A new charity has started work to enable the vision for securing this valuable community space to become a reality – and local residents can get involved.
The launch last week of a new charity in the village has opened the door for a fundraising campaign that will secure the 11-acre Croft Close Set Aside and 4.5-acre Long Meadow land for the community, as a haven for wildlife and a green space where people can experience, learn about and enjoy nature.
The new charity, Histon & Impington Green Spaces, has now been registered with the Charity Commission and its six trustees – three nominated by the Parish Council and three by the community – will become the formal custodians of the land when fundraising is completed. They are tasked with ensuring it always remains true to the original vision of conserving nature and heritage on the sites, while enabling people to enjoy these much-loved places.
Friends
Villagers have been using the Abbey Fields land – part of the Abbey Farm estate – for centuries. Earlier this year it was bought by the Jenking family, with a view to taking it off the market and giving local people the time to raise the money needed to keep it out of the hands of property developers.
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A new Friends organisation will elect a committee that will manage the land, lead on the fundraising and report to the charity trustees. They will be ensuring that Abbey Fields are well-conserved and managed spaces; providing regular information on the animals, trees, and plants; providing volunteering and educational opportunities; and linking with other community groups to help protect and improve green open spaces generally. They will also be canvassing the views of local people and site users and involving them in planning, decision-making and management.
Some volunteers have already set to work, with the Site Management Action Group meeting weekly and path clearing being very active. More are needed to support the work including the website, publicity and communication, administration and fundraising.
Join in!
The charity trustees are encouraging everyone who wants to support the project to get involved. The first meeting of the Friends Group will be next week on Thursday 9th September at 7.30pm at Histon Baptist Church and also live on Zoom. 80 people can attend in person, with normal Covid-19 precautions in place. Anyone can register for free tickets for the live meeting and Zoom attendees will be able to pick up the link on the Abbey Fields website.
As well as a short review of progress, the meeting will hear a presentation of the extraordinary wildlife on our doorstep. There will be information about the Friends group, including a new young Ambassador group, and about elections to the Friends Steering Committee.
For more information see the website or email info@abbeyfields.online.
Sign up here for tickets for the inaugural Friends meeting.