Talk on Hedgehogs - Sustainable Oakington & Westwick
Our friends at Sustainable Oakington & Westwick have a talk coming up about hedgehogs and the work of the Shepreth Hedgehog Hospital.
Free but donation of approx £2-£3 per person would be great.
Join a Butterfly Survey at Croft Close Nature Reserve
As part of the national Big Butterfly Count 2025 organised by Butterfly Conservation, we will be counting butterflies again at Croft Close Nature Reserve.
These are guided sessions, suitable for children where supervised by an adult.
We will provide you with butterfly identification sheets, clipboards and recording forms. You do not need to be an expert in butterfly identification to join in. Everyone is welcome to come and learn more about these beautiful insects.
We start at the Croft Close entrance to the Nature Reserve.
Please register in advance by emailing sitemanagers@abbeyfields.online. This allows us to let you know if the event has to be cancelled.
Please come dressed for the weather with suitable shoes for rough ground.
Join a Butterfly Survey at Croft Close Nature Reserve
As part of the national Big Butterfly Count 2025 organised by Butterfly Conservation, we will be counting butterflies again at Croft Close Nature Reserve.
These are guided sessions, suitable for children where supervised by an adult.
We will provide you with butterfly identification sheets, clipboards and recording forms. You do not need to be an expert in butterfly identification to join in. Everyone is welcome to come and learn more about these beautiful insects.
We start at the Croft Close entrance to the Nature Reserve.
Please register in advance by emailing sitemanagers@abbeyfields.online. This allows us to let you know if the event has to be cancelled.
Please come dressed for the weather with suitable shoes for rough ground.
September work parties at Croft Close Nature Reserve
Fancy some outdoor activity? Why not join one of our work parties. All work parties will have a mix of activities, from light trimming to heavier manual work so there should be something for most.
We start at the Croft Close entrance to the Nature Reserve.
Please register in advance by emailing sitemanagers@abbeyfields.online . This allows us to let you know if the work party has to be cancelled, and also to ask you, if you can, to bring specific tools to suit the planned tasks.
Please come dressed for the weather, with stout footwear and gloves. Secateurs will always be handy.
Join a Butterfly Survey at Croft Close Nature Reserve
As part of the national Big Butterfly Count 2025 organised by Butterfly Conservation, we will be counting butterflies again at Croft Close Nature Reserve.
These are guided sessions, suitable for children where supervised by an adult.
We will provide you with butterfly identification sheets, clipboards and recording forms. You do not need to be an expert in butterfly identification to join in. Everyone is welcome to come and learn more about these beautiful insects.
We start at the Croft Close entrance to the Nature Reserve.
Please register in advance by emailing sitemanagers@abbeyfields.online. This allows us to let you know if the event has to be cancelled.
Please come dressed for the weather with suitable shoes for rough ground.
Join a Butterfly Survey at Croft Close Nature Reserve
As part of the national Big Butterfly Count 2025 organised by Butterfly Conservation, we will be counting butterflies again at Croft Close Nature Reserve.
These are guided sessions, suitable for children where supervised by an adult.
We will provide you with butterfly identification sheets, clipboards and recording forms. You do not need to be an expert in butterfly identification to join in. Everyone is welcome to come and learn more about these beautiful insects.
We start at the Croft Close entrance to the Nature Reserve.
Please register in advance by emailing sitemanagers@abbeyfields.online. This allows us to let you know if the event has to be cancelled.
Please come dressed for the weather with suitable shoes for rough ground.
Join a Butterfly Survey at Long Meadow, Park Lane
As part of the national Big Butterfly Count 2025 organised by Butterfly Conservation, we will be counting butterflies again at Long Meadow.
These are guided sessions, suitable for children where supervised by an adult.
We will provide you with butterfly identification sheets, clipboards and recording forms. You do not need to be an expert in butterfly identification to join in. Everyone is welcome to come and learn more about these beautiful insects.
We start by the fence at the village end of Long Meadow.
Please register in advance by emailing sitemanagers@abbeyfields.online. This allows us to let you know if the event has to be cancelled.
Please come dressed for the weather.
Join a Butterfly Survey at Croft Close Nature Reserve
As part of the national Big Butterfly Count 2025 organised by Butterfly Conservation, we will be counting butterflies again at Croft Close Nature Reserve.
These are guided sessions, suitable for children where supervised by an adult.
We will provide you with butterfly identification sheets, clipboards and recording forms. You do not need to be an expert in butterfly identification to join in. Everyone is welcome to come and learn more about these beautiful insects.
We start at the Croft Close entrance to the Nature Reserve.
Please register in advance by emailing sitemanagers@abbeyfields.online. This allows us to let you know if the event has to be cancelled.
Please come dressed for the weather with suitable shoes for rough ground.
Join a Butterfly Survey at Manor Park Field/Community Orchard
As part of the national Big Butterfly Count 2025 organised by Butterfly Conservation, we will be counting butterflies at the Manor Park Field and the Community Orchard.
These are guided sessions, suitable for children where supervised by an adult.
We will provide you with butterfly identification sheets, clipboards and recording forms. You do not need to be an expert in butterfly identification to join in. Everyone is welcome to come and learn more about these beautiful insects.
We start by the pedestrian gate to the Community Orchard.
Please register in advance by emailing sitemanagers@abbeyfields.online. This allows us to let you know if the event has to be cancelled.
Please come dressed for the weather.
Join a Butterfly Survey at Long Meadow, Park Lane
As part of the national Big Butterfly Count 2025 organised by Butterfly Conservation, we will be counting butterflies again at Long Meadow.
These are guided sessions, suitable for children where supervised by an adult.
We will provide you with butterfly identification sheets, clipboards and recording forms. You do not need to be an expert in butterfly identification to join in. Everyone is welcome to come and learn more about these beautiful insects.
We start by the fence at the village end of Long Meadow.
Please register in advance by emailing sitemanagers@abbeyfields.online. This allows us to let you know if the event has to be cancelled.
Please come dressed for the weather.
Join a Butterfly Survey at Manor Park Field/Community Orchard
As part of the national Big Butterfly Count 2025 organised by Butterfly Conservation, we will be counting butterflies at the Manor Park Field and the Community Orchard.
These are guided sessions, suitable for children where supervised by an adult.
We will provide you with butterfly identification sheets, clipboards and recording forms. You do not need to be an expert in butterfly identification to join in. Everyone is welcome to come and learn more about these beautiful insects.
We start by the pedestrian gate to the Community Orchard.
Please register in advance by emailing sitemanagers@abbeyfields.online. This allows us to let you know if the event has to be cancelled.
Please come dressed for the weather.
Flora Survey at Long Meadow, Park Lane
Join one of our regular flora surveys at Long Meadow. Whether recently started identifying plants or having a lifelong interest, all are welcome to come and help monitor the 150 or so flora species found at the Meadow.
You don’t need to bring anything other than, perhaps, something to kneel on and suitable clothing. But if you have a wildflower or grass identification guide, bring it along.
If you are interested in coming along, please let us know in advance at sitemangers@abbeyfields.online to check if there are available places. (Group size is limited by equipment availability!).
We meet beside the fence at the village end of Long Meadow.
Tree Identification Workshop at Croft Close Nature Reserve
Daphne Fisher, who has a passionate interest in trees and is one of the HIGS Trustees, will describe the remarkable transformation of the once agricultural field and its historical field boundaries, which include two magnificent trees of great age.
The walk is open to all. Whilst participants need to be able to walk over uneven ground we will be proceeding slowly to allow those less sure on their feet to join in.
We start at the Croft Close entrance to the Nature Reserve (CB24 9HU).
To attend the guided walk please register interest by emailing sitemanagers@abbeyfields.online. (If there is high demand, numbers may have to be limited.)
There is no charge for the walk but donations will be taken on the day (Alternatively see https://www.higreenspaces.org/donate).
Feast Festival – Histon& Impington Green Spaces Stall
We are supporting the Feast Festival with a HIGS stall in the High Street.
Continuing our Connecting with Nature theme, we are hoping to talk to lots of people about what they know about accessible green spaces in the villages – from pocket parks to Croft Close Nature Reserve - and the opportunity to experience different aspects of nature that these spaces offer.
We will also showcase some of the work that we have been doing at the Abbey Fields sites to record the wildlife present and to further improve these sites for nature.
Of course, we will also be talking about our future plans, and how important volunteer support is to us.
Orchard Breakfast
We are supporting the Orchard Breakfast with a HIGS stall at the Community Orchard.
We will have activities for families. We are in the Community Orchard so we will be focusing on meadow plants and their pollinators.
The adjacent Histon Wood (aka the WI Wood) has a problem with invasive holm oak saplings. Find out what the problem is and what needs doing to improve things. Perhaps you could help next winter?
We will also be hoping to talk to lots of people about what they like about Long Meadow and Croft Close Nature Reserve; and, if we were going to change anything, what their suggestions might be. This is part of our ongoing process to develop site management plans for the next five year period.
We look forward to seeing you there.
See magical moths and beautiful birds close up
See, close up, moths collected overnight. See birds in the hand and find out more about the birds to be found locally. Previously we have had a fantastic catch of moths, and our regular ringing team will have plenty to show you and tell you about our birds including our summer visitors.
Just pop along any time between 09:00 am and 11:00 am to see either of the demonstrations. We look forward to seeing as many children at the demonstrations as possible as there is nothing quite like the experience of getting really close to wildlife.
The event will be free. Donations to Histon & Impington Green Spaces to help with the upkeep of the site welcomed!
Join us at the Croft Close entrance to the Nature Reserve (CB24 9HU). Croft Close is a residential street so please respect our neighbours – as this is early come and leave quietly.
Please come dressed for the weather and rough ground.
Fingers crossed for fine weather!
FILM SCREENING | PURE CLEAN WATER
St Andrew’s Histon Eco Church will be screening the award-winning film Pure Clean Water the chalk streams crisis in Greater Cambridge which asks ‘Is the Cambridge growth phenomenon about to be derailed by a shortage of water?’
Following the Film, there will be a panel discussion on some possible solutions - with representatives from Water Sensitive Cambridge (installing water gardens) and Ben Shin, a local water engineer, talking about his work on the reservoirs promoted by Anglian Water.
Tickets are £4 per person. Cash or card payment on the door.
For more information and to reserve tickets click here.
Or contact: office@standrewshiston.org
Flora Survey at Long Meadow, Park Lane
Join one of our regular flora surveys at Long Meadow. Whether recently started identifying plants or having a lifelong interest, all are welcome to come and help monitor the 150 or so flora species found at the Meadow.
You don’t need to bring anything other than, perhaps, something to kneel on and suitable clothing. But if you have a wildflower or grass identification guide, bring it along.
If you are interested in coming along, please let us know in advance at sitemangers@abbeyfields.online to check if there are available places. (Group size is limited by equipment availability!).
We meet beside the fence at the village end of Long Meadow.
Flora Survey at Long Meadow, Park Lane
Join one of our regular flora surveys at Long Meadow. Whether recently started identifying plants or having a lifelong interest, all are welcome to come and help monitor the 150 or so flora species found at the Meadow.
You don’t need to bring anything other than, perhaps, something to kneel on and suitable clothing. But if you have a wildflower or grass identification guide, bring it along.
If you are interested in coming along, please let us know in advance at sitemangers@abbeyfields.online to check if there are available places. (Group size is limited by equipment availability!).
We meet beside the fence at the village end of Long Meadow.
Flora Survey at Long Meadow, Park Lane
Join one of our regular flora surveys at Long Meadow. Whether recently started identifying plants or having a lifelong interest, all are welcome to come and help monitor the 150 or so flora species found at the Meadow.
You don’t need to bring anything other than, perhaps, something to kneel on and suitable clothing. But if you have a wildflower or grass identification guide, bring it along.
If you are interested in coming along, please let us know in advance at sitemangers@abbeyfields.online to check if there are available places. (Group size is limited by equipment availability!).
We meet beside the fence at the village end of Long Meadow.
Flora Survey at Long Meadow, Park Lane
Join one of our regular flora surveys at Long Meadow. Whether recently started identifying plants or having a lifelong interest, all are welcome to come and help monitor the 150 or so flora species found at the Meadow.
You don’t need to bring anything other than, perhaps, something to kneel on and suitable clothing. But if you have a wildflower or grass identification guide, bring it along.
If you are interested in coming along, please let us know in advance at sitemangers@abbeyfields.online to check if there are available places. (Group size is limited by equipment availability!).
We meet beside the fence at the village end of Long Meadow.
HI Trees Community Tree Care Event
EVERYONE WELCOME!
Chivers’ field next to Holiday Inn, close to the A14.
Help a tree to survive and thrive by weeding and mulching around it – guidance will be given.
If you can, please bring your own: work gloves, spades, trowels, wheelbarrows, buckets, and a drink.
Note there’s no parking on site.
Download the poster here.
April Nature Hunt at Long Meadow
Come and try our annual children’s quiz with a nature theme. It's on Easter Saturday this year!
Pop along any time between 10:00am and 12:30pm and join us.
Entry for the nature hunt is £3 per child and every entrant will receive a prize when they finish.
We will have a FREE Activity Tent with play doh for younger children.
Cakes, hot drinks and squash will be on sale.
We will also have volunteers on hand to tell you more about what the charity is doing to look after both Long Meadow and Croft Close Nature Reserve.
Long Meadow is located off Park Lane, Histon. Enter through the hedge where you see the Abbey Fields flag. Please come dressed for the weather and the rough ground. Regrettably, there is no car parking here.
Fingers crossed for fine weather this year!
Members Afternoon
Come to our Member’s afternoon on Saturday 22nd March at the Saint Andrew’s Centre, Histon. Continuing our Connecting with Nature initiative we will be talking about water – our richest habitat for plants, insects and other animals – and improvements that could be made here in the villages. This includes our work at Abbey Fields and the experience of others in the community. The session will be open and interactive and there will be something for all, young and old!
The afternoon will include the Histon & Impington Green Spaces AGM where we will update you on Abbey Fields and ideas for the future. Our committee members and trustees will be on hand to answer questions and hear your views and suggestions.
Tea and cakes with plenty of time for socialising.
Doors will be open at 1:30pm to allow us to start promptly.
We welcome all our supporters. There will be the opportunity to join up as a Member of the charity at the event.