Celebrating the best of Cambridge

Nature and climate mitigation

CambridgePPF owns Wandlebury Country Park, Coton Countryside Reserve and Barnwell Meadows, where we work hard to enhance nature and help mitigate climate change. We also partner with other organisations to protect and improve the ecological value of land across greater Cambridge.

Built heritage

CambridgePPF is the only local charity that cares for multiple heritage buildings. We are responsible for the restoration and upkeep of Bourn Windmill (Ancient Monument) Hinxton Watermill (grade II listed) Cambridge Leper Chapel (grade I listed) and the historic buildings and archaeological sites at Wandlebury Country Park (Ancient Monument and grade II listed buildings). We are also the only charity campaigning to protect Cambridge’s wider built heritage. Other organisations work on a national level, but our focus is purely on the historic buildings of greater Cambridge.

Green space and wellbeing 

CambridgePPF owns and manages more than 550 acres of land in and around Cambridge. Every year, we welcome over 120,000 visits to our green spaces and historic buildings, including thousands of school children.

The development of Cambridge

A large (yet not so obvious) part of our work is in lobbying and advising on the responsible development of Cambridge – its housing, employment and overall infrastructure. Our work here is centred on ensuring a balance between the needs of people and the environment. Our work in Cambridge’s town planning and civic sector often involves collaborations with local residents, parish councils, government bodies, and environmental groups.

We can only continue our work with the support of people like you – please help us by being a member, giving a donation, volunteering your time or leaving us a legacy.

Working together for a better and brighter future

CambridgePPF (then known as the Cambridge Preservation Society) was founded in 1928 to prevent the city and its surrounding countryside from inappropriate development. Over the years, our remit has broadened to encompass the wider environmental needs of
Cambridge and its surrounding areas. We now act as an independent voice in its strategic planning and work to protect both its built and natural heritage.

And with the current environmental crisis, our focus is increasingly set on biodiversity, climate mitigation and increasing the ecological value of the land we own. Our work will also contribute significantly to Cambridge Nature Network's vision of doubling habitats for nature and people by 2050. This work is critical in improving the balance between the needs of our people and the nature that sustains us all.

The first 50 years
• Purchased land to save the historic villages and attractive countryside to the west of Cambridge from inappropriate development
• Saved and restored the country’s oldest windmill at Bourn
• Prevented development on Grantchester Meadows
• Mapped out footpaths before The Rights of Way Act came into effect
• Saved the Gog Magog Hills from development
• Created Cambridge’s first country park at Wandlebury
• Took on responsibility for maintaining the historic Leper Chapel
• Saved and restored historic cottages in the village of Melbourn

Recent successes
• Saved and restored the 17th century watermill at Hinxton
• Established Cambridge’s Green Belt, after 50 years of campaigning
• Created a countryside reserve near Coton village
• Planted over 10,000 trees, with the help of the local community
• Saved and restored Grade II listed cottages on Orchard Street
• Converted Wandlebury’s derelict stables into a successful outdoor education centre
• Championed a Nature Recovery Network
• Helped to establish Cambridge’s ‘Conservation Areas’ and ‘Buildings of Local Interest’
• Converted farmland into wildflower meadows