A 370-acre area of land on the edge of Cambridge has been returned to the care of the National Trust for the first time in 60 years.
Known as Northfield, the site runs alongside the opposite side of Quy Road towards Bottisham, sitting 7 miles from the city and close to Anglesey Abbey. The National Trust acquired the land following an agreement with the owners.
The charity intends to restore the natural site to create new wildlife habitats and improve community access to green space. Emma Ormond-Bones, general manager of the National Trust’s North Cambridgeshire Portfolio, explained the goal for the acreage.
We want Northfield to become a place where nature can thrive, helping wildlife recover and building resilience to a changing climate.
Emma Ormond-Bones, general manager of the National Trust’s North Cambridgeshire Portfolio
The project arrives as Cambridgeshire remains one of the most nature-depleted counties in the UK, facing rising demand for accessible green space amid a rapidly growing population.
The area features a rich natural and cultural heritage, including a chalk stream and evidence of human activity stretching back thousands of years to the Roman period. The trust describes the location as a distinctive fen-edge landscape where low-lying fenland meets the higher chalk ridge.
Over time, the organization hopes that species such as harvest mice, water voles, and turtle doves will benefit from the restoration efforts. Northfield marks the first project within a new masterplan for the area, forming part of the wider Wicken Fen Vision. This long-term initiative aims to create habitats and paths for wildlife and people stretching from Wicken Fen to the edge of Cambridge.
Northfield has the potential to deliver meaningful benefit to both people and wildlife and we want local people to play a vital role in helping shape what that future will look like.
Emma Ormond-Bones, general manager of the National Trust’s North Cambridgeshire Portfolio
Community drop-in sessions regarding the vision will take place between Saturday 21 November and Friday 27 November. Feedback gathered from these sessions will inform the next stage of planning ahead of formal proposals scheduled to be developed during 2027.
