Author: chris

  • Plant a tree and help create our very own green canopy

    Plans are afoot to create our very own Green Canopy and HI Trees, the group behind the mission, needs your help. Dan Mace and Amanda Layzell explain how we can all play our part in this long-term initiative.

    Is there a place in the village that holds a cherished memory for you – perhaps of a special person or a significant time in your life? Planting a tree can be a wonderful way to commemorate a happy time or much loved person in your life – past or present. Let’s plant more trees in Histon and Impington and create our very own Green Canopy.

    Trees and hedgerows benefit us and the environment in so many ways.

    • Woodland provides a home for a wide range of birds, mammals and shade-loving plants and fungi. A single tree can support many species of birds, insects and plants – one tree can attract as many as 280 species of insects.
    • Hedgerows are important as they can connect areas of rich biodiversity; they are the highways of nature, and are particularly important for flying insects like butterflies, and also for hedgehogs and other small mammals.
    • Trees absorb CO2 and so can help reduce CO2 levels in the atmosphere.  A mature tree can remove 21kg of CO2 from the atmosphere per year.
    • Woodland is not just beneficial for wildlife.  Walking through woods can lower your blood pressure and reduce stress levels. Research suggests that patients with views of trees heal faster and with fewer complications.

    But where could we plant these much needed trees?  During Feast Week, and into the future, community group HI Trees will be seeking your thoughts and asking out across the community of Histon and Impington for ideas. Maybe there is a piece of green space outside your house that would benefit from a specimen tree?  Or, perhaps you have spotted somewhere on your local walk where a few trees, a copse or some hedging could be planted? 

    A local example of a glorious Green Canopy : Women’s Institute Woods near the guided busway. Photo Dan Mace

    The HI Trees team has prepared an online form which you can access here. The system is ready to go so you can complete it now if you have a suggestion. Alternatively, look out for paper copies of the forms available from 26 June onwards at St Andrew’s Cafe, Print-Out, Station Stores and the Parish Council Offices. This is a long-term initiative and support of the community will be vital to make it a success.

    In order to purchase these trees and hedges, the team will be seeking funding. Perhaps you could sponsor a tree? Sponsoring a tree is the perfect gift – a gift that will continue to grow over years to come, a gift that is ecologically sensitive and a gift that brings joy to the whole village. It will also provide a home for a multitude of nature – what more perfect gift is there than that!

    On Tuesday 6 July at 8pm, HI Trees will be hosting a Zoom meeting to talk in more detail about this initiative.  Hosted by Dan Mace, he’ll talk more about why we should plant trees, what has been done in the village so far, and what more can be done. If you want to fully participate in the talk, you will need to take along a bar of chocolate – any bar will do, just make sure you know how much it weighs!

    Dan Mace

    Currently there is a national ‘plant a tree for the Jubilee’ campaign being coordinated by Executives of the Government and the charity Cool Earth called the Queen’s Green Canopy. This national project will see all counties of the UK being invited to create a network of individual or specimen trees, tree avenues, copses and woodlands in honour of Her Majesty’s 70 years of service to the Nation so our community project is in very good company. 

    If you have any questions, or need any further information, please contact Dan Mace on dan.r.mace@gmail.com

    Useful References

    Why are Trees Important for Biodiversity? – Woodland Trust

    Trees for Wildlife | www.gardenorganic.org.uk  Number of insects an oak supports.

    How much CO2 does a tree absorb? | Viessmann   CO2 absorption per tree.

    Online calculator shows how trees improve air quality and reduce health costs | UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology  Calculator for improvements resulting from tree planting.

    The value of different tree species for insects and lichens (countrysideinfo.co.uk)
    A single tree can support 30 to almost 300 species of insect.

    Even 1 tree adds biodiversity to in-between areas – Futurity
    A single tree planted in pasture can increase the number of bird species from near 0 to 80 (Costa Rica).

    Previously on HI HUB:

    Building back better as HI Trees shape our future landscape

  • Sadness as The Geographer announces closure

    The popular café will be closing for good in July, but maintaining an online presence for selling its eco-friendly products.

    News that The Geographer café and deli store on Station Road Histon will be closing its doors for good has generated an outpouring of sadness on Facebook and a flow of best wishes to owners Caroline and David Child.

    The café will be closing on 17th July – 8 years exactly since it first opened.

    After the first lockdown in Spring 2020, the popular village venue reopened with Covid-safe procedures in place and an even deeper emphasis on environmentally friendly menus, ingredients and products for sale.  

    Although the enterprising owners – who have also spent five years running a deli in Cambridge – have decided to step away from the hospitality industry, they are going to continue with The Geographer as an online business, selling products and gifts that align with their eco-friendly values.

    READ ALSO: After the lockdown: The Geographer reopens

    Saying goodbye

    In a social media post they explained: “As for many people, the last year or so has given us ample thinking time to consider what we want to be doing in the years ahead. And with this in mind, we have taken the decision to close the doors at The Geographer.

    “… We know we speak on behalf of our staff too, to say that it has been an absolute joy to be part of this community and meet so many people: many of whom have become friends. To be part of your lives has been a real privilege and we really hope that we have made a positive impact on yours.

    Our biggest sadness is saying goodbye to our wonderful staff and we hope that you will join us in wishing them all the best for the future.

    “… we will miss you and you have until 17th July to stock up on Rocky Road!”

    Customers can keep up to date with their special offers and get sneak previews of their new gift boxes by joining their mailing list at https://www.thegeographer.uk and follow them on social media.

    Café culture continues

    Although the loss of The Geographer will be keenly felt by so many of us, it certainly won’t spell the end of café culture in Histon & Impington.

    Barkers’ Bakery and the St Andrews Centre café have been joined more recently by the café at the Methodist Church on the High Street and the Smokehouse opposite the Green. They in turn will soon be joined by Stir, opening in the new development on School Hill, and a new brunch café at Station House, Histon – just down the road from The Geographer.

    One thing’s for sure. The village won’t be going hungry or thirsty.

  • Planning permission refused for Station Stores site

    Planners have firmly rejected proposals for demolishing Kendal Court – the buildings around Station Stores on Cambridge Road, Impington – and redeveloping the area with high density residential accommodation.

    Developers had applied for permission to develop the whole site with a building containing 28 apartments and two commercial units, in an L-shaped configuration at the corner of Cambridge Road and the guided busway.

    But planning officers for South Cambridgeshire have provided 7 grounds for planning permission to be refused.

    Objections

    The Parish Council has been a vocal objector to the proposals. On behalf of the community, it made 27 objections to the original plans, and 24 objections to the revised version submitted to planners when it became clear that the initial proposal failed to adequately address local needs and concerns, or meet the requirements of the Village Design Guide.

    Among the issues it raised were the absence of affordable housing; inadequate parking provision; and the density of residential accommodation that would be created in the area surrounding the former railway station, where more than 50 new properties have either been built or are under construction on the former Bishop’s site opposite. It also commented on the strain a development of this scale would place on the already-overstretched doctor’s surgery, and the loss of business premises in the area, which was formerly home to Anglia Fireplaces as well as Station Stores and Richard Stebbings Funeral Service.

    Others who objected to the plans included the Local Highway Authority, which expressed concerns about vehicle manoeuvring from the site to the road, and the Local Flood Authority, unhappy about surface water drainage arrangements.  

    35 residents responded to the public consultation, commenting on issues including inadequate provision for cyclists and the visual impact of the four-storey development on the area.

    Planners also felt that the private and communal outdoor amenity space available to residents in the properties would be inadequate.

    READ ALSO: Urgent: feedback sought on public consultation for Kendal Court site
    Planners to decide on proposals for Station Stores site

    Next steps

    The developers who own the site are now faced with choices about how to proceed.

    While they could appeal the decision, success seems unlikely given the number of reasons given for rejecting the proposed scheme.

    They could adjust the proposal and resubmit, or alternatively – unless they choose to sell the site on to someone else – they will need to go back to the drawing board to come up with a scheme that addresses the points raised by planners.  

    Parish Council chair Denis Payne commented: “We are delighted that this particular scheme has been rejected. The site is designated as an area for mixed development, so that the area around the guided busway stop could become a gateway to the village, with destination businesses creating a lively 7am to 10pm area.

    “The proposed plans would have added a significant amount of residential accommodation but not provided the associated amenities and facilities that a growing village needs, and did nothing to address the serious problem of affordable local housing.

    “It seems likely that the developers will offer an alternative scheme, and we hope they will take this fully into consideration before resubmitting ideas for the site.”    

  • Garage conversion and extension at 17 Harding Way

    Garage conversion and single storey extension at 17 Harding Way Histon CB24 9JH was validated on Mon 07 Jun 2021

    Application Details

  • 2 bedroom semi-detached bungalow for sale in Histon

    Guide price £425,000, freehold.

    Another of two semi-detached bungalows available. Entrance hall, bathroom, sitting room, kitchen, conservatory, two bedrooms.

    More Info

  • 2 bedroom semi-detached bungalow for sale in Histon

    Guide price £450,000, freehold.

    One of two semi-detached bungalows available. Entrance hall, shower room, sitting room, kitchen, living/dining room, conservatory, two bedrooms.

    More Info

  • Receptionist/Administrative Assistant – Hayward Moon

    Hayward Moon property lawyers who have an office on Histon High Street are looking for this role.

    Receptionist/Administrative Assistant to be the first point of contact for clients, you will provide an exceptional front of house service and have excellent communication skills.
    As well as providing reception duties, there will be administrative tasks that will see you supporting all members of the office.

    See all Jobs at Hayward Moon

  • Group Financial Accountant – Brady

    Brady, a software company working in the commodities and energy markets who have an office on the Vision Park in Histon, are looking for this role.

    Group Financial Accountant to join their finance team on a job-share / part-time basis. Working in close collaboration with your peer Group Financial Accountant, this role will share the management of all internal and external financial reporting requirements, delivering high quality management information, technical guidance and support to the rest of the group. As a Group Financial Accountant in an international software company, you will be responsible for preparing group consolidated accounts, IFRS statutory accounts and multi-currency consolidations.

    See all Jobs at Brady

  • Solicitor (Real Estate) – Greenwoods GRM

    Greenwoods GRM are lawyers who have an office on the Vision Park are looking for this role.

    Solicitor (Real Estate) to join their Real Estate department based in either the Histon or Peterborough office, working on commercial real estate matters, specifically landlord and tenant and development work. This is suitable for a recently qualified solicitor.

    See all Jobs at Greenwoods GRM

  • Management Accountant – Intelligent Fingerprinting

    Intelligent Fingerprinting, who are based in the Evolution Business Park on Milton Road, are looking for 4 roles including this new one.

    Management Accountant to join their Finance Team and support the Head of Finance full-time, completing monthly accounting process and management accounts preparation.

    See all Jobs at Intelligent Fingerprinting