HIGS completes purchase of the Croft Close Set-aside
Histon & Impington Green Spaces (HIGS), the charity behind Abbey Fields, has completed the purchase of the Croft Close Set-aside (CCSA). This means that both Abbey Fields sites, CCSA and Long Meadow, are now secure for use by the general public and especially the people of Histon & Impington.
HIGS has raised about half a million pounds for the purchase of the two sites and to fund current operations. The money has come from local people and businesses, receipts at events, and the Parish Council, together with grants from the Banister Charitable Trust and the Thalia WB Community Fund (formerly Amey).
David Jenkins, Chair of the charity’s Fundraising & Communications Committee, recognised the generosity of local people who have donated and thanked the Committee and the many volunteers who have contributed to this success.
‘However’ he noted ‘the need for funds does not go away. It is going to cost £12-15,000 each year to maintain the Fields and this will be the focus for fundraising in the future’.
Rob Bensted-Smith, Chair of HIGS, said: ‘This is a fantastic achievement by the community! Now that both Abbey Fields sites are secure we can look forward and do what we can to maximise their value to our community. In addition to ensuring safe access to them we will make the most of the opportunities they present for education, research and the sheer enjoyment of nature. We will engage with the Parish Council and neighbouring landowners to the extent that they can support us in this regard’.
Further information
Abbey Fields comprises Long Meadow, an old hay meadow alongside Park Lane which is being carefully managed to encourage more wild flowers, and the Croft Close Set-aside, a wild, biodiverse natural habitat at the end of Croft Close. Many birds, including ten red-listed species, make their homes in the Set-aside, which is being managed to maintain the mix of habitats - scrub, woodland, glades and ponds - that make it so rich in wildlife.
The Thalia WB Community Fund (formerly Amey) awards grants to support community, environmental and heritage projects run by non-profit organisations based in Cambridgeshire, within 10 miles of a landfill site. The fund is managed by Cambridgeshire Community Foundation and is part of a voluntary environmental tax credit scheme called the Landfill Communities Fund. For more information please visit this link.
HIGS is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, number 1195616.