News and Events

Friends of the Cam stand in solidarity with Friends of Paradise

  • Posted on: 30 January 2024
  • By: Susan
Summer Mist in Paradise Nature Reserve

A planning Inquiry Inspector overrode the unanimous decision of Cambridge City Council and the objections of thousands of residents to allow Queens’ College to develop in the garden of Owlstone Croft, up to the boundary of Paradise Nature Reserve. Friends of Paradise has applied to challenge this decision through a judicial review. Unfortunately, the Judge has refused Friends of Paradise a hearing for a Judicial Review.

Pure Clean Water

  • Posted on: 23 November 2023
  • By: Susan

Friends of the Cam was delighted to host Tony Eva's award winning new film, 'Pure Clean Water', in December. The film demonstrates how the Cam and its tributaries - a rare chalk stream system - have been exploited to the brink of extinction. The film played to a full house of people who are increasingly concerned about the impact of growth on the river system, as well as on green belt land, farming and people's wellbeing in general.

Rights of Nature for Antarctica - unique challenges and promise

  • Posted on: 19 October 2023
  • By: Susan

Professor Alejandra Mancilla talked to a group hosted by Friends of the Cam on the need for rights for Antarctica to be declared. The talk was reported in the Cambridge Independent, and the slides are available at the end of this summary. She is a member of a campaigning collective who are arguing for Antarctic Rights, launched on World Antactic Day, December 1st, 2023.

Walking in Water

  • Posted on: 26 September 2023
  • By: Susan

Charlie Gardner, West Norfolk based conservation scientist, climate communicator and activist, set off from Jesus Green on Sunday September 24th on a 180 mile walk to raise awareness of global heating and sea level rise. His route took him entirely through land which is threatened by predicted sea level rise within decades. Friends of the Cam joined Charlie for the first leg of his walk.

Rivers, rights and masculinities - a conversation with Martin Hultman

  • Posted on: 29 August 2023
  • By: Susan

Swedish climate academic Martin Hultman was in Cambridge on Saturday 30th September and Sunday 1st October, during which time we had an informal discussion and a walk along the river Cam. Martin was also interviewed by the Cambridge Independent in a piece: Masculinity 'weaponised' by the far right says Swedish academic ahead of Cambridge talk.

WHY FRIENDS OF THE CAM DO NOT SUPPORT A DESIGNATED BATHING AREA AT SHEEP’S GREEN

  • Posted on: 12 August 2023
  • By: Susan
The Cam at Sheep's Green

Friends of the Cam campaign for an unpolluted river, against over-abstraction from it, and the unsustainable growth in buildings and infrastructure that impact on both. Designating short stretches of rivers may lead to some very limited local improvement of water quality, at the expense of water quality elsewhere. Friends of the Cam will be opposing the DBA application in the consultation for reasons given below. You can respond to the on-line  consultation here.

June 21st: Re-dedicating the Rights of the River Cam

  • Posted on: 19 May 2023
  • By: Susan

We rededicated the rights of the river Cam and its tributaries, on Jesus Green on Midsummer's Eve. Around 150 people gathered to hear and participate in wonderful music, singing, readings and talks from as far afield as Taiwan, Serbia and Yorkshire. As every year, the collective reading of the rights of the river was powerful and moving. The sun shone, and artful objections to Cambridge Water were created (more on this later).

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