The Country Park
An extensive Country Park forms an integral part of the Trumpington Meadows development, providing a superb natural habitat for wildlife, as well as a wonderful open space for local residents and visitors to enjoy.
In 2010, the park was seeded with wild grasses and meadow flowers, and hedgerows were replanted
to restore field margins. The project team received a Silver Green Apple award from The Green Organisation in recognition of ecological works completed in 2009 to restore a 1.5km
stretch of the River Cam running through the site. The restoration work raised the level of the river bed to improve fish spawning and invertebrate habitat, and increased the
level of protection for kingfisher and otters. In addition, a wild flower meadow was allowed to revert to being a flood meadow, to control floodwater and provide a better habitat
for wildlife.
Working with the Wildlife Trust
The Country Park is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. The Trust has been working closely with TMLC and our advisors since 2008 to shape and influence the design of the Country Park and the new habitats that are being created. The Trust has also taken on responsibility for managing the contracts to create the new meadows, copses, hedgerows and parkland, as well as manage the existing habitats, including the flood meadows and riverside trees.
Martin Baker, the Trust's Conservation Manager, commented, "Having been involved in the creation of the country park and nature reserve from day one, we have gained valuable experience and knowledge of the site and its wildlife and history, which will be invaluable once we start managing the country park on its opening to local people."
The vision
The Trust hopes that Trumpington Meadows becomes a popular place for local people to visit. There will be space for walking, running, cycling, or just sitting and relaxing. Children will be able to create their own adventures in a safe, natural setting. And it will be a place where you can learn about the wealth of nature, history and archaeology that surround us.
The meadows will have a colourful mix of white, yellow, purple and blue wildflowers. They will also be alive with insects, such as butterflies and bumblebees, and song birds such as skylarks will be singing overhead. Brown hares may be seen running across the meadows and the farmland next door. Down by the river a variety of fish will be seen, including brown trout, and the brightly coloured kingfisher might be glimpsed darting over the water. Otters will be present, though rarely seen, but their footprints might be found in soft mud at the riverbank.Dragonflies will hover over the river and the new balancing pond. Over time, the newly planted woods and hedges will become home to a range of woodland and farmland birds, and our larger mammals such as badger, fox and deer will find shelter.
How you can get involved
As well as undertaking the everyday management of the park, the Wildlife Trust is committed to engaging with the local community. A wide range of activities are planned to involve local people in learning about Trumpington Meadows, and there will be opportunities to help out with managing the site and monitoring its wildlife. There will be a year-round programme of events, from guided walks and talks to work parties, family events and other more unusual activities. The Trust also hopes to provide a range of interpretation resources to inform visitors and residents of what is on their doorstep, including on-site signage, leaflets and online materials. This information will allow visitors and residents to learn about and explore the nature, history and archaeology of this special place.
There is a new Facebook page for the Trumpington Meadows Country Park & Nature Reserve which can be found here https://www.facebook.com/groups/trumpingtonmeadowsNR/
The Trust will have a small office base and site maintenance barn in the north-east corner of the park. Staff and volunteers will be regularly available to answer questions and address any site issues. Attached is the press release confirming plans for the Wildlife Trust hub have been approved on 18th March 2015.
United Visual Artists (UVA) are working with the new Trumpington Meadows primary school to develop a permanent work for the school to be installed on site.
Katherine was very excited by the archaeological find of the bed burial on the site and is currently planning an avenue of willow trees within the country park.
The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire
Your local Wildlife Trust was formed as the Cambridgeshire & Isle of Ely Naturalists Trust in 1956. Following various mergers, by 1994 the Trust's area of responsibility had been widened to include Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Northamptonshire.
The Trust works to make our three counties a place where nature matters, where wildlife can flourish and enrich the lives of the people who live here. With your help we care for local wildlife. Ninety five per cent of the local population live within five miles of one of our 126 reserves and contributions of time or money will directly benefit local wildlife.
Often people do not realise the amount of work and money it takes to manage a nature reserve to create the best habitat for wildlife and to maintain the paths that allow people to explore and enjoy wildlife. Most of our nature reserves are managed by a dedicated band of volunteers, who work alongside Trust staff to help us with everything from path maintenance to tree pruning and hay cuts to bramble pulling.
As well as managing nature reserves, we also work with schools, individuals and community groups to help make land beyond those reserves good for wildlife too. We inspire young and old to care for nature and help protect wildlife.
We are an independent local charity dedicated to protecting all kinds of wildlife in our three counties. Together will the other 46 Wildlife Trusts we form a powerful national force with a strong voice on nature and conservation issues.
Find out more
here