Oakington-based Brookfield Groundcare are once again offering free disposal of Christmas trees at two locations in Histon & Impington.
Christmas trees can be left on either the triangle of land near Villa Road or on The Green next to the pump by Sunday 7 January and these will be chipped the following morning.
Any Christmas trees not left out in these places by 7 January will not be chipped.
Following our news report in March 2021, the theft of catalytic converters has continued to cause concern both locally and across the region with Cambridgeshire Constabulary reporting recently that catalytic converter theft figures have risen by 141% over the past four years.
Footage shared recently into local social media showed thieves at work in the early hours on a vehicle parked on Windmill Lane here in Histon with the theft taking just minutes.
Increased Patrols
Detective Inspector Dan Cooper of the Neighbourhood Support Team is keen to reassure the public that they are focused on stopping these thefts and has issued the following statement:
“There is lots of work going on behind the scenes to stop these gangs and make Cambridgeshire an uncomfortable place for them to target.
“We’re carrying out daily patrols, we’ve got the police helicopter and our Road Policing Unit on standby to assist us and we’re working with scrap dealers to ensure the thieves are not able to sell on any stolen metal. Removing a catalytic converter can take just a few minutes with the thefts tending to be carried out by groups of three or four men wearing balaclavas and gloves jacking up the vehicle and using an angle grinder to cut out the catalytic converter. The public are advised not to approach these people as they are known to carry weapons.
“Instead call us on 999 and provide as much information as you can about the vehicle they are using, in particular the make, model and colour”.
Licence Checks
Catalytic converters are sought after by thieves due to the precious metals found inside them, which they sell to scrap metal dealers. Those metals – rodium, paladium and platinum – are found in the exhaust system of every car and reduce the output of toxic gases and pollutants. Now, as a further measure towards deterring these gangs, officers from the Rural Crime Action Team, working alongside the Environment Agency and Local Authorities, will be making visits to scrap metal merchants across the county.
Officers will be checking that scrap dealers have the correct licences and are keeping a complete record of all scrap metal bought. It is an offence to buy scrap metal for cash and the public is urged to report anyone suspected of dealing illegally in scrap metal either to the police or to their local authority.
Remain Vigilant
👀 If you see a car jacked up
👂 If you hear the sound of metal being cut
❌ It’s likely a cat converter theft is taking place
📱 Dial 999
Community groups, local charities and organisations are being invited to apply for grants funded by Histon & Impington Feast 2023, scheduled to take place from 1-9 July 2023. Any group, organisation or charity wishing to apply should be able to demonstrate that it provides a benefit or service to the residents of the local community.
The Feast Committee has slightly altered the eligibility criteria this year and told HI HUB “applications for both a specific purpose and for providing support to general funds and running costs are now also welcome.”
Applications must be received by midday on Sunday 12 March. Representatives from each applicant will be invited to attend a meeting at 8pm on Tuesday 21 March, at a venue to be confirmed, to give a brief explanation of why they are asking for funding and how their organisation meets the local benefit criteria. Full details of how to apply can be found on the Feast website.
Aspiring photographers are being offered a unique opportunity to develop the techniques and knowledge needed to master the art of capturing football in motion.
Thanks to a partnership between Histon FC and Cambridge photography retailer Campkins Cameras, experienced sports photographer Ben Phillips will be giving expert insights and practical tips on capturing breathtaking football shots on a busy matchday at Histon’s Bridge Road ground.
For more than six years Ben has been capturing sports events on camera, both locally and nationally, and he is also the official photographer for Cambridge United FC.
The workshop will take place on 8 April at 2pm, and spaces are limited. Tickets for the photography session, which include a match ticket, are available online. Parking is limited and on a first come, first served basis.
People over the age of 55 in Histon & Impington are being invited to complete an online questionnaire to help gauge support needs for elderly residents. The aim is to help people remain living independently and happily in their own home for longer.
A pilot of the Care Together scheme in East Cambridgeshire identified the need for early intervention initiatives such as more social groups for hobbies and exercise, as well as increased provision for local homecare and day opportunities for people over 65.
The scheme is a Cambridgeshire County Council initiative being run in collaboration with local partners, community groups and residents. It has helped identify that support was needed for those older people living with long-term conditions and in need of longer-term care.
The Council hopes the scheme will change the way care and support for older people in the community is commissioned and delivered in the future.
Complete the online questionnaire here. The deadline for responses is 15 April 2023. If you don’t have access to the internet, call 01954 286 002 or 07771 545 674 (Mon-Fri, 9am-2pm) to answer questions over the phone or request a paper copy.
Histon & Impington Community Orchard (HICOP) invites the community to join them for their Winter Wassail.
Held each year in January or February since shortly after the orchard was first planted in 2013, the tradition of the Wassail goes back several hundred years. Dan Mace, Chair of HICOP, told HI HUB:
“These days we’re used to Christmas festivities starting early; decorations appear in November or even earlier. But go back a few hundred years and Advent from 1st to 24th December was a time of fasting, which ended with 12 days of feasting from 25th December to 5th January. Nowadays by the time we get to Twelfth Night (5th January), Christmas is a distant memory and we’re back into our routines, but traditionally Twelfth Night was the time to Wassail.
“So what is a Wassail? Well, it’s a time to visit an orchard and sing to the trees to promote a good harvest for the coming year. And there is a tradition to make a noise, a hullaballoo, by banging pots and pans. Of course, cider also plays its part – there is often a toast to the trees and cider is sprinkled over the roots. And where toasts and cider are involved, it’s a time to wish ‘Good Health’ to all participants – in fact Wassail comes from the ancient Norse, ves heill, literally meaning Good Health.
“Bring lanterns and torches to find your way, grab those pots, pans and spoons to bang to make a hullaballoo and wake the trees. Let’s keep the tradition alive this year at the Community Orchard!”
The HICOP Wassail will take place on Saturday 25th February at 5pm at the Community Orchard. Toast masters will make the traditional toast to the trees followed by an opportunity to sing along with The Impingtones in some traditional Wassail songs around the HICOP flaming beacon.
Hot and cold apple juice available. Please take your own mug.
NB: This is an outdoor event and may be postponed in the event of bad weather. In case of change, information will be shared here on HI HUB and also on local social media.
A group of Histon and Impington residents joined volunteers sleeping outside overnight at Cambridge United’s Abbey Stadium to raise money for homeless charities.
The sponsored sleepover was to raise funds for two local charities: Winter Comfort, a day centre creating opportunities all year round for homeless individuals or those who are at risk of losing their home; and Cambridge United Community Trust, which uses the power of sport and the Cambridge United FC brand to change lives.
Over 100 participants hunkered down on the cold concrete stands at the League One team’s stadium on Friday night, braving the elements to raise almost £31,000 – well over the group’s £25,000 target and an increase on last year’s total.
Histon resident Susannah Smith, who took part with her mum, Jackie Constable said: “Sleeping out for a night does not even come close to the experiences of a rough sleeper, but we’re happy to do our bit for people in our local area. The night was tough, being woken up by ambulance sirens and trains echoing round the stadium. Vulnerable homeless people live a difficult life and the sleepout experience made me realise this more than ever.”
Chris Gooch, sleepover participant and Histon local, said: “It was a wonderful, very humbling experience for two very worthy causes. Bedding down in the cold on the hard concrete floor puts things in perspective. I’m very proud of what we achieved as a group.”
To donate to the United for Cambridge Sleepout 2023 click here.
Nominations are now open for the BBC Radio Cambridgeshire Make a Difference Awards. This is an opportunity for Histon & Impington residents to name those people in their community who they feel make the greatest and most meaningful contribution to village life.
The local BBC awards recognise ‘ordinary people who make extraordinary efforts in their community’, and they are a chance to say ‘Thank you’ to the people in the villages who love to make life better for others. Nominations close at 11pm on 5 March 2023.
Winners will be selected by a panel of judges, and awards will be given to unsung heroes in categories including Fundraiser, Carer, Neighbour, Volunteer, Bravery and Green.
The Make a Difference Award ceremonies will take place across England from September 2023.
Check out the full list of categories for nominations and vote at: www.bbc.in/makeadifference
Or follow on social media using the hashtag #BBCMakeADifference
Among the items on the agenda of the next Parish Council meeting is a proposal from the HI HUB team for the Parish Council to support the start-up of a new community magazine.
This would be published in print four times a year and delivered to every household. By creating opportunities to advertise, it would aim to support local businesses to connect with residents in the village.
Also on the agenda is a funding request from Histon & Impington Green Spaces that would bring them long-term financial stability; decision-making around King Charles III Coronation celebrations; and collaboration with the village’s schools to support families that are struggling to pay for school dinners.
The meeting takes place on Monday 20th February at the Community Room on the Rec, starting at 7.30pm. All Histon & Impington residents are invited to attend to listen to the debates, and any resident wishing to address Councillors can speak at the meeting.
For full details, see the agenda here.
To speak at the meeting, contact the office to request a slot. Email clerk@hisimp-pc.gov.uk
More than 500 visitors to Histon Manor last Saturday were treated to carpets of snowdrops and a first glimpse of the new Monet-style bridge recently installed over to the island.
Owners Katherine and Rob Mann had originally offered free tickets to 200 visitors to walk around the grounds in addition to 100 tickets for tea and cake in the main kitchen.
But they were so moved by news of the earthquake in Syria and Turkey that they opened the grounds to all to walk around, in a fundraising effort for disaster relief.
Proceeds from the tea and cake tickets bought prior to the earthquake were allocated to HI Friends, with £577 going to support the Holiday at Home initiative and the Community Play Therapist, who mainly works with children in the village primary schools. Donations on the day, collected in a bucket at the entrance, totalled an astounding £1,842.58, which Katherine and Rob are matching, so £3,685.16 has been transferred to the DEC Earthquake Appeal.
A team of volunteers helped in the grounds and kitchen, and a dozen bakers produced a spread of cakes for the guests. Katherine paid tribute to their efforts, saying: “This event wouldn’t have been possible without the team of volunteers and cake bakers. A huge thank you to all.”
She continued: “We cannot thank everyone enough for being so generous. We are so glad that everyone enjoyed the day and the comments about the snowdrops were heart-warming. It has spurred us on to keep working on removing the ivy in these areas so that hopefully even more will come through for next year! A date for next year’s event will be announced in early January 2024.”