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Cambridge City Greenways Project

 

The Cambridge City Greenways Project began in 1998 and is principally funded by Cambridge City Council. The Project helps to enhance the habitats within the city through practical management work with volunteers, advising landowners and liaising with City Council departments. Our work focuses on the four identified Greenways and County and City Wildlife Sites within the City. Greenways are corridors of wildlife habitat leading into the City that are designated on the City Local Plan. A key aspect of the Projects work is to engage the local community with the environment. One way this is achieved is through the Tuesday Conservation Group. This group was set up to enable people to offer their help on a voluntary basis and assist with the management of local sites. Volunteers are essential to the work we do and help us to put our ideas into action.

The Project encourages the public to discover and enjoy the wild areas and species within the City through talks, practical work and participation in local surveys. Regular guided walks and events demonstrate the highlights of the Greenways at various times of the day and year. The dawn chorus walks, pond dipping and moth trapping sessions are extremely popular and are guaranteed to expand your knowledge.

As well as focusing on the specific sites, more citywide work is also undertaken. A survey of Swifts, House Martins and Swallows has been completed and more recently an amphibian and reptile survey. The Cambridge City Greenways Project, in conjunction with the Sustainable City Environment Centre, has also offered free nest boxes to members of the public and has worked with schools taking groups on guided walks and bug hunts.
Working in partnership with other groups is important to the Project and its success. The Project Officer works closely with the Community Reserves Officer at the City Council whose work concentrates on the City’s Local Nature Reserves (LNRs). The Tuesday Conservation Group often assists with the management of these sites, however it is the Projects work along the Greenways that reinforces the conservation work in these core areas and enhances the overall biodiversity of the City.

The aims of the Cambridge City Greenways Project are:

• To bring all County and City Wildlife Sites under favourable management
• Involve volunteers with habitat management and surveying
• To inform the public of the value of the Greenways and other wildlife sites
• Encourage the widespread knowledge of BAP species and other wildlife found within the city

The Mid-Week Volunteer Groups

Are you looking for fun, fresh air and exercise? Do you have a spare day during the week? Would you like to help safeguard some of the areas most important wildlife habitats?

We could not complete our work without the help of volunteers; they help us put our management recommendations into action and provide local communities with a helping hand. Conservation volunteering is also good for you. Volunteers benefit from the gentle physical exercise and the social aspect of working with a diverse group. We undertake a range of tasks and ensure there is always something for everyone. Being a volunteer is about having fun whilst making a difference in your local area regardless of your age or abilities.
Newcomers are always welcome. All we ask is for one day of your time. If you would like to join us please contact the Project Officer beforehand. On the day you will need to wear appropriate clothing and footwear (waterproofs, sunhat and sunscreen) and bring a packed lunch. We would recommend that you have an up to date tetanus jab too. We provide all the tools and safety equipment and will train you in how to use them. We also provide refreshments. The group meets at 9.30am and aims to finish by 3.30pm.

We run two practical volunteer groups; on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The Tuesday Conservation Group works in the City on many of the greenspaces including Local Nature Reserves (LNRs), the Commons, City Wildlife Sites and other parks and open spaces. On these work days, the Project Officer will meet volunteers at the work site.

The Midweek Conservation Volunteers work outside of the City boundaries on a variety of sites including Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Parish Pits, LNRs and County Wildlife Sites. On these work days, the Project Officer will pick up volunteers at the Babraham Road Park and Ride and provide minibus transport to the site.

Contact

For more information about Cambridge City Greenways Project, please contact Laura Watson on 01954 713530 or email Laura.Watson [at] wildlifebcnp.org