Do we Need to Save Cambridge's Green Belt Again?
Cambridge is known around the world for its ancient colleges, innovation, and ideas. But it’s also a city defined by its green edges – meadows, woods, and winding lanes that open up into the peaceful countryside. This balance between built and natural space is no accident. It’s the result of visionary thinking, community action, and a legacy of protection that goes back a hundred years.
The Birth of the Green Belt
In the early 20th century, Cambridge was already expanding. The arrival of the railway and growing interest in suburban development meant the city was beginning to spread into the surrounding countryside. Concerned that unchecked growth would erode the unique character of Cambridge, a group of local citizens came together in 1928 to form the Cambridge Preservation Society (now called Cambridge Past, Present & Future).
Their goal? To protect the green spaces that give Cambridge its charm and character.
They fundraised, campaigned, and negotiated to purchase or protect areas such as Wandlebury and Grantchester Meadows. Their efforts laid the groundwork for what would become the Cambridge Green Belt – a protective ring of countryside intended to prevent urban sprawl, safeguard natural habitats, and maintain the city’s identity.
It was a grassroots movement driven by love for place and a sense of responsibility to future generations.
Fast Forward to Today
In 2024, the UK government announced plans to double the size of Cambridge – transforming it into what some are calling “the UK’s Silicon Valley.” While economic growth and innovation are part of Cambridge’s story, the scale and speed of the proposed development raise urgent questions:
What will be lost in the rush to expand?
Can Cambridge continue to grow and remain liveable, green, and grounded?
Who will protect the spaces that aren’t part of anyone’s commercial plan but are vital to all of us?
We find ourselves at a familiar crossroads. Just as in the 1920s, we are being called upon to make a choice: do we let the city expand unchecked, or do we take more action to protect what makes Cambridge, Cambridge?
Our Role Today
The role of Cambridge Past, Present & Future today is just as important as it was in the 1920s, when we first started. Our work continues – advocating for sustainable development, maintaining historic buildings, caring for green spaces, and engaging the public. But the challenges have never been greater, and the stakes have never been higher.
The landscapes we work to protect are not just pretty views—they are breathing spaces, flood barriers, biodiversity havens, and places where people come to walk, think, and reconnect.
Be Part of the Legacy
We believe that the beauty, balance, and green heart of Cambridge are worth fighting for. And just like 100 years ago, it’s not up to the government, the developers, or the planners alone. It’s up to all of us.
If you love this city—its spaces, its spirit, its sense of possibility—then we invite you to stand with us.
Share this story
Help us ensure that in another hundred years, people will still walk through ancient woodlands and wide meadows and give thanks for the ones who protected them.
That could be us. That could be you.
Join us in protecting the past to shape a greener future.
