Living Landscapes
The Gog Magog Project
Scheme area: 500 hectares
Benefits include: Habitat restoration, recreational opportunities for local communities and visitors
The Gog Magog Living Landscape vision aims to create an inter-connected network of species-rich chalk grassland and other habitats south of Cambridge and to create a large and accessible green infrastructure resource for the expanding population of Cambridge.
The Cambridgeshire chalk supports internationally important populations of rare orchids and spectacular chalk flora and butterflies. Some of the finest surviving examples are also Scheduled Ancient Monuments and, because of their linear nature, they span a large area of the landscape. For example, a Roman Road, surfaced with local chalk and colonized over 2000 years by species-rich grassland and Saxon earthworks, dating from the seventh century, such as the Devil’s Ditch and Fleam Dyke. These support large populations of pyramidal and fragrant orchids and several hundred Lizard Orchids, which flower each year, at one of only a handful of sites in Britain.
The gently rolling landscape means that a 10 metre earthwork provides wonderful views across the chalk farmland. At Newmarket racecourse, the unique chalk-heath holds the rare bright blue spiked speedwell. Butterflies such as chalkhill blue, marbled white and brown argus thrive. Former chalk quarries extend the habitat into the city. The recent acquisition of East Pit at Cherry Hinton, extending existing reserves at Limekiln Close and West Pit, safeguards some of the largest populations of the rare moon-carrot and greater pignut and a strong colony of glow-worms.
The Gog Magogs Living Landscape project aims to protect and enhance these important sites and to create an interconnected network of species-rich chalk grassland and other habitats south of Cambridge city. This will provide rich and diverse accessible ‘green infrastructure’ for the expanding population of Cambridge, within a government Growth Area. Delivery mechanisms include land acquisition to expand existing nature reserves, working with farmers to identify opportunities for habitat linkages and promoting agri-environment schemes. This is a partnership project between the Wildlife Trust, Cambridge Preservation Society and Magog Trust.
Click here to listen to Brian Eversham, Chief Executive, explaining Living Landscapes and what it means for our three counties.
Click here for a map of the Living Landscape project areas.