Sally’s Story

Histon resident donates personal legacy to Abbey Fields project

Based on an interview by Amanda Borrill for HI HUB, first published -27th January 2022

A passion for nature and a desire to preserve our green spaces has led one Histon resident to make an incredibly generous donation to the Abbey Fields project. Amanda Borrill shares the story.

Ask anyone what they love most about living here in Histon & Impington and there is one answer that arises time and time again – community spirit. It is this strength of community that keeps Bell Hill resident Sally London feeling supported and safe here following the loss of her husband, Mervyn, and their beloved dog, Trixie, but it is her strong desire to protect and preserve our green spaces that inspired her gift of Long Meadow to the community.

Sally, Mervyn, children Matthew and Anna and their two cats first set up home in West Road in Histon in 1989. Leaving West Road for Bell Hill a few years later, the family quickly discovered the delights of the fields around the Rowley Estate. Those walks soon became a big part of family life and times spent with their previous dog Oscar around the fields and Croft Close set-aside, leading into Gun’s Lane footpath, brought great peace and calm to Sally’s late husband Mervyn when he became ill.

A meadow of memories

“When I first saw that the land making up Abbey Fields was for sale,” explained Sally, “I leapt straight in. I had inherited some money from my mum after her death and took the decision to use a share of her legacy to make an offer for Long Meadow. This meadow holds so many special memories for me; its tranquility became Trixie’s final retreat before she became too weak to walk, after which my son Matthew would carry her to the stream there where she would love to paddle. I have named the meadow Trixie’s Meadow but I invite everyone to call it whatever is special to them.

“Having walked through the Rowley’s fields (unlawfully) for years,” Sally confessed, “it seemed only fair to share it with the community. My donation will buy the meadow and the charity will pay for the maintenance. This will mean I get to have a say in its upkeep and we plan to encourage wildflower development to support insects and wildlife. It is a beautiful meadow and I feel proud to be a part of it. On my death, ownership will pass to the Abbey Fields charity.”

“The time to act is now, tomorrow will be too late”

Asking Sally what she would say to those thinking about investing their time or money in this project, she had this to say, “Feeling so grounded in the life of the village has really helped me come to terms with the loss of my husband, my little Trixie and my mum. I feel very worried about the rate of destruction of wild habitat and green spaces in urban areas. When developers say they are going to diversify and create wild spaces, so often it doesn’t happen.

What we need is unspoilt, natural spaces left with just the most basic care to keep them safe and thriving. This is why green spaces like Croft Close Set-aside and Long Meadow are so precious and if we don’t invest in them now we will lose them forever. I feel very strongly about this. There is no time to wait. We need generous people who care about our natural spaces to invest. The time to act is now, tomorrow will be too late.”