Parish and town councils and communities play a big role in nature recovery. Natural Cambridgeshire's Local Nature Recovery Toolkit gives great advice on how local groups can help.
We’re always looking to support nature recovery efforts. An example of this is our support for the work of Cambridge Nature Network. Find out a bit more about what they do in the video below.
Find out more on the biodiversity duty for parish councils.
Nature recovery projects
Nature Recovery - From the Ground Up
Nature Recovery – From the Ground Up is a four-year project led by Cambridgeshire County Council and Natural Cambridgeshire, funded by the Cambridgeshire County Council Just Transition Fund. It supports communities to create their own Community Nature Recovery Plans, aligning with the aims of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
This project offers support with workshops, specialist training (citizen science, ecological skills, environmental management), habitat mapping and baseline surveys, networking, developing local nature projects, and more.
The first phase of the project (July 2025 – March 2027) includes five South Cambridgeshire parishes: Cottenham, Duxford, Haslingfield, Histon & Impington, and Shepreth, and will expand to other parishes in later phases.
To find out more about the project, visit Nature Recovery - From the Ground Up | Cambridgeshire County Council or contact community.nature@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Swavesey Parish Council and The Sustainability Hub
This project focusses on community orchards, wildflowers, public engagement events, community garden areas. Read the Swavesey case study for more information. You can contact them by emailing clerk@swavesey.org.uk.
Sustainable Cottenham
The work done in Cottenham by local nature recovery groups includes new ponds, tree planting and woodland restoration. You can contact them by emailing chris@sustainablecottenham.org.uk
Girton Parish Council Nature Recovery
This project is focused on writing a Local Nature Recovery Plan and crowdfunding. For more information please email lnrp@girton-pc.gov.uk
Willingham Parish Council
The parish council’s nature recovery work at several sites in the village includes a community orchard and playing fields. You can contact them by emailing clerk@willinghamparishcouncil.gov.uk
Histon and Impington Green Spaces and HI Sustainability Hub
This project focusses on land management for biodiversity, education and enjoyment. You can contact them by emailing hello@higreenspaces.org
The HI Sustainability HUB (Histon and Impington) run several initiatives to increase biodiversity in the villages; They maintain a network of wildlife verges which are mown only twice per year and have a Hedgehog Highway program where they support residents to make passages for hedgehogs (making hedgehog holes in fences). HI Hub is also creating a community orchard for people and wildlife. Learn more about these initiatives at HI Sustainability.
Bassingbourn Zero Carbon Collective
Bassingbourn Zero Carbon Collective have been working on a range of wildlife projects including swift nest boxes, native tree planting and an interactive tree trail. You can contact them by emailing biodiversity.zcc@gmail.com
Duxford Parish Council Biodiversity Strategy
The Duxford Biodiversity Strategy (2023) sets out the parish’s 5-year plan for protecting and enhancing biodiversity. Some biodiversity actions include:
- no mo May – leaving some grassy areas such as verges to grow longer during the month of May and even beyond, to support biodiversity in long grasses and wildflowers
- maintaining bigger hedges at least 2m high and wide to create habitat for wildlife – no cutting between March – August during bird nesting season
- wildlife garden village - turning private gardens into wildlife gardens to create nodes and corridors for wildlife across the parish
- holding nature festivals to get the community involved
- involving the local school to engage young people
- biodiversity projects in public spaces like allotments, churchyards and cemeteries
These simple actions are a good reminder that small, low cost easy-wins can make a big difference. Read the Strategy to find more inspiration.