Directory of Nature Charities in Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is home to some of England’s most distinctive and important landscapes for nature, from the ancient fenlands and wetlands of the Fens to chalk streams, lowland grasslands, woodlands, heaths and the wildlife-rich countryside surrounding Cambridge. The county contains internationally and nationally important nature reserves including Wicken Fen, Woodwalton Fen, Holme Fen, Chippenham Fen and Barnack Hills and Holes, while the River Cam and other chalk streams provide important habitats for wildlife.
This directory brings together Cambridgeshire-based and Cambridgeshire-focused charities, conservation organisations, environmental partnerships, wildlife societies and specialist recording groups. It includes organisations protecting habitats and landscapes, restoring rivers and wetlands, studying local wildlife, managing green spaces and encouraging communities to become more involved with nature. With the county now implementing its Local Nature Recovery Strategy, there is also an increasingly coordinated effort to expand, connect and improve habitats for wildlife across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Nature Charities in Cambridgeshire
Including registered charities, CICs, coalitions, and alliances.
The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire is the principal local nature conservation charity serving Cambridgeshire. It manages numerous nature reserves and protects habitats including fenland, meadows, woodland and wetlands, while working to restore wildlife and encourage nature recovery. The Trust also provides volunteering, education and community opportunities across the county.
Natural Cambridgeshire is the Local Nature Partnership for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation. It brings together conservation organisations, businesses, farmers, public bodies and communities around its ambition to double the amount of land managed for nature. Its work includes nature recovery, partnership development, community engagement and the delivery of major environmental initiatives.
The Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Environmental Records Centre (CPERC) is the principal source of biodiversity information for the area. It collects, verifies and manages records covering species, habitats and important wildlife sites, providing an evidence base for conservation, planning, research and environmental decision-making. It also provides facilities for members of the public to submit wildlife observations.
Cambridge Past, Present & Future is an independent charity protecting Cambridge’s green landscapes, heritage and countryside. It manages important sites including Wandlebury Country Park, Coton Countryside Reserve and Grantchester Meadows, combining practical conservation with public access, education and community involvement. The charity also advocates for the protection of Cambridge’s green setting and wildlife-rich landscapes.
Cambridge Conservation Forum connects conservation organisations, researchers, businesses and individuals working to protect biodiversity and promote sustainable development. Based around the city’s internationally significant conservation community, the forum encourages collaboration, knowledge sharing and practical action for nature, while providing opportunities for people to discover local conservation projects and volunteering.
Cambridge Conservation Volunteers is a long-established volunteer group carrying out practical conservation work on nature reserves and wildlife sites around Cambridge. Its activities include habitat management and woodland work, providing opportunities for people to contribute directly to local conservation while gaining practical experience and spending time outdoors.
Cam Valley Forum is a registered charity working to protect and improve the River Cam and its tributaries. It campaigns on water quality, river flows, invasive species and other pressures affecting the catchment, while promoting greater understanding of the river environment. The forum also works with partners and volunteers on monitoring and practical river conservation.
Cambridge Natural History Society promotes the study and enjoyment of the natural world, covering subjects ranging from plants, animals and fungi to geology, habitats and conservation. It provides talks, field activities and opportunities for people with a wide range of natural-history interests to learn, share knowledge and take part in local wildlife study.
Cambridge Bird Club promotes the study and conservation of birds across Cambridgeshire. Its members contribute to local bird recording and monitoring, share information about the county’s avifauna and encourage interest in birdwatching and conservation. Such local recording provides valuable evidence about changing bird populations and the habitats on which they depend.
Cambridge Bat Group promotes the conservation and study of bats across the local area. Its work includes recording, monitoring and raising awareness of bat species and their habitats, helping improve understanding of local populations and encouraging practical measures to protect roosts and feeding areas.
Cambridgeshire Mammal Group encourages the study, recording and conservation of the county’s wild mammals. Its activities help build knowledge of local mammal populations and their distribution, while supporting greater public interest in species ranging from small mammals and bats to otters, deer and other native wildlife.
Cambridgeshire Moth Group brings together people interested in recording and studying the county’s moths. Through trapping, identification and wildlife recording, the group contributes valuable information about one of the most diverse groups of insects in the county and helps improve understanding of changes in local biodiversity.
This specialist group promotes the conservation and study of amphibians and reptiles across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Its work includes recording species and populations, sharing expertise and supporting conservation activity for animals such as frogs, newts, toads, lizards, grass snakes and slow worms.
Cambridge Nature Network is a landscape-scale initiative bringing organisations together to protect, enhance and connect the most important wildlife sites in and around Cambridge. It aims to create a more joined-up network of habitats while improving opportunities for people to experience nature. The initiative forms an important part of Cambridge’s wider biodiversity and nature-recovery work.
Cambridge University Botanic Garden combines horticulture, plant conservation, scientific research and public education across its extensive collection of living plants. Its work contributes to research into biodiversity, climate change and plant science, while its gardens provide an important green space for visitors and a living resource for understanding the plant world.
The Countryside Regeneration Trust works to restore and protect farmland and countryside for wildlife while demonstrating more sustainable approaches to land management. Its projects in and around Cambridgeshire provide examples of how farming landscapes can be managed to support biodiversity alongside food production and public enjoyment of the countryside.
Cambridge Friends of the Earth is a local environmental campaigning group concerned with protecting the natural environment and promoting a more sustainable future. Its activities provide opportunities for local people to engage with environmental issues, campaign for change and support practical action on climate, biodiversity and resource use.
Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI) is a major international conservation partnership based at the David Attenborough Building in Cambridge. Founded in 2007, it brings together the University of Cambridge and leading conservation organisations to combine scientific research, practical conservation, policy expertise and education.
Friends of the Roman Road and Fleam Dyke supports the protection and appreciation of these important historic landscape features and the wildlife associated with them. The linear habitats along the route provide valuable ecological connections across the Cambridgeshire countryside, while the group encourages local interest and involvement in their conservation.
Friends of Cherry Hinton Brook is a community group helping care for and promote the natural environment along the Cherry Hinton Brook in Cambridge. Its activities encourage local involvement in protecting the watercourse and surrounding habitats, helping maintain an important wildlife corridor within the city’s urban landscape.
Friends of Stourbridge Common supports the conservation and enjoyment of this important Cambridge green space. The common’s grassland, river-edge habitats and mature vegetation provide valuable areas for wildlife, while community involvement helps maintain the site’s ecological character and ensures that local residents can continue to enjoy it.