Chestnut Nursery Schools Cottenham is one of our newest nurseries. It is a fantastic Nursery School based in Cottenham, Cambridge. We’re very excited to share this school with the local community in Cottenham,and hope it offers a valuable service to families in Cambridge. Our passion lies in creating a unique, personal and affordable experience for our parents and children. The nursery school will provide high-quality childcare for children between 0-5 years. If you are interested in learning more about the new nursery, or if you wish to book a visit or reserve a space for your child in this Cottenham-based nursery, then please get in touch!
The Cottenham Newsletter is produced and distributed entirely by volunteers. If you are interested in doing something new in 2023 and would like to join the team, then please get in touch. The Cottenham Newsletter is funded by the revenue raised from advertising and donations.
Submissions for the Feb/Mar 2023 edition must be received by noon on 1st Jan 2023. Please email articles and attached photographs to: cottenhamnewsletter@gmail.com By submitting photographs you confirm you have permission from the photographer and anyone in the photos for us to print them.
GET INVOLVED!
If you would like to join our editorial team, or have an article to send us please get in touch at cottenhamnewsletter@gmail.com
Editorial team: Wendy Dear cottenhamnewsletter@gmail.com
Production:
Jez Brook
Andy Beavis
Proof Reader:
Pat Robertson
Distribution:
Trevor Lawrence 01954 250011
Business Manager: Peter Robertson 01954 200080 www.cottenhamnews.org.uk
Cottenham Charities have given Christmas vouchers for many years to help individuals and families on low income to meet the cost of Christmas. Cottenham Charities and the Fitzwilliam Charity provide the funds for the scheme. Residents in the Parish receiving Income Support, Incapacity Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Universal Credit are eligible but we are not able to consider those receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance. If you, or someone you know, could benefit from a little help this Christmas, application forms will be available from Cottenham Post O ce or online at www. cottenhamcharities.co.uk from Monday 21st November and must be returned by Wednesday 7th December. Proof of eligibility will be required and only one application per household can be accepted. Cottenham Charities will also consider applications for grants for essential household or disability items throughout the year. Please apply online via our website.
If you are concerned about the rising costs of gas, electricity and other forms of heating and are not sure what you can do about it, Sustainable Cottenham have come to the rescue.
Experts will be at the Cottenham Community Centre on Sunday 6th November from 11am to 3pm to explain what can be done to cut energy costs in your home. There’ll be everyday, useful tips on how to reduce energy especially in colder weather. Those in the know will be there to give in-depth information and advice on subjects that crop up frequently as we become more conscious of the e ects of global warming. Find out more about:
• solar panels and battery storage
• insulation, glazing and draughtproofing
• electric vehicle charging
• air source heat pumps
You can view an interactive model ECO house, great for children to explore. And there’ll be tea, co ee and biscuits available at no charge.
Saturday 19th November, 2.00 - 5.00 pm Please come along to help keep our village tidy and stop waste plastics etc polluting our environment. Tea and cakes for volunteers afterwards at the Village Hall.
See www.facebook.com/suscottenham or contact chris@sustainablecottenham.org.uk for more details.
Warm Hubs is a collaborative initiative designed to support residents across East and South Cambridgeshire this winter. Run within existing community spaces, local residents can visit a safe, warm and friendly environment to enjoy refreshments and social activity, obtain information and advice, and share the company of others. The network of Warm Hubs will be truly communityled; coordinated and hosted by trained volunteers within the heart of local communities.
Both Cottenham Village Hall and Community Centre will initially be hosting a Warm Hub; Monday mornings at the Hall and Friday afternoons at the Centre. Whether you want to work, read, knit or just fancy some company everyone is welcome. The Hubs are free to attend and will provide
free refreshments. Both venues are still in need of volunteers to help greet attendees, be responsible for refreshments, health & safety and promote the Hubs (we need a minimum of 3 volunteers per Hub and each session is 3 hours); training will be given to everyone and a handbook will be provided. If you can help in any way please get in contact with us via clerk@ cottenhampc.org.uk or facebook. com/cottenhamwarmhubs
It is anticipated that the Hubs will start o simply by o ering refreshments and perhaps some books and games; they will then evolve once we get to know people and what they want from the Hub. We will be opening in November and run through to 31st March 2023. Please look out for posters with further details or follow our Facebook page.
Jo BrookFrom 10.30 to 11.30am along the High Street from the Green to Telegraph Street, and Denmark Road from The Chequers to Telegraph Street.
Buses will be diverted during this time and volunteer marshals will be directing car and pedestrian tra c.
If you would like to help please contact:
cllr.bailley@cottenhampc.org.uk
SCDC
A short service will take place at the War Memorial (near The Chequers, on the High Street) on Friday 11th November at 11am. The traditional main service will be conducted by leaders of combined Cottenham churches on 13th November from about 10.55 am.
The parade will leave the Cambridge Building Society car park about 10.45 am and make its way to the memorial. It is suggested that those unable to stand for 20
minutes bring folding chairs.
The British Legion Poppy Appeal which began in October will come to an end on this day and Poppy Tins from various shops, library and community centres will be collected. If anyone would like a wreath, to lay on the Sunday, please contact Ann Scott t:01954 251468. If you have had a wreath in previous years, one will have been ordered for you automatically.
The War Memorial is looking great thanks to planting by volunteers.
Rosie in Stitches is continuing to raise money to support the mother and child unit at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, using crafty ways.
The group has joined Facebook, Virtual Shop Local – do remember that the East Anglia online Christmas market runs till 24th December. You can request to join this Facebook group https://www.facebook. com/groups/778630486315024/ ?ref=share to find locally sourced, unique, beautifully crafted gifts for special friends and family. Other marketplaces where our catalogue is advertised are shown on our facebook page https://www. facebook.com/RosieinStitches
So far this year the group has
raised £1,669 and there’s another opportunity coming up to buy toys and gifts for all ages: at the Bar Hill Community Market and Tree Lighting event on Saturday 26th November from 11am to 5pm.
Rosie in Stitches welcomes donations of unwanted crafting materials for our crafters to use or for us to sell on eBay. New members are always welcome, whether to contribute financially, to join our team of crafters or display a small selection of our wares. Contact Mary Sanders on 01223 356615. Further details are given on our website www. rosieinstitches.org.uk
Avril Williams
NHS Audiology and the Cambridgeshire County Council run maintenance centres where hearing aids can be cleaned, re-tubed or provided with new batteries. The drop-in centre in Cottenham is at the Community Centre, opposite the Co-op, on the second Thursday of each month. On 10th November and 8th December the service is from 2 to 4pm. From 2023 you will need to make an appointment for what is called a drop-o and wait service. The first of these will be 12th January. Appointments from www. cambridgeshirehearinghelp.org.uk or by phoning 01123 416141. You can get batteries from any of the charity’s Hearing Aid Maintenance Centres or from the Cambridgeshire Mobile library which visits 85 villages and communities in the county.
The good thing about tending your own garden is you can grow what you like to eat (and you also cut down your carbon footprint). Then, if you need inspiration to cook your produce, you can check out The Eco Eats Recipe Book, produced by Sustainable Cottenham. Buy it for £2.50 at the Cottenham Community Centre or Les Wards Greengrocers. It is full of ideas for inexpensive, planetfriendly dishes.
Our allotment on Rampton Road is now in its second season. Over the past 18 months we have grown and harvested fruit and vegetables on a quartersized plot, while also expanding and improving the space given to us. On this larger plot we can grow and harvest a greater variety, some of which is passed on to Cottenham Co ee Shop and the Foodbank. Our wonderful group of volunteers are committed to joining us on our work party weekends and many took on the extra commitment of weekly watering which, during this past summer, was necessary.
As well we also have four families growing fruit and vegetables on small plots developed as a family-friendly
Junior Allotment. And we have a a new shed for equipment suitable for di erent ages. In the coming months we hope to build new raised beds to improve the soil and make it easier to grow more produce there. We would love more people to be involved in this planting area, whether occasionally or regularly as part of our work party team. If you want to find out more about donating equipment and seeds, or volunteering please contact us on community.allotment@gmail.com Or just pop along on either the first Sunday of the month between 1.30 –4pm or the third Saturday of the month between 10am –12.30pm.
Kate LeesCottenham Gardeners Club meets at Franklin Gardens Community Room, usually on the last Friday of the month at 7.30 pm. From now till next April, the cost of membership will be £8. Guests and new members are very welcome to try a single meeting for £3. We had planned to visit Twin Tarns at Somersham in August but it coincided with one of the hottest days so it was postponed until next year. This superb garden was a finalist in Garden of the
Year on television recently. At the end of October, Jim Paine of Walnut Tree Nursery entertained us with a talk: The Secret Life of Plants. On 25 November, Dick Newell, a local activist, will talk about Action for Swifts, the wonderful birds that grace summer skies. There won’t be a meeting in December, but we look forward to the New Year Party on 13 January. For further information please contact Sarah Dumont Tel: 01954 260482
14th 6.30pm Carol singing around the village 17th 2.30pm Messy Christmas followed by live Nativity at 3.30pm
18th 7pm Carol service, All Saints’ Rampton
24th Carol Services Cottenham: 4pm, outdoors in the churchyard with Cottenham Brass; 7pm, indoors with church choir and Junior Prime Brass
24th 11.30pm Midnight communion at All Saints’ Rampton – the two churches join together to celebrate the first Communion of Christmas Day
25th 8.30am and 10.30am, Christmas Day at All Saints’ Cottenham
Sunday 11th, 10.30am Carol Service –sing your way through the Christmas storytelling
Sunday 18th, 10.30am Nativity from scratch – all-age service in which everyone can participate (dressing up optional – props are provided)
Wednesday 21st, 7-9pm, quiet space to think and pray
Sunday 25th, 10.30am, Christmas Day all-age celebrations
Don’t miss the Real Christmas Grotto Walk through the Christmas story:
Sunday 11th, Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th – interact with live characters, engage in activities and see Christmas from a new perspective. See our Facebook page for bookings.
Over 30 families came to the 2nd Cottenham Scout Group’s family activity day and AGM in September. With over 20 volunteers there to help run the procedings it allowed parents, carers and siblings to join in activities such as axe throwing, archery, fire lighting and making paracord bracelets. The AGM was then held around the campfire, followed by a campfire sing song.
We had been concerned at holding the event because, with the death of the Queen, the Scouts had not only lost a head of state but also the Patron. We were truly saddened to hear of Her Majesty’s passing. Thankfully guidance from Scouts HQ gave us the go ahead, with a flag break at half mast to pay homage to Her Majesty. There was a book of condolences for
the adults and for children to sign or draw a picture. During the campfire singing session, we added a moment of reflection when the poem “How do we go on?” was read. This also tied in with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the 9/11 anniversary in the US. The day was thoroughly enjoyed by all. With the help of some new faces on the executive committee and a newly formed fundraising subcommittee, I look forward to moving 2nd Cottenham Scouts into a new era in which we now make our Scout promise to the King of Britain.
Asa French, Group Scout Leader176a
176a High Street, Cottenham CB24 8RX www.kipmcgrath.co.uk/cambridge-north
A reminder that the Connections Bus is on at the Recreation Ground o Lambs Lane every Thursday from 7-9pm (term time only). This free service provides a mobile youth club and is open to all secondary age children. For more information please see their website connectionsbusproject.org.uk
The Clerk is contactable via email and phone between 9.00am - 3.00pm weekdays only (sta 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. Our o ce in the Village Hall is manned Monday and Thursday between 9.30am-1pm. Festive season opening hours announced on Facebook.
Jo Brook Parish Clerk PSLCC
E: clerk@cottenhampc.org.uk
P: 07503 328401
Beth Fleetwood
E: asstclerk@cottenhampc.org.uk
P: 07490 459130
for all highways issues
Debbie Seabright
E: rfo@cottenhampc.org.uk
for all finance matters
www.cottenhampc.org.uk
@cottenhamparishcouncil
We are pleased to welcome Hannah Cook onto the Council. We still have 1 vacancy to fill. If you’re interested
please see our website for details or come along to one of our meetings.
The installation of the new toddler play equipment has commenced and will be completed mid-November. Please be aware that areas of the
playground will be fenced o for your safety during the works. Thank you to everyone who gave feedback during the consultation.
We are currently looking at ways of repairing and refurbishing the remainder of the playground. Essential repairs to existing equipment will be done this Autumn including repairs to the slide mound. We are going to consult Cottenham children on what new equipment they would like to see. As the existing mound is so di cult to keep in good repair because its
We encourage residents to report any Highways related issues they see directly to the County Council, via their reporting site https:// highwaysreporting.cambridgeshire. gov.uk/ For faults which pose an immediate risk of danger to the public
sides are so steep, should we rebuild it with a lower profile or swap it for a new multi play with a slide at least as big as the existing slide? We also want ideas about what to put in the middle of the playground to replace the existing trim trail. We will be consulting with groups in November before drawing up a tender to advertise early next year and hope to get the new work done next year.
(including debris on the roads) please call Cambridgeshire Highways on 0345 045 5212 during o ce hours8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays or for out of hours emergencies use the Police 101 service.
The parade will be taking place on 13th November this year. We will need a number of volunteers to help with
marshalling on the day. If you’re able to assist please contact Beth via asstclerk@cottenhampc.org.uk
Local volunteers can help to keep their community moving in freezing weather by taking part in the Community Gritting Scheme. Volunteers can sign up to grit local footpaths using equipment provided by Cambridgeshire County Council. To sign up, please apply directly to the County Council via the link below. For more information, please contact Beth: asstclerk@cottenhampc.org.uk
The consultation process continues. Cambs County Council announced that it considers 20mph to be the default speed for rural villages and Parish Councils can apply for funding to implement the change. Villagers could attend drop-in sessions to discuss the options or could fill in feedback forms (from the PC website) re speed limits in the village. The options, with maps, indicated where limits should be: Core Streets, Extended Coverage, and Key Roads. Responders could suggest alternatives, adding or removing any roads from the proposals, and could add comments. The Highways Committee will report conclusions to the full council’s in due course.
Our annual Carols on the Green is taking place on Tuesday 6th December at 6pm (note change of date). With food, mulled wine, music from Cottenham Brass Juniors, singing and a visit from Father
Christmas it’s a great way to kick o the festive season! If you would like to host a stall or sponsor the Village Green Christmas tree please get in touch.
All habitat enhancements are now complete at WARG Field (o Histon Road). NB: please be aware there is no public parking at the site. At the
A full schedule of our meetings is available on our website. Meetings last a maximum of 2 hours and residents are always very welcome to attend. Time is set aside specifically at the start of the meeting for you to raise questions/make comments about agenda items. If there’s a
The October rain was a welcome arrival for all interested in what’s been happening in the field before the Cut at the end of Broad Lane since the ponds were created, just before the summer drought started. Initiated by Cambridgeshire ACRE in conjunction with newlifeoldwest.org. uk, the idea behind the ponds is the formation of a wildlife corridor in areas where wildlife is separated by human activities or structures –such as schools, roads and homes. Ponds like these have been established in many parts of the Ouse Washes, the wetlands in north Cambridgeshire, to increase biodiversity. Their construction on Parish Council land was funded by grants from the Lottery Heritage Fund. Cottenham Parish Councillors John Loveluck and Chris Ward from
Broad Lane site the first hedge plants from the Woodland Trust are due to be planted mid/late November, with the remainder due in March 2023.
specific item you’re attending in relation to then we’ll try to bring it forward on the agenda and you’re not obliged to stay for the whole meeting. All meetings commence promptly at 7.30pm and take place in the Village Hall.
Sustainable Cottenham have a watching brief.
Plans are in place to construct hedges around each pond so that it becomes like a ‘wildlife hotel’ where wildlife that live there won’t be disturbed and may be visited by others passing through or only staying a short time. The area around the ponds has been seeded with a mix of oxeye daisies, red clover and trefoil – hopefully emerging as the ground recovers from the rainless months.
The ponds themselves may take some time to fill. If they remain shallow, with sandy bottoms, they provide a nesting environment and attract algae, earthworms, snails, protozoa, insects and microorganisms, according to the charity New Life On the Old West which has a range of education resources.
We are thankful for the opportunity we had to welcome so many people from the villages of Cottenham and Rampton to our services over Christmas. Things are by no means ‘back to normal’ but we continue to look at interesting and alternative ways to support each other and bring people together in a safe way.
As 2022 begins we hope and pray for safe passage through the pandemic and to be able continue finding ways to serve our villages.
November
11th 7.45pm Custard Comedy
or out, we look forward to seeing you! Check out our Facebook page or website for more details.
Key Dates:
Tuesday 1st March at 7pm
Shrove Tuesday Supper in the Church Hall
During Lent we plan to reinstate our well known ‘Lent Lunches’ where we offer soup and ploughman’s to raise money for our charities and the chance for fellowship. We are not sure what form this will take yet, in-door
19th, tea and cakes for Litter Pickers
21st, 12.30pm World Cup match:
England v Iran
25th, 6.30-9pm World Cup match: England v USA
December
Wednesday 2nd March at 7.30pm
Imposition of Ashes at All Saints’, Cottenham
Saturday 12th March; 19th March; 26th March; 2nd April; 9th April and 16th April from 12 noon
Lent lunches
27th March Mothering Sunday
All-Age Communion Service at 10.30am to celebrate
Mothering Sunday
We hope you’ll support us in 2022. Here are five ways:
4th, 9.30am-12.30pm Christmas Market
18th, 2-6.30pm World Cup Final
1. Join: it’s simple and free! Everyone can be a member of the library – even babies.
31st, 8pm-1am New Year’s Eve party (over18s only)
Booking essential
2. Use: make use of your library. Borrow books (in person, or download to a device), use a computer, attend events and activities, access online tools to help with work or research.
3. Volunteer: we can offer even more programmes with help from volunteers. Could you be our next Storytime
We are an adult community group in Cottenham that has been running for eight years. Our membership has been increasing steadily and new members are always welcome. We do exactly what it says on the tin – we sing for fun. We are not a choir, you do not have to audition or be able to read music. We just want you to join in singing old and new songs and enjoy being with others who are doing the same. We do ‘perform’ sometimes, for instance we sang at the Fen Edge Festival. But there is no obligation to take part. We meet on a Thursday morning at the Village Hall in term time and sing from 10.45am to 11.45am. Come a
reader, event helper, Library@Home book bringer or Digital Buddy?
bit earlier for a chat before we start. Your first week is free then the cost is £4 a week or cheaper if you pay half termly.
4. Donate: library services are free to use but monetary donations, small or large, help us provide more books and services.
5. Spread the word: if you love your library, tell your friends and neighbours and encourage them to join! The more members we have, the stronger we are.
If you require any further information please contact Mary Garside (Tel: 01954 204508) or e mail megarside@ gmail.com We look forward to seeing you.
Cottenham Theatre Workshop presents a Christmas show with a di erence – and not what you might expect! (Oh no, it’s not the ballet!)
Longtime CTW member Gary Unwin Riches has created an entertainment based on the German novel The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Ho man and draws in elements from the 2018 film The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
It promises to serve up lots of singing and dancing, festive magic for the whole family to enjoy. (Oh yes they will!)
Where and when:
Wednesday 30th November to Saturday 3rd December at Cottenham Village College. Weekday performances begin at 7:30pm, two Saturday matinees: at 1.00pm and 5.30pm.
Ticket prices: £10 for adults, £8 for concessions (Under 16s/Over 60s).
Book more than 10 tickets for one performance and get a 10% discount! Bookings and enquiries: cottenhamtheatre@gmail.com
You can also book through CTW’s booking agent TicketSource by calling 0333 666 3366 (booking fee plus £1.75 service charge applies). If you or someone in your party is in a wheelchair or has any other needs we might need to know about, please let us know by emailing cottenhamtheatre@gmail.com
On behalf of the Club, I want to thank our Committee members for their hard work and dedication; all the parents and coaches who helped in the running of our u-11s this summer – it just wouldn’t have worked without you; and a special mention to our professional coach, Dan Robinson, who got on brilliantly with the youngsters and brought them pretty much from scratch to become a competitive group.
Secretary: David Chaplin (01954 250075)
Chairman: Ralph Lamble (01954 250313)
President and Vice Chairman:
Dave Partridge (01954 203210)
Junior Teams Coordinators:
Dave Partridge and Alan Raven (01954 250388)
Email: cottenhamcc@yahoo.co.uk
Website: cottenham.play-cricket.com
Twitter: @CottenhamCrickt
Facebook:
Cottenham Cricket Club
They say it’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good! With the sometimes ridiculous temperatures we endured and with gardeners, allotmenteers etc praying for rain in the prolonged drought, our cricketers had the unusual experience of a season unaffected by weather cancellations. It was extremely hard work for the groundsmen, though, who struggled to keep their squares in shape and fit for play. The recreation ground looked more like Arizona than Cambridgeshire as the summer wore on!
But it was a really good season with the 1st team finishing second in their League to gain promotion back to the Senior League. It all boiled down to having to win against promotion rivals Bottisham/Lode in our fi nal game. Batting first, we made 195-6 o our 40 overs with Tom Procter making 49 and skipper, Will Hall, 38. Our opponents were going very well at 133-4 but a clatter of wickets saw them reduced to 155-9.
It looked like we had it in the bag but things are rarely that simple. Their last pair hung on, we missed a couple of chances to wrap it up
and they inched to within 16 runs of victory before Duncan Robson found a way through their last man’s defences, demolished the wickets and triggered joy all round – at least for the locals! It was a real nail-biter and a fitting end to the season for us. The 2nd team, after their promotion last season, narrowly missed out on a second successive jump, coming third in their Division. It was a similar story in that they had to win their last match to clinch promotion. Unfortunately it was against the League leaders, Cam Kerala, and we weren’t able to pull it o on the day. That shouldn’t detract, though, from an excellent e ort by the team and it will just spur us on to go that one step further next time around.
Our juniors also enjoyed their summer of cricket. We put on a full programme of All Stars (5-8 years) and Dynamos (8-11 years) courses and also ran an u-11s team. The latter group, mostly u-10s in fact, were really thrown in at the deep end, playing, for the most part, against older and more experienced opponents. They improved hugely as the term progressed and we notched up one very pleasing victory against Histon.
cottenhamunitedfc@hotmail.com
And check out our website, www.cottenhamunitedfc.co.uk
If your sports club or group have some news we would love to hear from you. Please contact us at: cottenhamnewsletter@gmail.com and please get your articles to us by the 1st January to be in the next edition (February/March 2023)
We are grateful to our generous sponsors: Nigel Bolitho’s BV Services, our shirt sponsors Create Signs and cap sponsor, Jegan Shan, who runs the South Indian/SriLankan Banana Leaf restaurant on Milton Rd in Cambridge –you may not be aware of the great food they serve there! Thanks, too, to the Parish Council for their much appreciated support and especially to groundsman Andrew King and his team for providing a good playing surface every week throughout the drought.
We’ll be holding our end-of-season dinner and presentations soon and
then it’ll be time to focus on 2023. Indoor net practice will get going in early spring so keep an eye on the Club News section of our website for the details. As ever, we are keen to welcome any cricketers in the neighbourhood who are not playing for us and might be interested in joining the Club to help keep up the momentum.
We have 170 years of history behind us and it’s so important we continue to nurture the Club for future generations as well as the current ones. So get in touch and come and join us. You’ll be very warmly welcomed indeed.
Dave PartridgeThe club has one team currently playing in the Cambs FA Saturday Seniors League 1a with home games played at Cottenham Recreation Ground.
The manager is Harry West with assistant manager Toby Burkett. Training takes place at Cottenham Village College Sports Centre and during the season we train Wednesday evenings from 8 till 9pm on their floodlit 3G pitch.
We are a friendly village group and always on the lookout for new players interested in playing senior football. Please get in touch via email
cottenhamunitedfc@hotmail.com or check out our website
www.cottenhamunitedfc.co.uk or follow us on twitter, instagram or Facebook. Or you could just turn up on training nights where you will be very cheerfully welcomed. After fi nishing the 2021/22 season strongly we are very excited about the 2022/23 season and have great hopes in pushing for promotion to the Cambs Senior B league. There couldn’t be a better time to come along and join us on our journey.
lan Stuchbury (Chairman)A new book, edited by Mark Hill, could answer every question you might ever have about the natural development of the city of Cambridge. Known for its university and colleges, its riverside location and nearby Chalk hills, it is also on the edge of the fens, as is Cottenham. The book declares the city to be ‘a biodiversity hotspot’. Filled abundantly with photos, maps, sketches and graphs, the 25 expert authors cover everything from ancient history to newly discovered plants and animals possibly moving north from climate change. The project NatHistCam, with a study area of 64 sq km, began in 2016 and has a website hosted by Mackays of Cambridge – Duncan Mackay, from Cottenham, is one of the contributors.
Published by Pisces Publications, The Nature of Cambridge is priced at £27.50 from www.naturebureau. co.uk/bookshop
Nights are becoming darker and we now look forward to our winter evening meetings at the Village Hall on the second Wednesday of the month from 7.30 to 9.30pm.
After a successful and well attended summer programme which featured an enjoyable Co ee Morning at the Community Co ee Shop in August where we were joined by several Ukranian families and village residents our winter programme got underway with flower arranging in September and musical entertainment in October.
November 9th: Talk on Climate Change and local Wildlife by Brian Eversham, CEO of the Bedfordshire/
Cambridgeshire/Northamptonshire Wildlife Trust.
December 7th Our Christmas Party with entertainment and refreshments. We always welcome newcomers to our meetings, three for free. If you wish to join Cottenham WI the yearly fee for 2023 is £45. Most months we have speakers or other entertainment. There are also outings organised by the Cambridgeshire WI to London Theatres and places of interest in our area like pubs and restaurants!
Cottenham WI – find us on Facebook and cottenhamwi@outlook.com
Christine Munns christinemunns@ btinternet.com
RSPB Fen Drayton is working on a new family trail to open in the spring. The route, less than a mile long, takes in several di erent habitats so that walkers can see a little of what the reserve has to o er.
Leaving the car park through the gate at the end, the trail will go north through our sandy area of ‘early successional grassland’, into the small wood and out into the floodplain meadow along the river before looping back with views over Drayton Lake and Holywell reedbed. The trail is part of the charity’s overall aim to improve facilities for visitors.
there’ll be a £2 car park fee for non RSPB members – further details will be posted on www.rspb.org.uk/fendrayton-lakes.
Winter is a busy time on the reserve with many birds from northern Europe overwintering here. You may be able to spot fi eldfares, bullfi nches, woodpeckers, herons, great crested grebes and waterbirds such as goldeneyes and teal.
A good way of discovering the area is to join a Wednesday Wander, volunteer-led walks usually on the second Wednesday of the month. For details and bookings: www.events. rspb.org.uk/fendraytonlakes
All memberships of CTC are half price now, valid until 31 March 2023. Prices start at just £5 for under 11s, to £42.50 for a family. With membership you can play for free at Cottenham Sports Centre four evenings a week (including club night), weekend mornings and family tennis sessions.
Cottenham is lucky to have grass courts at the Recreation Ground looked after by the Parish Council. They are, of course, subject to the weather and this summer the surface became more like straw. With the return of the rain, the grass may recover well watched over by the groundsmen.
Lots like to play here – families with children particularly enjoy the hit and run tactics necessary to cope with the often strange bounces of the balls! But there is another idea for older people. Or someone recovering from an injury. Or a newcomer to the sport.
An interesting development has been removing running from the equation! Now, using a shorter court, with lower nets and softer balls, you walk to go for a return. You play singles or doubles and when receiving a serve, you can let it bounce twice before hitting it. Cottenham Tennis Club would love to hear if you would like us to organise try-out sessions. The Village Hall is just a walk away so you can relax later. Get in touch with Louise on info@ cottenhamtennis.co.uk
Cottenham Tennis Club has made it possible for children at the primary school to learn the sport as part of the curriculum. With funds from the club and the Co-op Community Fund, tennis coaching takes place during PE lessons under the instructions of our head coach, Toby from Game Set Tennis.
A six-week block of tennis lessons will be given to all children in years 3-6 across this academic year, using the new red learner balls and the smaller rackets we’ve provided. The club’s aim is to source funding for more of these rackets.
Breakfast Club early morning tennis sessions are back at CPS too, under Toby’s guidance. Book places online via www.gamesettennis.co.uk
Children who take to the game can bring a parent along to the club’s Family Tennis sessions, run twice a month by a club volunteer. These are free to members and non-members get a free trial – just turn up on Sundays 10am to 12noon. See the events page on our website
www.cottenhamtennis.co.uk
Sports Centre four evenings a week (including club night), weekend mornings and family tennis sessions.
The Cambridge and Peterborough Integrated Care System has been running a survey to gauge views of local people in regard to health and care services. The campaign – called Let’s Talk: Your health and Care – aims to give people who live, study or work in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough the opportunity to influence the next five years of health and wellbeing services. They created an online questionnaire www.surveymonkey. co.uk/r/RKB8RN9 (closing date 10 November) which covered a wide range of topics, from getting appointments to the impact of the current cost of living crisis on health and wellbeing, to what could help children and young people in the future. You can get a printed copy if you prefer by contacting cpicb. comms@nhs.net
Acerbic wit, disparaging mind, Digital presence, negatively terse. Instant reactions lacking in empathy, Thoughtless statements, intended to hurt.
Faceless not nameless, both distant and close, Not really anonymous, avoid harmful prose. Be positive, constructive, considerate and kind, A power for good, that challenging mind.
In the middle of October artists, art lovers (buyers and lookers) all congregated at Swavesey Village College for the 29th Cambridge Open Art Exhibition. This much loved show returned to the college after a three year absence. With around 300 framed and unframed artworks as well as prints, embroidery and sculptures there was much to appreciate. A poll
The sun rises on all living things. The rocks with warmth have been touched. The golden rays glow excitement, a day renewed by heaven’s breath. Light lifts the shadows, all can be seen. A waking dream.
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!
All aspects of building work undertaken: specialising in extensions, conversions, alterations, garage and loft conversions, underground
gave the People’s Choice award to Nigel Moore for his ‘Poppies at Dawn’. The non-profit making show is run entirely by volunteers with magnificent support from the students and sta of Swavesey Village College. As for previous shows, the South Cambs District Council’s Community Chest grants helped the purchase of the display panels.
Not being able to read well is a huge stumbling block in education. Parents and children alike were a ected by the pandemic, when learning processes were badly interrupted. A charity, Schoolreaders, which aims to improve literacy and life chances, is now looking for volunteers to listen to children read in primary schools. Even before Covid, one in four children were leaving primary school unable to read well and the 10-year-old Schoolreaders wants to correct this lack by training volunteers to go into schools and help for free.
Could you be a volunteer? If you have some spare time, enjoy being with children and can commit to a minimum of a year’s volunteering during school terms, get in touch with schoolreaders.org (or call 01234 924111). You will have to agree to their Code of Conduct and have a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check. It might take some time to complete, but you will be kept informed at every stage of the application process.
Students from The Centre School in Cottenham have
been working at homelessness charity
Wintercomfort every week providing a pop-up co ee shop at Overstream House serving fresh co ee, sandwiches and sometimes cakes.
Teacher Jamie Hampshire said: “Our students have worked really hard each week, I am very proud of their achievements. The project not only gives them relevant work experience, it also gives them an opportunity
to give back to the community and develop empathy and compassion.”
Fundraiser Simon
Pickering said: “We have been delighted to host the students while they have provided their cafe to our service users, as part of our work within the homeless sector we have a real interest to providing education and understanding on the complexity of homelessness.”
Money raised will pay for summer survival packs, containing t-shirts, underwear and toiletries.
5EU
The cafe closes on 23rd December and opens again at 10am on the Wednesday after new year. (If you are a knitter Wednesday is an opportune day to join the Knitting Group that meets in the cafe from 10am to 2pm. A lot of their output goes to Rosie’s, the mother and baby unit at Addenbrooke’s.)
Career options for Cottenham students
The Community Centre is one of the two ‘warm hubs’ in Cottenham where trained volunteers ensure you feel safe and can enjoy the company of others. Much better than sitting at home wrapped in a blanket and worrying about the rise in the cost of heating! The CC hub is on Friday (starting 11 November), from 3 to 6pm with board games and cards to keep everyone occupied. Times may be extended in 2023 depending on whether there are enough volunteers
Open 7 Days a week
-Saturday 8.00 -5.00pm, Sunday 9.00am -2pm
Open 7 Days a week
Monday -Saturday 8.00 -5.00pm, Sunday 9.00am -2pm
High Quality Pet Food and Accessories
Poultry and Farm Animal Feed and Equipment Horse Feed, Equipment and Bedding & Accessories Fuel - Flo Gas, Logs, Kindling and Coal
Telephone: 01954 260798
info@highgatecountrystore.co.uk
Have a look at our website click & collect available
www.highgatecountrystore.co.uk
Telephone: 01954 260798
info@highgatecountrystore.co.uk
Butchers
Mrs Scully and Mrs Fisher accompanied a group of girls to a careers event ‘Making Your Mark’ held at Waterbeach Barracks in October. The girls were able to experience
activities including architecture, engineering and many more career choices – and were encouraged to make their mark in the world of future development.
We sell locally sourced quality meat and poultry enhanced by a wealth of butchery experience from our friendly and knowledgeable staff.
Come and see for yourself our great range of beef, Lamb, Pork, Poultry and Game products, not forgetting our 28 day aged beef.
Opening times: -Mon: Closed Tue-Sat: 9-5.00/ Sun: 9-2
Tel: 01954 260444
highgatebutchers@gmail.com
Opening times: -Mon: Closed
Tue-Sat: 9-5.00/ Sun: 9-2
Tel: 01954 260444
highgatebutchers@gmail.com
Cottenham Community Centre
Tuesday 10–11.30am (Live!)
ZOOM
Tuesday 7.00- 8 30pm
Oakington Pavilion Hall Wednesday 7.00 – 8.15pm (Live!)
One-2-one Yoga by appointment.
BScBWYDip STRETCH & TONE BUILD CORE STRENGTH HOW
TO RELAX & DE-STRESS FULLY PROFESSIONAL
SIBLEY- MOORE YOGA 01954 202235
2023
open-beaked to be fed. Too lazy or too spoilt to pick it up, we wondered? If they can fl y why can’t they feed themselves?
Plenty of entertainment, then, despite the morning chorus only being conducted by pigeons and doves. Occasionally, we are momentarily deceived into thinking one sounds like a cuckoo, but we rarely hear a real one. The pigeons strut around our garden as if they own it; one fell asleep and plummeted down our chimney, frightening me almost as much as it did itself.
Muntjac and the odd squirrel apart, we don’t see much four-legged wildlife, but birds are plentiful in late spring and summer. Swifts and swallows dart and swoop above our heads during our walks towards the open fields at the end of our lane.
Once there we begin looking out for the pheasant that lives in the long grass centre of a fallow one. It sounds like a pheasant, it’s pheasantshaped, but is pure white. It’s obviously leucistic or even the rarer albino.
More amusement and speculation comes from starlings invading our garden to squabble for the suet cake suspended for our delightful tits and robins. They drop most of it on the lawn around their identically-sized fledglings who ignore it as they wait
Once, the loud screech of fear as a bird flew between our house and next door also made me start. A pursuing raptor, perhaps, recalling our neighbour’s story of a kestrel swooping into their back garden after cornering its prey? Certainly something unusual had happened as four or five young rooks flapped above me in avian panic when I stepped outside. One flew at the front wall of our house, and hung desperately before taking uncertain fl ight again. Then another landed heavily on my head. It was like being sandbagged. Alarmed and shaken, I knocked it away. Suddenly aware of my presence they were gone – I never saw where, and I didn’t care as I tenderly explored the quickly rising bump on my head.
Ian Blake
HAYLEY JANE’S BEAUTY For all your beauty needs. Waxing, facials, massage, manicures/pedicures, spray tan. Call now to book an appointment 01954 251967. Located in the High Street at Cottenham Cutz & Beauty.
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: Teresa.collins.haymer@hotmail.co.uk 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
MATHS TUITION up to and including GCSE. I can o er ongoing general support to help consolidate school and college teaching or specific areas of the curriculum can be addressed. Lessons online or, if permitted, face to face in Landbeach. Contact Frank Batten, maths.tutoring@gmail.com for more information.
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 on 07956 406643 or visit www.lingwooddogs.com
R J BENSON CARPENTRY Local fully qualified reliable carpenter. Please call 07961 811454 or email robbenson15@gmail.com for advice/free quotes.
ANTIQUE, MODERN & BESPOKE UPHOLSTERY using traditional materials and techniques. Based in Cottenham, Victoria Morris Upholstery o ers 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
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
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
THE VILLAGE FOOT CLINIC Wilburton Clinic & mobile chiropody for: nail cutting/nail thickness reduction, corns, calloused 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. www.facebook.com/AgriPestcambs/ www.agripestcontrol.co.uk
ENGLISH TUITION English, all levels o ered, including support for GCSE, IGCSE, EFL, ESOL, EPQ and Business. Lessons online or face to face, adhering to the local education policy.
Email: dtenglishtuition@gmail.com Text to: 07719592375
SARAH JANE HAIRDRESSING would like to thank all our ladies and gentlemen for their continued support through what was another di cult year. We wish you all a very Happy Christmas and hope to see lots of old and new faces in 2023. Best wishes from us all xxx
Please send advertising payment to The Business Manager Peter Robertson (01954) 200080.
Would you like to appear in a new FREE ads section? - are you a young person o ering pet sitting or baby sitting? We would love to hear from you.
Please send your request to advertise to: cottenhamnewsletter@gmail.com
Shaun’s Convenience store and Post Office
Newspaper and magazine delivery service to the whole of Cambridge
To set-up a delivery service, please call us on 01954 250398, or email: shaunsnews@gmail.com
Hope
Healthcare
Cottenham Dental Practice
☎ 01954 251696
Firs House Partnership
☎ 01954 251180
www.firshouse.com
The Cottenham Surgery
☎ 01954 250079
www.cottenhamsurgery.nhs.uk
Well Pharmacy
☎ 01954 250556
Emergency
NHS ☎ 111
Police ☎ 101 (non urgent)
Anglian Water ☎ 03457 145145
Environment Agency incident hotline
☎ 0800 807060
Environmental Health (out of hours)
☎ 08456 095437
Highways faults (immediate danger only) ☎ 03450 455121
Homelessness Emergency Service (out of hours) ☎ 01253 501117
UKPN (power cuts)
☎ 105 or 0800 3163105
Adult social care ☎ 03450 455202
Children & Young people’s social care ☎ 03450 450203
Childline ☎ 0800 1111 www.childline.org.uk
Citizens Advice ☎ 08082 787808 www.cambridgecab.org.uk
Cottenham CareCar ☎ 01954 251929
Cottenham Charities ☎ 01954 250082
Foodbank (Ely) ☎ 01353 468626 www.elyfoodbank.org.uk
Cottenham Mobile Warden Scheme ☎ 01954 200080
Samaritans ☎ 116 123 (free) www.samaritans.org
Schools and nurseries
Chestnut Nursery ☎ 01954 250744
www.chestnut-nursery.co.uk/nurseries/cottenham
Ladybird Preschool ☎ 01954 250891 www.ladybirdpreschool.org
Cottenham Primary School ☎ 01954 250227 www.cottenhamprimary.co.uk
Cottenham Village College ☎ 01954 288944 www.astreacottenham.org
Churches and cemetery
All Saints’ Church ☎ 01954 583651 www.allsaintscottenham.org.uk
Baptist Church ☎ 01954 252378 www.cottenhambaptist.org.uk
Cottenham Dissenters’ Cemetery ☎ 01954 252378
email: minister@cottenhambaptist.org.uk
Salvation Army ☎ 01954 252419 www.salvationarmy.org.uk/cottenham
Local authorities
Cambridgeshire County Council ☎ 03450 455200 www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk
South Cambridgeshire District Council ☎ 01954 713000 www.scambs.gov.uk
District Cllrs: John Loveluck ☎ 07815 811636 johnloveluckcrw@gmail.com or Annika Osborne ☎ 07511 796629 annikaosbornecrw@gmail.com
Clubs and groups
Brownies - 2nd Cottenham ☎ 07717 201836
3rd Cottenham ☎ 01954 203764
Cottenham Bowls Club ☎ 01954 251956 www.hugofox.com/community/cottenham-bowls-club-8286/home
Cottenham Brass ☎ 07512 965913 www.cottenham-brass.co.uk
Cottenham United Colts - www.cottenhamunitedcolts.com
Cottenham Cricket Club – www.cottenham.play-cricket.com/home
Cottenham Gardeners Club ☎ 01954 250227
Cottenham Jaguars Netball – www.cottenhamjaguarsnetballclub.com
Cottenham & Rampton Luncheon Club ☎ 07708 425720 01954 250035
Cottenham Tennis Club ☎ 01954 488413 www.cottenhamtennis.co.uk
Cottenham Theatre Workshop – www.cottenhamtheatre.com
Jo Brook
Parish Clerk PSLCC
E: clerk@cottenhampc.org.uk
P: 07503 328401
www.cottenhampc.org.uk
Cottenham United FC ☎ 07771 882182 www.cottenhamunitedfc.co.uk
Cottenham WI christinemunns@btinternet.com
Fen Edge Orchestra – www.fenedgeorchestra.wordpress.com
Fen Edge Runners ☎ 01954 231806 secretary@fenedgerunners.org.uk
Renegades Rugby ☎ 07866 404813 www.renegadesrugby.net
Royal British Legion ☎ 01954 251468 ann.scott23@ntlworld.com
Sustainable Cottenham ☎ 01954 251813 www.sustainablecottenham.org.uk
01223 832 928
www.Rothwells.biz
& Stone Floors, Upholstery, Rugs
Rothwell’s has been in business since 1993. Our large truck mounted machines mean more cleaning & drying power for the best results possible.
Members of both the NCCA and TACCA. We will move the furniture for a thorough clean. 100% satisfaction or it’s FREE.
VILLAGE
HALL UPDATE
Although COVID delayed the full opening of the new village hall, by the end of 2021 it was bustling with community groups, exercise classes, children’s parties and training sessions. This spring it will be hosting its first wedding reception. The community bar opened once or twice a week from September – for visitors to the recreation ground to enjoy a beer on the patio, a gin and tonic with friends or some crisps and a soft drink or coffee with other young families.
The Parish Council is keen to build on this – to open the bar on a regular basis several times a week and run social events such as dances, comedy nights and family discos. The profits from the bar and events will help with the hall running costs and keep hire charges down for Cottenham residents.
To do this we need:
• volunteers to serve in the bar
For more information, email Christine Ward cllr.ward@ cottenhampc.org.uk.
COVID has once again scuppered our plans for events in early 2022 but we are keen to be ready when things re-open, whenever that is.
Cottenham is fortunate to have a variety of community facilities of different sizes, prices and accessibility. The new village hall will help meet the needs of our growing village to ensure there is somewhere to host that community group, exercise class, party, business meeting or wedding reception.
High Quality Pet Food and Accessories
Poultry and Farm Animal Feed
Over Road, Willingham, Cambridge, CB24 5EU
Horse Feed, Equipment and
High Quality Pet Food and Accessories
Fuel - Flo Gas, Logs, Kindling
Have a look at our website
Poultry and Farm Animal Feed and Equipment
Over Road, Willingham, Cambridge, CB24 5EU
The village hall is on the Recreation Ground next to the primary school on Lambs Lane and is for Cottenham and managed by Cottenham Parish Council.
Monday
Horse Feed, Equipment and Bedding & Accessories
Fuel - Flo Gas, Logs, Kindling and Coal
High Quality Pet Food and Accessories
• people to help organise events and run the bar rotas
• customers!
Poultry and Farm Animal Feed and Equipment
Over Road, Willingham, Cambridge, CB24 5EU
Horse Feed, Equipment and Bedding & Accessories
High Quality Pet Food and Accessories
Fuel - Flo Gas, Logs, Kindling and Coal
Open 7 Days a week
Monday -Saturday 8.00-5.00pm, Sunday 9.00am-2pm
www.highgatecountrystore.co.uk
There are three function rooms of different sizes across two floors – including an impressive function room with bar, balcony and beautiful views. There is parking for 90 cars.
Open 7 Days a week
Poultry and Farm Animal Feed and Equipment
Have a look at our website click & collect available
Monday -Saturday 8.00-5.00pm, Sunday 9.00am -2pm
Horse Feed, Equipment and Bedding & Accessories
Fuel - Flo Gas, Logs, Kindling and Coal
The Parish Council is already working with an enthusiastic team of Cottenham residents but the village hall is for everyone and we would like more people to be part of it. So, please consider either joining the organising committee or helping with a few shifts behind the bar. All volunteer work will be unpaid – but a great way to meet new people and help your community.
Have a look at our website click & collect available
Telephone: 01954 260798 info@highgatecountrystore.co.uk
Highgate Butchers
We sell locally sourced quality meat wealth of butchery experience knowledgeable
For more information see www.cottenhampc.org.uk/ village-hall-hire or email: bookings@cottenhampc.org.uk
www.highgatecountrystore.co.uk
Telephone: 01954 260798 info@highgatecountrystore.co.uk
Highgate Butchers
Come and see for yourself our great Poultry and Game products, not forgetting
Come and see for yourself our great range of beef, Lamb, Pork, Poultry and Game products, not forgetting our 28 day aged beef.
We sell locally sourced quality meat and poultry enhanced by a wealth of butchery experience from our friendly and
Come and see for yourself our great range of beef, Lamb, Pork, Poultry and Game products, not forgetting our 28 day aged beef.
Opening times:-Mon: Closed Tue-Sat: 9-5.00/ Sun: 9-2
Tel: 01954 260444 highgatebutchers@gmail.com
Opening times: -Mon: Closed Tue-Sat: 9-5.00/ Sun: 9
Tel: 01954 260444 highgatebutchers@gmail.com
Opening highgatebutchers@gmail.com
61 Margett Street, Cottenham £310,000
A charming Victorian terraced property, in the heart of Cottenham just over 7 miles to the north of Cambridge. The property features many original features and benefits from a single garage and garden with home studio, ideal for home working.
Rampton Road, Cottenham £420,000
A very spacious, four bedroom semi detached home, set on a good sized plot, with off road parking and garage to the rear. Two reception rooms, and first floor shower room. Close to the village centre, shops and schools.
93 Rooks Street, Cottenham
A period semi detached, two bedroom cottage in need of general modernisation / updating
117 Histon Road, Cottenham
An end of terrace 3 bedroom property enjoying a convenient village location, backing onto Histon Road Recreation Ground
If you are thinking of selling , or offering your home for rent , take advantage of our expert local knowledge
