Joint SOW/EAG talk on 22/2/23 by Natalie Lambert of Cambridge Nature Network with 17 attendees.

The UK is one of the most nature deprived countries in the world and Cambridgeshire is one of its most nature deprived counties. The Cambridge Nature Network was set up in 2021 to help nature recover and improve access to it.

Clusters of natural habitat have been identified within a 10km area of Cambridge as five Priority Areas, including the chalk grassland of the Gog Magog hills, the River Cam corridor, and the south of Wicken Fen. The aim is to make these areas bigger, better and more joined up.

A further “Opportunity Area”, Fen-edge Orchards & Droves, has been identified to the north of Cambridge (light brown in the map above), and it’s this area we are in – strictly, Westwick is in it and its western boundary is the guided busway but projects in Oakington would be included. (“Opportunity” rather than “priority” because of lack of funding at the time for surveys.) This area could form a stepping stone for wildlife towards the richer nature of the Ouse valley/washes and the Great Fen further north.

Cambridge Nature Network involves farming and other landowners, local planning authorities, businesses, parishes and individuals. It has pressed for nature-supportive policies to be included in the Local Plan, encouraged nature friendly farming, and has secured funding for 25 nature recovery projects. The most local to us was organised by Histon & Impington Green Spaces and included hedge laying and habitat creation such as insect boxes and reptile refuges.

Natalie encouraged us to use the Nature Recovery Toolkit to map the existing quality of habitats in Oakington & Westwick, which can lead into a project to improve them – we could then apply for funding from Cambridge Nature Network. We have decided we will look at this toolkit in the May SOW meeting (31^st May).

1. Make a simple map of wildlife habitats in your area.
2. Decide the objectives for your nature recovery plan.
3. Develop a nature recovery map that illustrates where you want to create new habitats and the existing habitats that can be improved.
4. Develop a timeline for habitat creation or improvement.
5. Develop a plan for maintaining and monitoring these habitats and the wildlife that lives there.

There were lots of questions and discussions following the talk – here are some of the points raised:

• What are “droves”? A fenland word for long tracks used for cattle. Many local villages have droves.
• The fen-edge orchards and droves opportunity area is now a focus for the Cambridge Nature Network.
• Wildlife corridors – data shows that these are crucial even if not huge. Maybe the busway verges form one.
• Working with farmers? Cambridge Nature Network soon found that farmers did not want to be told what to do, and that it was best to work with them through a committed “lead” farmer.
• Our village survey – rather than starting with who owns what land, the toolkit will help us work out what’s already there and what we want to achieve. If a formal project is begin the Wildlife Trust may be able to help with surveying.
• Natalie suggested we talked to people who have done projects in John Clare County (a nature priority area by the Nene Valley.)
• A14 trees (planted by Highways but uncared for and so mostly dead.) Would have formed not only a buffer but pockets and corridors for wildlife. Natalie encouraged us to make a project proposal. Other community groups have worked with the Highways department. eg. Histon Abbey People for biodiverse verges.
• Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) – Natalie said the details of this have not been finalised but it is something developers will need to consider in future.

It was suggested that EAG/SOW have a joint stall at the Village Day showing the mapping and inviting participation.