Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Nature, Open Space and City Services introduced the report.

The report referred to, a joint public consultation on the draft Biodiversity Strategy mid‑term review and the draft Urban Forest Strategy was carried out via the City Council’s Go Vocal portal from 7 January to 10 February, with a further one‑week extension granted for email responses at the request of specific groups.

The strategy action plan proposed the designation of two new Local Nature Reserves in Cherry Hinton. These received support through the consultation, and, if approved, the Council would seek formal declaration through the statutory Natural England process during 2026.

In response to questions from Cabinet Members and those Councillors present, Nature, Open Space and City Services said:

      i.         Noted the comments regarding Cambridge becoming a butterfly‑friendly city work on the Cambridge butterfly trail had revealed that the Fulbourn Road open space was being considered for nature reserve status partly due to its increasingly important butterfly habitat.

    ii.         The Member also emphasised the importance of creating connected nature networks, aligning with county‑wide work, so that wildlife could move between sites rather than being confined to isolated biodiverse areas.

   iii.         Establishing smaller new nature reserves would benefit not only local flora and fauna but also residents’ physical and mental health. They reiterated their support for the proposals.

  iv.         Agreed that creating biodiversity corridors was essential and had agreed to speak residents in Coleridge ward about linking green spaces to support such corridors. Expanding these connections would significantly benefit the environment across the city.

 Cabinet unanimously resolved to:

      i.         Approve the proposed Local Nature Reserve (LNR) designations of Fulbourn Road Open Space, Cherry Hinton 2.

    ii.         Approve the proposed Local Nature Reserve (LNR) designation of Church End, Cherry Hinton