News and Events

Challenging the Fixed Bus Way through Coton Orchard

  • Posted on: 14 January 2025
  • By: Susan

Friends of the Cam have submitted an objection to the plan to build a fixed dedicated bus route from Cambridge (Grange Road) to Cambourne, via Coton, destroying a traditional orchard of national importance in the process. The County Council have applied for a Transport and Works Act Order; the next likely step is for the Department of Transport to set up a Public Inquiry, although it is within its power to disallow the project. The reasons for our objection are set out below.

March for Clean Water, Sunday 3rd November

  • Posted on: 11 September 2024
  • By: Susan
Join the march for clean water on October 26

Friends of the Cam is a member of the coalition organising The March for Clean Water. We joined other groups from Cambridge and across the country on Sunday November 3rd to demand clean, plentiful and healthy water in our rivers and seas for all species, including humans, and to end the profit driven pollution which drives water companies. 

Latest action demanding that Anglian Water stops polluting our rivers

  • Posted on: 11 September 2024
  • By: Susan

⁨⁩On Friday 13 September, Friends of the Cam and XR staged an action against Anglian Water dumping sewage in local rivers, prompting the water company to state they had heard the message “loud and clear”. This was followed on the 14th by an afternoon of outreach and family fun on Jesus Green, demanding that Anglian Water #ActNow to stop polluting our rivers.

A Meeting of Rivers

  • Posted on: 6 August 2024
  • By: Susan

Friends of the Cam is one of four groups working on the “Meeting of Rivers” programme. Its inaugural workshop was co-hosted by the Friends of the Cam on the 19th and 20th of September at St Lukes Church, Cambridge. A report was published in the Cambridge Independent here.

Friends of the Cam stand in solidarity with Friends of Paradise

  • Posted on: 30 January 2024
  • By: Susan
Summer Mist in Paradise Nature Reserve

A planning Inquiry Inspector overrode the unanimous decision of Cambridge City Council and the objections of thousands of residents to allow Queens’ College to develop in the garden of Owlstone Croft, up to the boundary of Paradise Nature Reserve. Friends of Paradise has applied to challenge this decision through a judicial review. Unfortunately, the Judge has refused Friends of Paradise a hearing for a Judicial Review.

Friends of the Cam stands in solidarity with Save Honey Hill

  • Posted on: 30 January 2024
  • By: Susan
Honey Hill Green Belt site threatened with waste water treatment plant

The Public Inquiry on the relocation of Milton waste water treatment plant has concluded. In the Inquiry, Save Honey Hill exposed the weakness of Anglian Water's case, and Friends of the Cam submitted objections to the unnecessary and damaging development. The Planning Inspector was due to report to the Secretary of State by July 2024, but the Government has yet to announce its decision. The latest deadline of 12 January 2025 has now been abandoned, and an anouncement is said to be made in April, 2025, to take account of new planning legislation. 

Pure Clean Water

  • Posted on: 23 November 2023
  • By: Susan

Friends of the Cam was delighted to host Tony Eva's award winning new film, 'Pure Clean Water', in December. The film demonstrates how the Cam and its tributaries - a rare chalk stream system - have been exploited to the brink of extinction. The film played to a full house of people who are increasingly concerned about the impact of growth on the river system, as well as on green belt land, farming and people's wellbeing in general.

Rights of Nature for Antarctica - unique challenges and promise

  • Posted on: 19 October 2023
  • By: Susan

Professor Alejandra Mancilla talked to a group hosted by Friends of the Cam on the need for rights for Antarctica to be declared. The talk was reported in the Cambridge Independent, and the slides are available at the end of this summary. She is a member of a campaigning collective who are arguing for Antarctic Rights, launched on World Antactic Day, December 1st, 2023.

Walking in Water

  • Posted on: 26 September 2023
  • By: Susan

Charlie Gardner, West Norfolk based conservation scientist, climate communicator and activist, set off from Jesus Green on Sunday September 24th on a 180 mile walk to raise awareness of global heating and sea level rise. His route took him entirely through land which is threatened by predicted sea level rise within decades. Friends of the Cam joined Charlie for the first leg of his walk.

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