Fantastical Forest display
Attendees at a February half-term holiday lunch at Brown’s Field Community Centre celebrated the instalment of a new community artwork, titled ‘Fantastical Forest’.
The collage was created during summer 2024 by people attending the council's free Music in the Park summer concerts, 'Out of the Ordinary' festival creative sessions, and family lunches.
With the support of local artist Hilary Cox Condron, participants were given materials to create an image inspired by stories of Cambridge’s veteran trees and memories of people's favourite trees.
The final image is displayed in pride of place in the hall at Brown’s Field Community Centre so that local people can continue to view it while enjoying future community lunches and activities.
The artwork is part of CCI’s Fantastical Forest collection, produced by Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination (CCI) in collaboration with the council, and supported by the National Lottery’s Climate Action Fund via the council’s DiversiTree project which is led by Cambridge Nature Network.
The DiversiTree project started in September 2023 to promote the protection and enhancement of the city’s urban forest, with a specific focus on veteran willows, through the celebration of the importance of diversity.
Tree planting
Trees play a vital role in preserving and increasing biodiversity.
During March the council has been working with local communities on a number of tree planting initiatives.
On 12 March, Friends of St Matthew’s Piece saw the planting of 12 fruit trees, funded as one of the council's Environmental Improvement Projects. The trees will enrich the local environment, attract essential pollinators, and significantly boost biodiversity, all while contributing to efforts to address the climate emergency.
The orchard will join a small growing network of similar projects across Abbey which will be managed under the stewardship of Abbey People.
In King's Hedges people came out to help with the planting of 1,000 trees around Nuns Way recreation ground, to start the formation of a Miyawaki type microwood. The native tree whips will create a dense, natural arrangement which will help attract a range of wildlife.
As well as benefitting the environment, these projects can also help to strengthen community bonds by encouraging residents to collaborate on meaningful endeavours. By improving these green spaces, not only will the health and wellbeing of residents be enhanced, but vital plant pollination will be supported, ensuring the preservation of natural species for future generations.
