Download PDF - Nature in Cambridgeshire

pleasing to report that a Young Peoples' Conservation Group is in the processof being formed and that Mr John Smith has undertaken to organisethe work parties.Negotiations have been reopened with the Associated Road Corporationin connection with the disused gravel workings at Bootsbridge,Wimblington. This site would be ideal for an Educational Nature Reservein the Isle of Ely.As referred to in the general report, many groups of people have beenworking hard to produce a record of the natural history of their parish inreadiness for E.C.Y. 1970. This project has brought the spirit of E.C.Y. tolarge numbers of people, and we look forward to the exhibits in parishesduring 1970.The L.E.A. have been busy during the past year in setting up a FieldStudies Centre in the old primary school at Upware. A second centre is nowbeing prepared in the old part of Fulbourn primary school, thus providinga convenient base for those schools who visit the Educational NatureReserve at Fulboum. In conjunction with the L.E.A. a second edition ofthe very popular 'Wild Flower Guide' is to be published in 1970.Many talks, lectures and lecture series have been given up and down thecounty and the Isle. We are, in fact, very short of speakers who could talkto groups of people about the work of the Trust. Any offers will be gratefullyaccepted.Field CommitteeMr C. F. Marshall reports as follows:The main function of this committee is to act as the eyes and ears of theTrust in matters affecting sites in which it is interested. Local ManagementCommittees have now been set up for all the reserves owned, leased ormanaged by the Trust, which has relieved this committee of responsibilityfor the main sites. But there are many other areas of scientific interest whichthe Trust wishes to conserve. The whole area of the former county ofCambridgeshire is now divided up between Field Committee members,each of whom covers the 'catchment area' of a Village College. They areencouraged to recruit local members to assist them as 'watch dogs', and itis hoped to have at least two watch dog reports on every site each year.The committee also organises work parties. Three Sunday parties atHayley Wood and one at Breckland Roughs took place in the first half ofthe year, and there were four Sunday parties at Hayley Wood in theautumn. Although some Trust members took part, the bulk of the manpowerwas provided by the University Conservation Corps under JohnBooth's enthusiastic leadership. Our warm thanks are also due to Mr T.Stakim who has looked after the tools.8