Why Cambridge’s Green Spaces Matter

In Cambridge, we are incredibly lucky to be surrounded by green spaces that offer refuge not only for wildlife, but for our bodies and minds too. 

There’s a moment that comes over you when you step into the green spaces at Wandlebury or walk along the Coton footpaths – the mind stills, the breath deepens, and the world, which moments before felt fast and chaotic, slows into something more spacious and bearable.

These spaces are more than just pretty landscapes. They are sanctuaries – living, breathing prescriptions for the anxiety, burnout, and disconnection that are so commonplace in modern life. The trees don’t just clean the air – they help us think more clearly. The meadows don’t just bloom – they help us recover.

And increasingly, science backs this up. Nature isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s essential.

• Researchers at University College London found that people who spend just two hours a week in nature report significantly better health and wellbeing than those who don’t (White et al., Scientific Reports, 2019).
• Another major review concluded that time in green spaces can reduce the risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, premature death, stress, and high blood pressure (Twohig-Bennett & Jones, Environmental Research, 2018).

What we’ve always intuitively felt – that nature is good for us – is now clear in data, too.

Nature’s Role in Mental Wellbeing

In today’s hyperconnected, screen-saturated lives, a quiet walk in nature can be a radical act of self-care. Spending time outdoors in green spaces can significantly lower cortisol levels (our primary stress hormone), improve mood, and even boost creativity. The charity Mind highlights that “ecotherapy”—connecting with nature for therapeutic purposes—can be as effective as antidepressants for some people.

As author and activist Florence Williams writes in her bestselling book The Nature Fix, “We don’t experience natural environments enough to realise how restored they make us feel, nor are we aware that they are making us healthier.” This isn’t sentimentality, “Nature, it turns out, is good for civilization.” she says

Cambridge’s Living Green Belt

Here in Cambridge, we are blessed with a rich tapestry of protected green spaces that offer daily opportunities to connect with nature, many of which are cared for by Cambridge Past, Present & Future. We protect not only our own green spaces, but also help protect the green spaces around Cambridge through our planning work, monitoring and reviewing planning policies and planning applications, to help ensure their impact on the environment, heritage, landscape protects the quality of life  of all people in the area. Read more HERE.

Our own protected green spaces include publicly accessible spaces at:

• Wandlebury Country Park – 150 acres of woods, meadows, and Iron Age history. Click here to read more.

• Coton Countryside Reserve – 350 acres of restored farmland and biodiversity-rich habitats. Click here to read more.

• Grantchester Meadows – 50 acres of iconic meadows alongside the River Cam. Click here to read more.

Together, these places offer more than leisure – they are part of our community’s long-term health infrastructure. They are also open and accessible, free to visit, and maintained not by some distant government department, but by a local charity sustained by its members, volunteers, and supporters.

How Cambridge Past, Present & Future Helps

CPPF does more than steward beautiful landscapes – it facilitates wellbeing through nature. Some initiatives include:

• Community Events: Hosting guided walks, forest school sessions, and seasonal celebrations that help people reforge their connection with nature – and each other.

• Accessible Design: Improving physical access to green spaces, such as adding concrete paths for mobility aids at Coton Reserve, and a free mobility scooter at Wandlebury.

• Health Partnerships: Collaborating with groups like the Healthy Waling Group that meets every week offering gentle group walks open to all.

These aren’t just activities. They are quiet revolutions in how we heal and grow.

Take the First Step

Whether it’s a mindful moment under the canopy of Wandlebury woods, a family picnic along the river in Grantchester, or a solo walk to clear your head through Coton, nature is waiting. And if we want these spaces to be here for future generations, we must act now.

You can:

• Join as a member – support the care and protection of these vital landscapes. Click here to join

• Volunteer – contribute your time and energy to a cause that gives back in every way. Click here for more info.

• Donate – fund the work that keeps our green spaces thriving and accessible. Click here to donate

Let’s not just admire nature – let’s protect it and preserve it, together.