In the 1930s, our charity was able to buy 400 acres of farmland on the western edge of Cambridge. We did this to prevent urban sprawl and protect the historic villages of Madingley, Coton and Grantchester and the setting of the historic city of Cambridge.

Until 2004 the land was used as a farm, providing an income for the charity’s work. Then we started creating a new Countryside Reserve to increase nature and provide access to the countryside for Cambridge’s rapidly growing population.

So far, we have planted over 10,000 trees, created wildflower meadows, orchards and ponds and provided facilities for the community, including 8km of paths, car/cycle parking, bridges and picnic benches.

Much of the land is still farmed but our vision is to transform this into a nature rich landscape, with an abundance of wildlife, colour and sound, where common species thrive, and rarer species can recover.

At its heart will be a large new nature reserve, where the land will provide wider environmental benefits such as reducing flood risk, climate change mitigation and fostering the wellbeing of the Cambridge community.