Cam Valley Forum

Our regular activities include:

Influencing development plans

We comment constructively on major planning applications for development, or other proposals that might affect the river and riverside land.

Caring for riverside meadows

We help to keep Grantchester Meadows and the river free of litter with the support of River Care, and we are seeking to secure better management of the meadows. Forum members also work with other organisations to clear litter and invasive vegetation (such as Himalayan Balsam and the non-native Floating Pennywort) from the river, streams and riverside areas.

The third collection from the river in one week by Malcolm Schofield.

Removing Floating Pennywort from Coldhams Common

River
Mel Restoration Group working in the River Mel

Encouraging community projects

We encourage people to care for their nearby stretches of river or streams and adjacent areas, making them better for wildlife and for people. We run workshops and guided walks to demonstrate what can be done. Following our workshop in 2005 a new group was set up to improve the river Mel in Meldreth. The River Mel Restoration Group is actively improving the Mel near Meldreth and also helping volunteers near Melbourn. Anyone interested in lending a hand should contact Maureen Brierley 01763 262752.

The forum also gives small grants to help such groups get started. The Wildlife Trust, under its 'Water for Wildlife' Project, can give advice to local groups on how to improve the biodiversity of riverside land by creating wet meadows, pollarding willow trees or improving habitats for water vole and otters.

Walks and talks

Our educational activities include occasional workshops and guided walks which explore what can be done to improve rivers and riverside land. We also offer short summer courses to introduce young children to streams and the plants that grow in and near them.

Walks and talks
Looking at improvements carried out by Friends of the River Shep

Partnership projects

Last year the forum made a small contribution to river restoration work carried out by South Cambridgeshire District Council. This will improve wildlife habitats along the river Cam adjacent to the new riverside park being created at Trumpington Meadows. Other contributors to this ambitious project included Cambridgeshire Horizons, the Environment Agency, the Wild Trout Trust and Cambridgeshire Biodiversity Partnership. For more information contact Rob Mungovan on 01954 713402, Rob.Mungovan@scambs.gov.uk

Keeping a watch on pollution

We keep an eye out for signs of pollution and practices which appear to be endangering the water quality and the health of aquatic plants. This has, for example, included voicing our concerns about the clean-up of the Hauxton factory site, and lobbying the District Council Environment Agency on its use of chemical spraying to control vegetation in the upper Cam.

Our previous projects include:

Willow trees beside the Bourn Brook

We commissioned a survey of the willow trees alongside the Bourn Brook which provided the basis for approaching landowners with suggestions for their management and advice on sources of funding for pollarding.

A walk along the Bourn Valley

We produced a leaflet on a walk from Cambourne to Grantchester using public rights of way and permissive paths. Please note: permissive paths may change. Walkers must now keep to the north of the road bridge over the brook (at point H) and then cross by a footbridge to regain the published route. For a free leaflet contact Jean Perraton.

Sustainable riverside farming

We helped to establish a project, run by the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group , encouraging riverside farmers to manage their land in environmentally friendly ways. This project has ended, but the Wildlife Trust, in its 'Water for Wildlife' project, is building on the contacts made by FWAG to improve the biodiversity of the river corridor.

Join the Cam Valley Forum and help us to increase our influence and develop more projects. See Contacts page.