A day exploring nature and farming in Cambridge
- Countryside
- Environment
We spent a wonderful day in Cambridge with the Waitrose team learning more about the impact of two charities supported by KCCF grants, The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts and Soil Association.
Our morning began at Trumpington Meadows, a 148-acre nature reserve established alongside an award winning housing development. Set on the outskirts of Cambridge and managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Northamptonshire, this former farmland has been transformed into a flourishing wildlife haven that also serves as a flagship example of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in action.
Guided by the reserve’s lead ranger, we discovered wildflower meadows buzzing with pollinators and newly established hedgerows that offer shelter for birds and small mammals. The site demonstrates that with the right partnerships and planning, we can restore degraded landscapes and enhance biodiversity and ecological networks even within and around urban developments.
From there, we travelled to Hawk Mill Farm, a working farm engaged in the Soil Association’s Innovative Farmers programme—a network connecting farmers with researchers to trial practical on-farm solutions.
David White, owner of Hawk Mill Farm, shared his pioneering approaches to improve soil health, climate resilience and biodiversity on his arable farm. Since taking part in an Innovative Farmers field lab in 2018, David has embraced an ethos of experimentation and collaboration. It was great to see how he is continuing to test new methods, including increasing wildflower strips, diverse cover crops and reduced tillage methods to improve both productivity and environmental outcomes.
The Innovative Farmers programme empowers farmers like David to test and adapt innovations in real-world conditions, contributing valuable data to the wider farming community and supporting the critical role of farming in the responsible stewardship of land.
Nikki Jeffery, KCCF Executive Director said:
The day showcased how funding through sales of Waitrose Duchy Organic is bringing about real positive change for communities and our environment. These two projects provide a compelling vision of how building developments and farming can work hand in hand with nature offering a sustainable future for us all.
