Nature Recovery

The Parish Council set up a group to advise and guide on improving nature in and around the village in accordance with the 2021 Environment Act.  The initiative follows the successful churchyard management project at St Mary’s in Comberton, which seeks to create distinct habitat zones and encourage greater biodiversity.  The project is part of the Cambridgeshire Churchyard Conservation scheme, sponsored by the Bishop of Ely (Wild churchyards | Wildlife Trust for Beds Cambs & Northants).   The work in Comberton churchyard has been recognized with a Silver Award by the scheme.  A report to the Annual Church Meeting in 2023 summarised progress.

The parish is within an important rural area and includes three tributaries of the River Cam. It is also close to several sites of importance to wildlife. The area faces many challenges, being close to and within the green belt of one the fastest developing cities in Britain and also in one of the most important arable farming areas in the country.  These contrasting factors mean that nature faces several quite distinct challenges.  The network seeks to help nature recovery by working with the community to support government policies.   The project was launched at a meeting in the Village Hall in February 2024 and reported to the Parish Council annual meeting in May 2024.  The first step, to assess the habitats in the parish, was completed in the summer of 2024 and the results are being assessed.  The plan is to encourage community effort by individuals or small groups to suggest, implement and manage projects which give incremental improvements in nature and the environment.   The team work in collaboration with South Cambridgeshire District Council, the Natural Cambridgeshire Partnership (https://naturalcambridgeshire.org.uk), the Wildlife Trust and also the Countryside Restoration Trust who own a farm bordering Bourn Brook.

As part of the work a survey of wildlife in the parish has used the parish magazine, ‘Contact’ to deliver a questionnaire to all households in the village and the results are currently being analysed.  If you live in the village and have missed the opportunity to return the questionnaire, please do complete the form and return by email to combertonnaturenet@outlook.com.  Despite the challenges facing the parish we do have a diverse wildlife.  Over 120 species of birds, 500 plants, about 480  moths and butterflies, and 20 species of mammals have been recorded in the parish.

There will be an open meeting in the Village Hall at 8.00pm on 18^th March 2025 to which all members of the community are invited.  The group will present and discuss the results of the habitat mapping competed during 2024 and the results of the village wildlife survey.  The Steering Group hope to garner ideas for small projects which can support nature in the village and help to develop the Comberton Nature Recovery Network.

Updated 4^th December 2024