Grantchester Meadows &
The Orchard Tea Garden
Cambridge Past, Present & Future looks after Grantchester Meadows in partnership with Kings College so that the meadows can be cared for, maintained and improved for the benefit of nature, the environment and people.
About Grantchester Meadows
Grantchester Meadows are 50 acres of meadow, hedge and trees on the western bank of the River Cam between Cambridge and the historic village of Grantchester. Grantchester meadows have been enjoyed for over a century for walking, picnicking, punting, swimming and nature and the scenery. The meadows were enjoyed by the Bloomsbury Group in the first half of the 20th century and also feature in the poem “Watercolor Of Grantchester Meadows” by Sylvia Plath and a 1969 song by Pink Floyd.
From our foundation in 1928 our charity was concerned to protect the historic village of Grantchester and the countryside setting along the River Cam. We purchased Skater’s Meadow at the northern end of the meadows, which we still own and lease to the local Wildlife Trust. We also raised funds to pay Kings College to take out legal covenants on the college’s land (Grantchester Meadows) to protect it from possible development.
In the 1930s a ring road was proposed to be built through Grantchester Meadows and the charity’s efforts forced it to be delayed so that World War II intervened, and the road was never built.
The charity also supported the creation of a green belt for the city which gives better protection through the planning system for special places like Grantchester Meadows and the historic village.
Please help Cambridge Past, Present & Future look after this special place by joining us as a Member or Patron by clicking below.
The Orchard Tea Garden in Grantchester
In 2021 our charity became the owners of Grantchester Orchard Tea Garden, which was gifted to us by the former owner, Robin Callan, after his death. We have committed to ensure its long-term future as a heritage asset.
We do not operate the cafe ourselves, it is leased to Orchard Tea Garden Ltd and their rent helps to support our charitable work (so if you spend money at the tearooms you are helping to support us).
Please contact them directly if you have any problems or require information. Please visit their website here.
Members and Patrons of CPPF are invited to visit the Tea Garden and are entitled to 10% off, please show your membership card when visiting.
To join CPPF as Member or Patron, please visit here
How can I help Grantchester Meadows or get involved?
Grantchester Meadows are cared for by people just like you. We are incredibly grateful to the people who give their time to help the meadows, for example by picking up litter and site checking. If you are interested in volunteering to help, please email Allan our Estates Manager here here to find out more.
By joining as a member you will be helping Cambridge Past, Present & Future care for and protect Grantchester Meadows and the Orchard Tea Garden and the Charity’s other green spaces and heritage in Cambridgeshire.
Memberships start at £29.99 and all memberships include 10% off at the Orchard Tea garden, subsidised venue hire & more.
Who do I contact about Grantchester Meadows or to report a problem?
To report an urgent problem or emergency at Grantchester Meadows please call Cambridge Past, Present & Future Warden Team on 07852 417526. If it is a medical emergency or crime, please call the emergency services first on 999 (and then tell us).
If you wish to report a problem that is not urgent, or you want to contact us about the meadows, please email enquiries@cambridgeppf.org or call 01223 243830 Monday-Friday 10-4pm.
It will help our team if you can accurately describe the location of any incident.
If you wish to make a media or filming enquiry about the meadows, please contact enquiries@cambridgeppf.org
Visitor & Safety
Information for Grantchester Meadows
Access
There are 4 pedestrian entrances to the meadows in Grantchester, one from Newnham (Cambridge) and one from Grantchester Road.
There are two public footpaths (rights of way) across the meadows:
- A flat tarmac path goes directly between Newnham and Grantchester and is rarely flooded. This path can also be used by bicycles but cyclists should cycle carefully because of children and pets and they should give way to pedestrians. There are a couple of benches next to this path.
- An unsurfaced path runs adjacent to the River Cam, this includes several small bridges. This path can be flooded and/or very wet. There are no benches.
There are some other informal and unsurfaced paths.
Bins & Dog Bins
There are no rubbish or dog bins on the meadows, please take your litter home with you so that the meadows can be enjoyed by nature and other people. There are bins located at the entrance to the meadows in Newnham and near the Red Lion in Grantchester village. Dog bins are located on Grantchester High Street near the Tea Rooms and Ruport Brook Pub and there is a bin at the Newnham entrance.
Dogs
Well behaved dogs that are under control are welcome at the meadows. Please pick up your dog mess and take it away with you. Please ensure that you have a dog lead with you in case you are in the vicinity of cattle. The meadows are enjoyed by a large number of people, including children, some of whom may be frightened by dogs, so please be considerate of others if your dog is off a lead.
The River
There is a tradition of people swimming in the river at Grantchester Meadows, however this can be dangerous and there is a risk of death or injury, especially drowning. You should be aware of the following risks associated with entering the river:
- Drowning. The river is deep in sections and has flowing water. There is weed and objects under the water (often not visible) that can entangle or injure and lead to drowning.
- Most of the river banks are steep and/or vegetated meaning it is not possible to get out of the river, increasing the risk of getting into difficulty and drowning.
- Do not jump/dive/swing into the river because it can also be shallow and there are objects in the river that are often not visible, such as tree branches. These objects move over time so a place that was once safe may become dangerous.
- The water quality in the river does not meet bathing water standards. It is sometimes polluted, including from sewage treatment plants upstream.
- There is a risk that you can become ill from swallowing water or become infected through any open wounds. More information about the water quality can be found at https://camvalleyforum.uk/bathing-water-designation/
- The flow of the river increases following heavy rain and the currents formed create a risk of being washed away and drowned.
- You should not enter the water if you are intoxicated because there is a risk of drowning.
Cattle Grazing
The meadows are grazed by cattle between April and October, so visitors should expect to encounter them. Please do not scare or worry the cattle. If the cattle are blocking the path you can walk around them, if that’s not possible then make yourself very visible, clap your hands and ‘shoo’ your way slowly through them.
Please do not feed the cattle.
The cattle are used to manage the grass and are given access to different fields at different times. Please do not unlock any gates that are locked because this disrupts the management of the meadows.
Fires & BBQs
Fires or BBQs are not permitted because of the damage they cause to the meadows and because of the fire risk during dry periods. Portable BBQ’s that are raised off the ground may be used.
What are the plans for the meadows?
There won’t be any immediate changes to the meadows but one of our Wardens will be present at busy times between Easter and September to talk with visitors and help them appreciate the meadows, including organising some guided walks. We do not plan to promote the meadows as a visitor destination.
We will be working with the communities in Newnham and Grantchester, as well as user groups, to better understand some of the problems and to work with them to develop a longer-term plan for how the meadows could be improved for nature, the environment and people. Once we have that plan, we can start implementing any changes with the support of the people of Cambridge and King’s College. We are hoping to set up a Management Committee to develop and deliver the plans, this will include representatives from local communities and user groups.
There are already a significant number of visitors, and the main focus is ensuring that visitors are safe and that they do not have too detrimental an impact on the meadows (eg littering, dog fouling, fires, scaring wildlife and cattle, etc).
We do not plan to have any large events on the meadows.
We do not plan to turn the meadows into a ‘country park’, the meadows are enjoyed because of their rural character, and it is important to us that the character and landscape of the meadows can be enjoyed by future generations.
We expect that livestock will continue to graze the meadows but in the future this is likely to be more focused on achieving benefits for nature.
Plan Your Visit
or Ask a Question
You can call us:
01223 243830
You can email us: enquiries@cambridgeppf.org
- Contact Form
You can call us:
You can email us:
01223 243830