Midsummer Celebration of the Rights of the River Cam

  • Posted on: 1 June 2026
  • By: Susan
Invitation to Declaration of Rignts of the River & Festival, 21 June, 4.50pm

Join us for our 6th Declaration of the Rights of the River Cam and our dedication to defend the river, which will be collectively read at 6pm on Jesus Green on Sunday 21st June 2026. The festival will open at 4.50pm and we have a wonderful array of music, poetry, songs, talks and art activities now confirmed. We'll be posting a full listing shortly, but as a taster, we can reveal that the amazing Frida Violetta Band will once more be closing the festival (ending around 9.30). Bring your dancing shoes, your voices and your picnics, and we look forward to seeing you there!

Daniel Zeichner's views on the state of our rivers, and what to do about it

  • Posted on: 21 March 2026
  • By: Susan
Sewage in the River Cam (papier mache poo and long distance swimmer-protester)

On Tuesday 17th March Friends of the Cam had a meeting with Daniel Zeichner as part of the Sewage Campaign Network Day in Parliament. The report of our meeting, as well as a report of an evening meeting focused on the Channel 4 drama-documentary Dirty Business hosted by Clive Lewis MP for Norwich South, is attached.

Who Decides Cambridge's Future?

  • Posted on: 20 March 2026
  • By: Susan

This is a critical time for Cambridge and its surrounding area as the Government is in the process of imposing an unelected body - the Greater Cambridge Development Corporation - on the city region. On Monday, 23rd March Cambridge Past Present and Future hosted a discussion (the recording is available here: ‘Who Decides Cambridge’s Future’ ) and FotC’s steering group member (and Chair of FeCRA) Wendy Blythe was on the panel. 

WHY FRIENDS OF THE CAM DO NOT SUPPORT A DESIGNATED BATHING AREA AT SHEEP’S GREEN

  • Posted on: 12 August 2023
  • By: Susan
The Cam at Sheep's Green

Friends of the Cam campaign for an unpolluted river, against over-abstraction from it, and the unsustainable growth in buildings and infrastructure that impact on both. Designating short stretches of rivers may lead to some very limited local improvement of water quality, at the expense of water quality elsewhere. Friends of the Cam opposed the DBA application in the consultation for reasons given below.

About

Friends of the Cam are a Cambridge based campaigning group committed to restoring the health of the river Cam and its tributaries for the benefit of nature. We are pledged to ending pollution of the river and overabstraction linked to unsustainable growth in the area. We have developed a charter to express these commitments which we invite others to sign.

The Issues

The River Cam and its tributaries are suffering badly from over-abstraction, agricultural run-off and sewage discharge leaving them in poor condition with very low flow levels and dirty water. At the same time the area is in the midst of a dash for growth in building houses and offices which is putting further strain on natural water flow and preventing the restoration of an already depleted system.

Taking Action

We can act by constantly opposing the conditions that are wrecking the River Cam and its streams. We can spread the word, persuade others, write letters, attend policy meetings, expose the role of water companies, businesses including farms, greenwashing efforts, planning officers, Councils, monitoring agencies. We can counter the unsustainability of building and infrastructure proposals. We can strengthen alliances with all those national and local groups who act with clarity and integrity to protect our River and counter unsustainable growth. We declare the Rights of the River Cam at a public ceremony every Midsummer's day in June as a way of spreading the word and creating a network of River Defenders prepared to act to protect the River.