Our History & Impact
Cambridge Past Present & Future (formerly the Cambridge Preservation Society) was founded in 1928 to protect the historic city of Cambridge and its countryside setting from being harmed by inappropriate development. Over the years our charity has grown and our remit has broadened to encompass the wider environmental needs of Cambridge and its surrounding areas.
We succeed in our work because of the support of people like you
There are many ways you can support our charity from becoming a member or patron, supporting our appeals, making a donation, sponsoring a project or leaving a legacy.
Our Achievements
Cambridge Past Present & Future (formerly the Cambridge Preservation Society) was founded in 1928 to protect the historic city of Cambridge and its countryside setting from being harmed by inappropriate development.
Over the years our charity has grown and our remit has broadened to encompass the wider environmental needs of Cambridge and its surrounding areas.
Nature and climate mitigation
Cambridge Past, Present & Future owns Wandlebury Country Park, Coton Countryside Reserve and Barnwell Meadows, where we work hard to enhance nature and help mitigate climate change. We also partner with other organisations to protect and improve nature across greater Cambridge.
Built heritage
CambridgePPF is the only local charity that cares for multiple heritage buildings in and around Cambridge. We are responsible for the restoration and upkeep of Bourn Windmill (Ancient Monument), Cambridge Leper Chapel (grade I listed), Hinxton Watermill (grade II listed) and the historic buildings and archaeological sites at Wandlebury Country Park (Ancient Monument and grade II listed buildings). We are also the only local charity campaigning to protect Cambridge’s wider built heritage.
Green space and wellbeing
Our charity owns and manages more than 550 acres of land in and around Cambridge. Every year, we welcome over 150,000 visits to our green spaces and historic buildings, including thousands of school children. We organise an annual programme of over 150 cultural and educational activities for the local community.
The development of Cambridge
A large (yet not so obvious) part of our work is in lobbying and advising on the responsible development of Cambridge – its housing, employment and infrastructure. Our work here is centred on ensuring a balance between the needs of people and the environment. Our work in Cambridge’s town planning and civic sector often involves collaborations with local residents, parish councils, government bodies, and environmental groups.
In our first 50 years we:
- Purchased land to save the attractive countryside and historic villages of Grantchester, Coton and Madingley from inappropriate development
- Saved and restored the country’s oldest windmill at Bourn
- Prevented a ring road being built across Grantchester Meadows
- Saved the Gog Magog Hills from development
- Created Cambridge’s first country park at Wandlebury
- Took on responsibility for maintaining the historic Leper Chapel
- Saved and restored historic cottages in the village of Melbourne
- Mapped out footpaths to protect them for future generations to use (before The Rights of Way Act came into effect)
- Helped to establish Cambridge’s ‘Conservation Areas’ and ‘Buildings of Local Interest’
Since the 1980s we have:
- Saved and restored the 17th century watermill at Hinxton
- Established Cambridge’s Green Belt, after 50 years of campaigning
- Created a countryside reserve near Coton village
- Planted over 10,000 trees, with the help of the local community
- Converted arable farmland into wildflower meadows
- Saved Grade II listed cottages on Orchard Street
- Converted Wandlebury’s derelict stables into a successful outdoor education centre
- Championed a Nature Recovery Network
There are many ways you can support our charity from becoming a member or patron, supporting our appeals, making a donation, sponsoring a project or leaving a legacy.
Our Mission and Aims
We are the local charity that cares about the Cambridge area and its green landscapes. Cambridge, Past, Present & Future is the only independent, local charity that looks at the bigger picture of the development of Cambridge.
Whether historic buildings, green spaces, nature, housing or infrastructure – we are passionate about all of it. Protecting, enhancing and celebrating all that’s good about this special city, and its surrounding areas.
We act as a voice of reason and conscience for those who are responsible for greater Cambridge’s future. Ensuring that it moves forwards with respect for nature, history and the people who live here. No other local charity has as broad a reach or remit. No other organisation cares about the past, present and future of Cambridge the way we do.
Our sole purpose is to make sure that, no matter how Cambridge progresses, it retains everything that connects us to its history and makes it a vital, and beautiful place to be. To this end, we work with the people of Cambridge and other organisations to protect, enhance and celebrate everything that makes Cambridge special, for today and for generations to come.
Our mission is very simple (yet, at the same time, very complex) – to make sure the development of Cambridge is carried out responsibly. Improving this great place, for people and nature.
People.
We will inspire people of all ages to get outdoors and help them to enjoy, learn about and get involved with their local environment, heritage and culture.
Natural heritage.
We will protect the green setting of Cambridge and its most valuable landscapes and we will enhance and connect them for people and nature.
Built heritage.
We will protect, celebrate and improve the important built heritage of the Cambridge area.
For 90-something years, CambridgePPF has been raising funds, raising awareness, lobbying and getting knee-deep wherever we’re needed. Banging the drum for everything that’s special about our amazing city and its surrounding areas.
When we’re not out in the field with loppers and spades, you’ll find us advising local developers, petitioning decision makers, teaming up with likeminded organisations and facilitating environmental schemes, like the Cambridge Nature Network.
Doing whatever it takes to help people and nature live happily in each other’s back gardens.
We help preserve, protect, enhance and celebrate all the best bits. We also kick against all the bad bits – anything that jeopardises the local environment and the quality of life of future generations.
We own and manage green spaces for people to visit, and nature to flourish, like Wandlebury Country Park and Coton Countryside Reserve. And we’ve saved historic buildings like Cambridge Leper Chapel and Bourn Windmill from crumbling to dust.
We’ve created cycle ways, green corridors and new woodland, and we helped establish Cambridge’s green belt. Yes, it’s hard work, and yes, the fight doesn’t get any easier. But it matters, perhaps more now than ever, and we can’t do it without you. CambridgePPF is the only charity that cares about the bigger picture of the development of Cambridge – historic buildings, green spaces, nature, housing, infrastructure… every last little bit of it.
We were there when the Gog Magog Hills were under pressure from developers. We were there when the watermill at Hinxton was threatened with demolition. We were there when new footpaths and cycle paths were needed to reduce traffic congestion. And we’re still here, standing up for the places that really matter to you and everyone else who lives, works, studies or visits this unique city.
What next for CambridgePPF?
We all know about the effect that climate change is having on the environment and wildlife. Nature is in crisis and it requires bold action. As more of us have become aware of our responsibility to the planet, the rally cry of ‘thinking globally’ has to mean ‘acting locally’. Actions, not words. And the Covid pandemic has only served to highlight how much we depend
on nature for our physical and mental health, and how important local places are to us. On a positive note, we now see a huge opportunity for a recovery that re-sets our relationship with the natural world. There are things we can do – real, practical things that will make a difference for all of us. We have the skill and the will, and now we need the financial support to make it happen.
Together, we can protect both our built and natural heritage, and make sure the city grows in harmony with the world around us.
What We Want To Do
- Reduce river pollution, help nature and capture carbon, by creating a large new wetland at Coton Reserve
- Provide more green space, by converting farmland into new habitats at Coton Reserve
- Help deliver Cambridge Nature Network’s vision of doubling habitats for nature and people by 2050
- Improve CambridgePPF’s green spaces to meet the needs of a growing, ageing and more diverse community
- Maximise the benefits of CambridgePPF’s green spaces for nature, climate mitigation and wellbeing
- Repair the Leper Chapel and transform it into an accessible, well-used community building
- Ensure our two mills continue to grind corn, as they have done for centuries
- Protect and restore the historic buildings and archaeology at Wandlebury
- Inspire more people to get outdoors and connect with their local environment, heritage and culture
- Influence the future development of our area, working to protect the best of Cambridge’s landscapes, ecology and heritage for future generations
- Increase CambridgePPF’s capacity to do all of the above, to the highest possible standards.
There are many ways you can support our charity from becoming a member or patron, supporting our appeals, making a donation, sponsoring a project or leaving a legacy.
Barnwell Meadows
Managing for nature at Barnwell Meadows
The land surrounding the Leper Chapel is also owned by Cambridge PPF. Barnwell Junction Pastures (also known as Barnwell Meadows) City Wildlife Site and was the site of the medieval Stourbridge Fair which was the largest fair in Europe at one point and took place on the site for 800 years.
Stourbridge Fair was revived by Cambridge PPF in 2004.
The Meadows were leased for around 60 years and most recently used for horse pasture, as a result they were not in good ecological condition. As part of a new Chisholm Trail project, in 2018 we took back the management of the meadows and we are working
to enhance their biodiversity. Since then we have planted 300m of new hedge, installed bird boxes and re-instigated meadow management (grazing with livestock). The new Chisholm Trail runs through the meadows.
Plan Your Visit
or Ask a Question
You can call us:
01223 243830
You can email us: enquiries@cambridgeppf.org
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You can call us:
You can email us:
01223 243830