? Need a blind fitted or guttering repaired? Call Mike on 07768 931810 ......... SENIOR MATHS/SCIENCE TUTOR (FEMALE) – COTTENHAM Several years of experience tutoring Maths & Science for all levels up to GCSE and Maths for A level. Mode of teaching driven by the student’s prime need: Focusing on challenging topics, plugging gaps in knowledge, exam preparation, reinforcing topics. Qualifications: Educated to PhD level (Image processing, UCL) BSc Physics First Class Honours and Masters in Computing Science from Imperial College London. Contact: asmachaud@hotmail.com, 07786 059693 ......... 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 ......... FRESH GRIMSBY FISH Fresh and smoked fish, shellfish in Cottenham every Thursday morning. Est. since 1989. Call John on 07584 578315 to arrange a call to your office or home. No order too small. ......... 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 ......... C HILSDEN DECORATING SERVICES all aspects of painting and decorating, tiling and home maintenance carried out to the highest standard. Free estimates and excellent rates. Carl Hilsden – Mobile: 07590 517882 Home telephone 01954 250446 www.hilsdendecorating.com ......... FURNITURE POLISHING AND REPAIR Polishing and restoration of antique (and not so antique) furniture by a local Cottenham restorer. Rob Ellis: 01954 250153 ......... R J BENSON CARPENTRY Local fully qualified reliable carpenter. Please call 07961811454 or email robbenson15@ gmail.com for advice/free quotes.
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. ......... COTTENHAM LOCKS AND KEYS Mobile locksmith. Domestic, commercial and retail lock fitting, lock opening, key cutting, UPVC door and window problems. 24x7 emergency lockout service. Fully insured. Free quotations and surveys, highly competitive prices. Tel: 07952 747279. Email cottenhamlocksandkeys@gmail.com or visit www. cottenhamlocksandkeys.co.uk ......... 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 ......... CHIROPODIST/PODIATRIST Henry Tullie. Degree qualified home visiting chiropody service for the treatment of nail cutting, hard skin, corns and callus. Tel 01223 277834/07906 625088, www.cambridgechiropodist.co.uk ........ 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 ......... DOG DAY CARE IN COTTENHAM. Open Mon – Fri, 8am to 6pm. Great area for hour walks on our 150+ acre farm and 100% attention all day at home and in our enclosed garden all for £15.00 a day. Lingwood Farm, Cottenham, CB24 8PX Tel: Erica 07956 406643 or visit www.lingwooddogs.com ......... 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 ......... THE VILLAGE FOOT CLINIC Wilburton Clinic & mobile chiropody for: nail cutting/nail thickness reduction, corns, callous and cracked heels, diabetes etc. Assessment and treatment £29. Marisa Jolley MCFHP MAFHP. Tel: 07909 943171 ......... 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 Newsletter’.
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Issue Number 173 • page 17
CONTACTS:
Parish Council Jo Brook, Clerk 07503 328401 clerk@cottenhampc.org.uk
Police General Switchboard Doctors
101
Dr. T Blumenfeld, 188 High Street Firs House Partnership, 42 Telegraph Street
Urgent Care Cambridge (formerly Camdoc)
District Nurse Team Cottenham CareCar
250079 251180 0330 123 9131 01223 726469
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 Cottenham Village Society Glynis Pilbeam 251544 cottvillsoc@gmail.com Cottenham WI Gillian Ballard 250605 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
Cottenham Village College and Community Office County Primary, Lambs Lane Under–Ones Baptist Church
Pre–School
288944 250227 251066
Ladybirds Pre–School, Recreation 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 Newsagents Shaun’s News 250398
Council Offices
County Council Switchboard SCDC Switchboard
0345 045 5222 0345 045 0500
District Councillors Neil Gough Eileen Wilson
cllr.gough@scambs.gov.uk, 07919 990299 cllr.wilson@scambs.gov.uk, 07825 770899
County Councillor Tim Wotherspoon
timwothers@aol.com,252108 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 Majors Graham & Pam Barratt 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 01353 749830 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
ADVERTISING MANAGER: Liz Porteous, e–mail: cottenhamnewsletter@gmail.com Tel: 01954 250468 WEBSITE:
Issue Number 173 • page 18
www.cottenhamnews.org.uk
NATURE WATCH DAVID BRADLEY
Local safari Mention going on safari to most people and the assumption is that means a trip to a reserve somewhere far-flung, usually southern Africa, snapping photos of lion, giraffe, elephant, impala, and other big game. A wit might mention in passing the once-trendy concept of a safari supper, but let’s forget foodie affectations and take a safari around our local patch. What are you likely to see on a local safari? Well, aside from the various birds we usually refer to in this column, the buzzards, kestrels, peregrines, hobbies, red kites, marsh harriers, and all those smaller specimens, there are quite a few large animals around. There’s no point offroading it and rocking up in a “Landie” like you might do on that African safari, the watering holes are not so scarce and there is almost as much chance of spotting something in your back garden as on the farmland that surrounds the village and the local, small woodlands. Depending on the time of day, a walk through Les King Wood will often have you stumbling on and perhaps startling a Muntjac, or barking deer. Specifically, the nonindigenous species originating in South Asia of Reeves’s muntjac were captive on the Woburn Abbey Estate in the roaring 20s and have since gone feral. Watch out for females with young, they will often make a noise and run out into a field as a decoy, leaving their offspring out of sight in a hedgerow. They aren’t confined to the wood though, you might spot one in and around the village at almost any time of year. Similarly, the various small herds of Roe Deer, which are more prominent on the farmland along Beach Road and in the fields beyond the Cottenham Lode. A late-evening run, as reader Andrew F will tell you, almost always has him stumbling over badgers on the “Birds Estate” in the village. Andrew tells me he sees them a lot and often with young. Foxes too are a common sight for walkers and runners, especially in the photographers’ golden hours just as the sun comes up or when it is setting.
European hare
Black squirrel That said, the inspiration for my Nature Watch report this issue was seeing a red fox in the wide open and newly mown hayfield alongside Rampton Spinney at midday. The fox spent a lot of time staring at the hay, perhaps hoping for insects or small rodents to make an irresistible appearance. I watched him for ten minutes or so before he skulked off into the trees, presumably still very hungry. Some of the older residents will tell you of frequent sightings of foxes in gardens along the High Street backing on to the Lode and elsewhere in the village. They also might point out that fewer and fewer are seen even out in the more “countryside” areas beyond. Although chicken-keepers still have to be vigilant and several have lost their birds to the local vulpines nevertheless. Continued on next page.
Grey squirrel
CC Cinema Answers: 1. Bohemian Rhapsody ; 2. Stan and Ollie ; 3. First Reformed ; 4. Mary Poppins Returns ; 5. Wild Rose Issue Number 173 • page 19
Fox
Muntjac There are plenty of rabbits around these here parts, although thankfully they are not endemic to the allotments. That site does, however, have a European hare that makes a periodic appearance. There are plenty of that particular species around, often to be seen haring about in the fields beyond the Les King Wood and even on the back field of the recreation ground. Moles are a little bit more of an elusive target of our local safari, given their general subterranean existence. I have, however, once seen one of these velvetine mammals pop its head up from its hole. Seen slightly more often are stoats. If spotted these animals will often dart into the undergrowth but then come back out for a second look, just to check how feeble a predator you really are. There are water voles too, living in burrows in the banks of the Lode. Unfortunately, the Grey Heron sees this small swimming mammal as just another snack and I have seen one of these birds standing atop the bank gulping down a water vole whole. Meanwhile, the maintenance work the Environment Agency carries out there always takes the water voles into account and their work is done very much with protecting this species’ habitat in mind. I spoke to one of their engineers recently who told me as much and also pointed out some otter scat on stones beneath the Rampton Bridge, so there’s another mammalian target on our local safari.
CONTACT THE EDITOR:
Of course, if you’re unable or unwilling to venture out on our local safari, you might still be able to see some of the small game that live alongside us in the village. Hedgehogs, once a frequent sight in their two-dimensional form on roads across the country, are seen far less often. It is important to make routes for them to traverse our gardens and to ensure ponds have escape routes to prevent drowning. Leaving gardens with some unkempt areas will give our prickly friends a place to hide and hibernate. Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant though, so don’t put milk out for them. They are omnivores, however, and will see a bit of soft cat food as a treat, although it is best to leave them to their natural diet of invertebrates. If you have seen any interesting natural happenings in and around the village do let me know, email nature@ sciencebase.com. Photos and additional nature reporting on my website https://sciencebase.com Oh, and yes, we have grey squirrels and their darker cousins, black squirrels here, and mice, and dormice, and rats too…
Roe deer
Adrian Ient, 2 The Wrens, Cottenham CB24 8XD. Tel: 01954 - 775004 e-mail: cottenhamnewsletter@gmail.com
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