Our achievements

We were founded in 1928 (as Cambridge Preservation Society) to prevent the historic city of Cambridge and its countryside setting from being damaged by inappropriate development.

Since that time we have:

Saved the Gog Magog Hills from development and created Cambridge’s first country park at Wandlebury, which we own and care for.
Saved from demolition and restored a 17th century watermill at Hinxton.
Restored and cared for one of the country’s oldest windmills at Bourn.

Created a new countryside reserve for people and wildlife on the edge of Cambridge, near Coton.
Cared for one of Cambridge’s oldest complete buildings, the historic Leper Chapel.
Helped establish and defended the Cambridge Green Belt.
Saved and restored historic cottages in the village of Melbourn and on Orchard Street in Cambridge.
Prevented development on Grantchester Meadows.
Converted derelict stables into an outdoor education centre at Wandlebury and welcomed over 20,000 school children.

Campaigned for the protection of the historic environment and helped establish and review Conservation Areas and Buildings of Local Interest.
Helped to save Cambridge pubs from being sold and converted into housing.
Mapped out footpaths around Cambridge before Public Rights of Way existed.
Converted farmland into wildflower meadows, humming with life.
Planted thousands of trees with the help of the local community.

We manage Wandlebury Country Park and Coton Countryside Reserve to act as “green lungs” for the Cambridge area, providing a space for people of all ages to enjoy the outdoors, experience nature and heritage and get exercise and fresh air. Wandlebury receives around 100,000 visits during the year, including from our successful Healthy Walk programme.

We are incredibly grateful to the people who gave their time and money over the past 90 years to enable us to achieve these things.

As the population of Cambridge grows and the pressure on the city and its countryside increases our work is needed more than ever.

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.

You can read more about our history in a book ‘Planners and Preservationists - The Cambridge Preservation Society and the City's Green Belt 1928-1985' by Anthony Cooper £10 (contact us for copies).

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Latest

Snow drop season at Wandlebury Country Park

Visit Wandlebury Country Park and experience the woodland and pastures transformed. Snowdrops are awakening, spreading a blanket of dappled white across the forest floor. Highlighted with the beautiful glow of aconites. Breathe in some fresh air and explore the flowering drifts on a wander around Wandlebury.
Work begins on an exciting new pond for Wandlebury Country Park

Work has started on an exciting project to create a new 400m2 pond at Wandlebury Country Park. Volunteers and Wardens from the park have been working together on preparing the site. The water feature will add an additional educational attraction for families and school children to learn about nature, wildlife and ecosystems.
Dame Leah Manning honoured with a blue plaque

Homerton College and Cambridge Past, Present and Future joined forces on Saturday 28 September to unveil a blue plaque to Dame Leah Manning, whose career of education and activism began at the College.
Local people give their views on future plans for greater Cambridge

How can we plan for a zero-carbon future? How can the growth of greater Cambridge help to double the amount of species rich habitats for nature? And how can we provide the different types of housing needed, such as more affordable housing and accommodation for older people and key workers?