Find the rabbits at the garden

Ten white rabbits are on the run at Nightingale Community Garden – how many can you find? The volunteers have also decorated the garden for Easter. Come down for a walk with all the family over the Easter weekend. More details about the Garden here.

Vaccination clinic volunteering opportunities

Next week will be the busiest series of vaccination clinics ever at Cornford House Surgery, and our team of over 100 public volunteers is going to be a little stretched, so there’s a chance to join in if you haven’t before. Help is particularly required with car parking and out on the street, directing people attending the clinics. No experience is required. There are also opportunities to help welcome people and with post-vaccination clinical observation. See here for more details and how to sign up.

Local Elections video previews on the way

We’re unable to hold our popular meet-the-candidates (‘hustings’) evening this year, for obvious reasons, but we have invited all the candidates for the City Council and County Council elections in May to submit short introductory videos of themselves. We think this will give a good overview of all the people who want to be your next councillors. The ‘online meet-the-candidates’ web page will be launched this time next week, with whatever videos we have received by then. Watch this space!

‘Levelling up’ discussion now available to watch online

The Cambridge Festival panel discussion “What does levelling up mean to Cambridge and the wider region?” is now available to watch on the Bennett Institute website. The discussion featured Queen Edith’s Community Forum chair Sam Davies among a distinguished group of contributors. Upcoming discussions at the Institute include Are Britain’s Structures for Government Still Fit for Purpose? on 28 April, with the last Cabinet Secretary, Sir Mark Sedwill.

Bin collections later next week

Following the Easter break, bin collections next week will be two days later than normal to allow the council teams to catch up. Today’s (Friday’s) collections will be on Tuesday; Monday collections will be on Wednesday; Tuesday collections on Thursday; Wednesday collections on Friday; and Thursday collections will be on Saturday. Confirm when your bins will be emptied here.

Red Cross news updates

The RedCross Areas Residents Association’s busy web page has been updated with details of art events and activities for families over Easter, dog thefts and crime statistics, and more. Take a look.

Latest advice from our local vets

Cherry Hinton Road-based Cambridge Veterinary Group recently won two awards, for the best vets in Cambridgeshire and in the Top 25 nationally. Congratulations! They’d like to let readers know that backyard chickens are now allowed outdoors again – details on their Facebook page (and they’re well worth following there). Pet owners should also be aware of spring dangers to animals, such as chocolate and hot cross buns, and some spring Garden plants. The team at the vets has also recently had a case of Lily Toxicity in a cat – all parts of all lilies are potentially fatal to cats, even in tiny amounts, leading to kidney failure. Also, pollen can be a hidden danger, as it falls away from the flower, get picked up on the cats fur and is then ingested with grooming.

East West Rail Consultation

Full details have been launched for East West Rail, the proposed new Cambridge to Oxford railway line, which could begin construction locally by 2025. There’s a library of consultation documents and interactive maps, and ‘virtual consultation rooms’ will be open from 12 April until 9 June. Fourteen online events for communities are planned, and a series of ten, two-hour live chat sessions. Although representations have been made locally that the route into Cambridge should be from the north, the scheme’s management is recommending that it comes in from the south, branching off from the West Anglia Main Line between Hauxton, Harston and Newton. Everything you need to know can be found here.

Links from the Biomedical Campus

The latest Cambridge Biomedical Campus newsletter links to news from many of its constituent organisations and businesses, as well as to items such as the ‘new vision’ for the campus. You can read it here.

‘A New Look for Spring’

Finally, a Red Cross area resident writes: “The new season is upon us, daffodils and cherries pop with colour. But in our local area, the annual new collection of nature’s best has an extra spring in its step. The reason? The falling out of fashion of traffic has produced an unexpected windfall of peace and quiet that’s created a new trend: wildlife. Opening the show, the robins, red waistcoats sharing the runway with the colourful colours of the pheasants. And colour’s not the only look this season; black and white magpies are joined by the dressed up, morning suited badgers. Our old friend the urban fox joined the country casual style of the muntjacs on our greens. All around wildlife is on nature’s catwalk here!” Happy Easter.

Queen Edith’s ‘Happy To Help’ volunteering service

The Queen Edith’s Community Forum’s ‘Happy To Help’ initiative has a team of 200 local residents ready to help anyone who needs it because of COVID-19 isolation. Frequently-received requests include picking up prescriptions from local pharmacies and collecting shopping. However, please note that we are a volunteer service run by your neighbours, and although we try to respond to requests within 24 hours, please don’t make last-minute, urgent requests.

• Produced by the Queen Edith’s magazine team, part of the Queen Edith’s Community Forum, chaired by Sam Davies. Contact Sam by email at hello@queen-ediths.info
• Email us at hello@queen-ediths.info if you have any news you’d like to see included, or any updates to the information above.
• Previous issues of Queen Edith’s News can be read here.
• All issues of Queen Edith’s magazine can be read online here.
• All the best advice and information we can offer is updated frequently at the Queen Edith’s Community Forum website.
• Our friends in Cherry Hinton have a similar email newsletter which you can read and subscribe to here.

Listen to the candidates before you vote

We’re rather excited about this, and think it’s a first for Cambridge – the chance to watch introductory videos from your candidates in the forthcoming City Council elections, right now! Launching today, our ‘meet the candidates’ web page currently has videos from 8 of the 14 candidates for you. They represent the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats and Independents. We hope you enjoy watching them. This replaces the traditional ‘hustings’ event which is usually attended by 100 or more members of the public, but which we can’t run this year. (Note: We are expecting videos from the Conservative Party candidates soon, although sadly the Green Party candidates have declined to take part)

• Watch the ‘meet the candidates’ videos here

Local news and politics explained

For this month’s Queen Edith’s Community Forum online talk, we’ve invited top local journalist Ben Hatton to talk about his role as the Local Democracy Reporter and the future of local news media. The event will be chaired by local political blogger Antony Carpen. It promises to be a fascinating hour, and you’ll be able to ask your questions too, either by email or directly over Zoom. To receive an email reminder on the day with details of how to watch, please click here.

Hospitality open next week and beyond

Pubs and hospitality venues can open for outside service only from Monday (12 April) and several local venues are doing so. Here’s what we know:
★ The Queen Edith Pub on Wulfstan Way will be opening on a first-come, first-served basis. Monday to Friday 4pm to 11pm (Pizza Kitchen 5pm to 9pm), Saturday 12pm to 11pm (kitchen 12pm to 3pm, 5pm to 9pm), and Sunday 12pm to 10pm (no kitchen).
★ The Robin Hood Pub at the Cherry Hinton Road/Queen Edith’s Way junction opens on Monday, and tables in the beer garden are bookable through its website here, where you can also find the opening hours.
★ Cambridge Cookery off Purbeck Road opens for full Terrace service on Wednesday 14 April and resumes a 5-day week. “Brunch, lunch, fizz, wine and new summer cocktails are on the menu”, they say. More details here.
★ The Rock Pub and Cambridge Wine Merchants bar on Cherry Hinton Road are not reopening until indoor seating is allowed, currently scheduled for mid-May. This also appears to be the case with Cambridge Leisure venues serving drinks, such as Frankie & Benny’s, Bella Italia, etc.

Are you and your bike ready for summer?

With the weather warming up and lockdown restrictions easing, police are encouraging the public to check their bicycles and motorbikes are roadworthy before taking them out. Inspector Matt Snow said: “Bicycles and motorbikes may not be roadworthy after being locked up over the winter, even if they were in good condition on the day they went into storage. Tyres can deflate over time and parts can seize so it is very important that people check their vehicles carefully before riding them. It is far better to fix an issue before setting off on a journey than discover a fault while out riding and potentially be involved in a collision.” Anyone interested in learning more about motorcycle safety can attend one of this year’s Bike Safe workshops which are delivered by the police and start next month.

Cambridgeshire Mayor debates online

Apart from the City Council elections (see above), there are several other elections taking place on 6 May. These include one for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Mayor, and at least a couple of organisations have set up online hustings where you can see the various candidates debate the issues. Well worth watching. More details:

• Climate and Environmental Hustings (Friends of the Earth, 15 April, register here)
• Camcycle Hustings (6 April, available to watch any time)

Bin collections later next week

Following the Easter break, bin collections next week will be a day later than normal as the council teams catch up. So today’s (Friday’s) collections will be on Monday; Monday’s collections will be on Tuesday; etc. Confirm when your bins will be emptied here.

Great news for Cambridge Junction

Cambridge Junction has received a grant of £248,083 from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund in the latest round of support. The team at Cambridge Junction are hoping that restrictions on live events will be lifted as planned on 17 May for socially distanced shows, and on 21 June for larger capacity gigs and clubs. Over the coming months, the team at “the UK’s most inspiring arts centre” says that they will be getting the building ready, present engaging new online projects, host artists making innovative new shows both in and outside the building, start new creative conversations with local communities that support Cambridge’s recovery, and continue working with artists to inspire and engage with young people with complex needs.

Changes to bus services

Some small changes are being made to local bus services from Sunday (11 April). These include to Park & Ride services and Citi 7. More details here.

EACH Shop reopens

The East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices shop on Cherry Hinton Road is among those reopening on Monday (12 April). They look forward to continued support from residents but are reminding us never to leave donations outside the shop as they are likely to become damaged and result in a disposal cost. Due to high volumes of donations, they may need to temporarily stop accepting donations at certain times, and ask that you call the shop in advance to check availability. More details here.

Help buy Addenbrooke’s a robot

Robotic surgery is a form of keyhole surgery involving small incisions where the surgeon controls a computer-enhanced robot, mimicking the surgeon’s hands and wrist movements, and allowing absolute precision. Following robot-assisted surgery, patients can be discharged from hospital within a matter of days, not weeks. Addenbrooke’s currently only has one robot which is dedicated to kidney, bladder, and prostate cancer patients. A new appeal via the Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust will help fund another surgical robot. Find out more here.

Library gears up for reopening

The Friends of Rock Road Library have announced that their regular events will be back from later next month, including Gardeners, Rhyme & Story Times, Films, Lego, Textiles, Open Studio, Coffee Mornings, Apple Day, Plant Sales and Tea Parties. They also hope to introduce local history talks, a garden group with talks and practical guidance, the return of a Writer-in-Residence, fun quiz nights, craft for all abilities (with a regular ‘knit & knatter’) and a local area photograph exhibition. Keep an eye on their website here.

Queen Edith’s ‘Happy To Help’ volunteering service

The Queen Edith’s Community Forum’s ‘Happy To Help’ initiative has a team of 200 local residents ready to help anyone who needs it because of COVID-19 isolation. Frequently-received requests include picking up prescriptions from local pharmacies and collecting shopping. However, please note that we are a volunteer service run by your neighbours, and although we try to respond to requests within 24 hours, please don’t make last-minute, urgent requests.

• Produced by the Queen Edith’s magazine team, part of the Queen Edith’s Community Forum, chaired by Sam Davies. Contact Sam by email at hello@queen-ediths.info
• Email us at hello@queen-ediths.info if you have any news you’d like to see included, or any updates to the information above.
• Previous issues of Queen Edith’s News can be read here.
• All issues of Queen Edith’s magazine can be read online here.
• All the best advice and information we can offer is updated frequently at the Queen Edith’s Community Forum website.
• Our friends in Cherry Hinton have a similar email newsletter which you can read and subscribe to here.

Meet your prospective County Council candidates before you vote

Following on from our City Council ‘meet the candidates’ videos last week, this week we’ve got introductory videos from your candidates in the forthcoming County Council elections, and they’re available right now! Do watch them before you vote – they give you a really good insight into the candidates. We have videos from three of the four candidates.

• Watch the County Council ‘meet the candidates’ videos here

The City Council ‘meet the candidates’ videos have now been expanded, with submissions from two more candidates, taking our total up to 10 of the 14. You can watch these here, and again, we’d really recommend it before voting!

A message for postal voters

If you’re voting in the upcoming local elections by post, the City Council elections team has some important information about returning the ballot papers correctly. You can read it here in the panel.

Huge 5G mast proposed for Wulfstan Way

A planning application has been submitted for an 18m (60 feet) high 5G phone mast to be installed next to the bus stop outside Wulfstan Way Shops. This is even taller than the large trees on the green. The mast will be accompanied by a row of cabinets at ground level. Details of the proposal and how to comment to the council can be found here.

Outdoor hospitality venues now open

Some local pubs and hospitality venues are open for outside service only, and in the interests of research, we’ve been to all of them and can confirm they’re working well!
★ The Queen Edith Pub on Wulfstan Way is open on a first-come, first-served basis. Monday to Friday 4pm to 11pm (Pizza Kitchen 5pm to 9pm), Saturday 12pm to 11pm (kitchen 12pm to 3pm, 5pm to 9pm), and Sunday 12pm to 10pm (no kitchen).
★ The Robin Hood Pub at the Cherry Hinton Road/Queen Edith’s Way junction has tables in the beer garden which are bookable through its website here, where you can also find the opening hours.
★ Cambridge Cookery off Purbeck Road is open for full Terrace service from Wednesdays to Sundays. “Brunch, lunch, fizz, wine and new summer cocktails are on the menu”, they say. More details here.
★ The Coffee House on Wulfstan Way is now back to normal opening hours and is able to serve outside.
★ A few steps out of Queen Edith’s, the Red Lion pub in Cherry Hinton is also open, with a full lunch and dinner menu available from Tuesday to Sunday. More details here.

Fitness and outdoor sports centres now open

If you’ve lost some fitness or put on some weight over the last few months, there are several local gyms and sports centres now open.
★ Hills Road Sports & Tennis Centre is open daily for outdoor tennis and a range of indoor facilities and events. More details here.
★ Netherhall Sports Centre at Netherhall School has re-opened – more details here. The centre has a 3g pitch, tennis/netball courts, fitness suite and childrens’ activities. The fitness suite is open to the public, for just £20/month membership with no contract – why travel further?
★ Cocks & Hens Tennis is a friendly club with modern facilities situated in a beautiful setting off Grantchester Road (behind Cambridge Rugby Club). More details about membership here.

Patients Group update

The Patients Group at Queen Edith’s Medical Practice continues to be active despite the lockdown. They tell us: “We believe that we have more members than any other such group in the Cambridge area and we have a range of activities. Our programme of talks continues on-line, and our newsletter is published quarterly. We will also soon be announcing the launch of our own website.” If you would like a sample copy of the newsletter, let Alan Williams know at ppg@alanwilliams.org.uk.

How your community pharmacist can help

The Patients Group at Queen Edith’s Medical Practice (see above) has an online talk next Thursday (22 April) at 7pm which sounds interesting. In “How the local (community) pharmacist can help you”, Neel Verma, the highly qualified pharmacist who can usually be found at Kay’s Pharmacy in Wulfstan Way, will explain how pharmacists do much more than “hand over the pills”. Those interested in attending the talk should contact Alan Williams at ppg@alanwilliams.org.uk to be sent the log-in details in advance of the talk.

Local news and politics explained

Last night’s Queen Edith’s Community Forum monthly talk is now available to watch online, if you missed it. The talk featured local journalist Ben Hatton telling us about his role as the Local Democracy Reporter for the area’s news media. Ben also brought us his unique insight into the complex process of the upcoming local elections. The video lasts about an hour – watch it here.

Great news for Cambridge Junction

A new show for ages 2–7 is streaming from Cambridge Junction from Sunday. Play-Along Plink and Boo is an interactive circus theatre performance made for camera. Before watching, families can get ready by making their own props and building a theatre den in their front room to play along with the fun. Watch the trailer and book ‘pay what you feel’ tickets here.

Do the Captain Tom 100 challenge

The Maggie’s Cambridge centre at Addenbrooke’s is inviting anyone thinking of taking on the #CaptainTom100 challenge over the May Bank Holiday to do it for Maggie’s and support people with cancer. All you have to do is ‘100 of anything’. You could bake 100 cakes, do 100 star jumps or cycle 100 miles. If you’d like to  raise money this way for Maggie’s, just visit this page and click ‘Fundraise’ to create a web page where people can donate.

EACH Shop needs helpers

The East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices shops – including our local branch on Cherry Hinton Road and the one in Cherry Hinton village – are looking for helpers. There are many ways to do this, from sorting donations and dressing windows to running the till and listing items on the eBay shop. Just pop in to one of the shops, chat to the team and arrange a taster session! Find out more here.

New website for Cambridge Wine Merchants

The folks at Cambridge Wine Merchants – which has its local branch on Cherry Hinton Road – has a rather nice new website. There are a range of opening offers, mixed case deals and the usual impressive range of wines, beers and ciders, spirits and more! Free delivery on orders over £50, or Click & Collect at the local store store with no minimum spend. Find the new website here.

Traffic disruption

One.network is the website which shows current and forthcoming road works. We try to highlight any major projects about to start locally in this newsletter, but we thought it might be worth including a link to the site in every issue from now on, to give you a reminder to also look for the smaller stuff which might affect you. You can see the map here.

Queen Edith’s ‘Happy To Help’ volunteering service

The Queen Edith’s Community Forum’s ‘Happy To Help’ initiative has a team of 200 local residents ready to help anyone who needs it because of COVID-19 isolation. Frequently-received requests include picking up prescriptions from local pharmacies and collecting shopping. However, please note that we are a volunteer service run by your neighbours, and although we try to respond to requests within 24 hours, please don’t make last-minute, urgent requests.

• Produced by the Queen Edith’s magazine team, part of the Queen Edith’s Community Forum, chaired by Sam Davies. Contact Sam by email at hello@queen-ediths.info
• Email us at hello@queen-ediths.info if you have any news you’d like to see included, or any updates to the information above.
• Previous issues of Queen Edith’s News can be read here.
• All issues of Queen Edith’s magazine can be read online here.
• All the best advice and information we can offer is updated frequently at the Queen Edith’s Community Forum website.
• Our friends in Cherry Hinton have a similar email newsletter which you can read and subscribe to here.

Fendon Road roundabout repairs promised

Cambridgeshire Live and the Cambridge News have reported that the new Fendon Road ‘Dutch’ roundabout is already ‘covered with potholes’ after less than a year. The news story quotes Cambridgeshire County Council as saying: “We are aware of some surfacing issues at this roundabout. The necessary resurfacing will be undertaken by our contractor at their own cost in June.”

‘Idle Hour’ performance to be moved

The latest issue of Queen Edith’s magazine described an outdoor dance piece by Anna Brownsted, supported by Cambridge Junction, which had asked permission to perform it at the Cherry Hinton Chalk Pits in June. Unfortunately the article went to press just as the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire (which manages the site) was explaining to the organisers that the venue would not be suitable. Cambridge Junction is looking for an alternative venue for the performance, and we’ll bring you details when we can.

Test centre hits another milestone

More than 3 million tests have now been processed at the Cambridge COVID-19 Test Centre as part of the University’s extensive response to the pandemic. The Centre – at the Anne McLaren Building on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus – was created in April 2020 in collaboration with biopharmaceutical companies AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline to support the UK’s national testing effort. Full story here.

US Air Force wrecks hospital landing pad

A United States Air Force Boeing/Bell CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor military aircraft landed at Addenbrooke’s this week on a training exercise, and unfortunately destroyed the hospital’s helicopter pad. There’s a video of the incident on the Trailspotter YouTube channel here. The incident has required East Anglia’s three air ambulance charities to use Cambridge City Airport instead. The USAF 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Mildenhall said that it is “taking steps to rectify as soon as possible.”

Visiting returns to adult inpatient wards

Visiting to Addenbrooke’s adult inpatient wards is now possible again, with restrictions. Face to face appointments can be booked directly with wards, but are only available to a single named adult for one hour per day. Appointments can be booked 48 hours after an admission. More information here.

Hairdressers in the area

Most hairdressers and beauty salons are now re-open. See their websites and Facebook pages for opening hours and booking information.

• YOLO Hair Design and Beauty, Wulfstan Way
• Elajé, Hills Road
• Rogue Barber, Cherry Hinton Road
• Chic Lounge, Cherry Hinton Road
• Elem Hair, Cherry Hinton Road
• Eddie’s Barber Shop, Cherry Hinton Road
• Ferdy’s Hair & Beauty, Hartington Grove
• MDL Male Image & Grooming, Cherry Hinton Road

Plant Sale at St John’s

Now is the time to be thinking about planting for the summer so call in to St John’s Church from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Sunday morning (25 April), where there will be tables full of plants for sale in the garden. Among the wide selection will be annuals, with lots of geraniums, perennials, herbs, house plants and vegetable seedlings, all home grown. Vegetable seedlings will include tomatoes, (large, medium and small), courgettes, French beans, runner beans, broad beans, aubergines, broccoli, squash, cucumbers, melons. Social distancing will be observed in the garden. Please bring a container for your purchases.

Recruiting volunteer female cycle leaders

JoyRiders is a London-based organisation seeking to introduce more women to the joys of cycling. It is looking to set up some group rides in and around Cambridge. If you are potentially interested in becoming a volunteer ride leader, there are two upcoming online information sessions to find out more. No commitment! Sign up for Tuesday 11 May at 7pm here or Sunday 16 May at 5.30pm here.

More information about our local council candidates

If you’re still pondering over who to vote for in two weeks’ time, here are some links to help you!

• Watch the videos from our City Council candidates here – we have a new one in, from a Green Party candidate at last, making the total up to 11 out of 14
• Watch the videos from our County Council candidates here – we have submissions from 3 of the 4 candidates
• Read statements from all 18 candidates in the Queen Edith’s magazine preview here
• Read responses to the extensive Camcycle survey of City Council candidates here
• Read responses to the extensive Camcycle survey of County Council candidates here
• Read coverage from Cambridge Skaters (Cam Skate) here

Help in job searches

The RedCross Areas Residents Association has added a ‘jobs’ section to its website which gives links to many dozens of major local employers and even more general jobs websites. It’s an impressive effort, which will be of use to residents anywhere in our area.

Get involved with the city museum

The Museum of Cambridge is looking for ‘Community Curators’ – people “from all walks of life who love Cambridge and want to share their passion for the city with others.” For a few months, the Community Curators will be at the heart of the Museum’s exhibition and event activity, helping to decide and design what exhibitions and events are run. There’s more information here.

Huge lineup at Cambridge Comedy Festival

Cambridge Junction is supporting the Cambridge Comedy Festival, which takes place on Grange Farm in Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon (where the Secret Garden Party was held) in July. It will feature over 150 acts across 4 stages from superstar household names to left-field fringe acts, as well as fantastic kids/family shows. There’s full information here.

Queen Edith’s ‘Happy To Help’ volunteering service

The Queen Edith’s Community Forum’s ‘Happy To Help’ initiative has a team of 200 local residents ready to help anyone who needs it because of COVID-19 isolation. Frequently-received requests include picking up prescriptions from local pharmacies and collecting shopping. However, please note that we are a volunteer service run by your neighbours, and although we try to respond to requests within 24 hours, please don’t make last-minute, urgent requests.

Traffic disruption

One.network is the website which shows current and forthcoming road works. You can see the map here.

• Produced by the Queen Edith’s magazine team, part of the Queen Edith’s Community Forum, chaired by Sam Davies. Contact Sam by email at hello@queen-ediths.info
• Email us at hello@queen-ediths.info if you have any news you’d like to see included, or any updates to the information above.
• Previous issues of Queen Edith’s News can be read here.
• All issues of Queen Edith’s magazine can be read online here.
• All the best advice and information we can offer is updated frequently at the Queen Edith’s Community Forum website.
• Our friends in Cherry Hinton have a similar email newsletter which you can read and subscribe to here.

Local elections next Thursday

Don’t forget that the local elections are being held next Thursday (6 May) and we’ve been told that early indications from postal voting are that Queen Edith’s may already be on course to have the highest turnout in the city. Voting is really easy – you just need to go to your local polling station on the day, no polling card or identification is needed. Note that EU citizens who are registered to vote in the UK are able to vote.

• Find out where and when you can vote here

To help you make a decision, have a read of the Queen Edith’s magazine election preview or, if you prefer, watch our own short videos from those candidates who’ve submitted them. They’re really good, and thanks to the candidates for providing them!

• Queen Edith’s News City Council election candidate videos
• Queen Edith’s News County Council election candidate videos
• Queen Edith’s magazine election preview

New vision for the Biomedical Campus

A website has been set up by the Cambridge Biomedical Campus to explain what it calls its new ‘Vision’ for the next 30 years, to succeed the 2020 Vision published at the turn of the century. The key document is the 24-page Our Vision for Cambridge Biomedical Campus. The Queen Edith’s Community Forum is already participating in the discussion, and we will report back here with any developments. However, the website also allows individual residents to get in touch and we would encourage you to do so if you have views to share about the Campus.

Theatres and Concert Venues announce plans

The city’s major entertainment venues are very much hoping to reopen in a few weeks’ time, provided that the government’s roadmap runs to schedule.

• Our own Cambridge Junction has its first seated socially distanced event scheduled in less than a month’s time, and has dozens more performances of all kinds lined up for the rest of the year. See the full list here.
• The ADC Theatre will soon re-open as a socially distanced venue, while livestreaming many shows for people to watch from home if preferred. Read its new season brochure here.
• Cambridge Arts Theatre says: “We’re thrilled to open our doors and welcome you back!” and booking is already open. Its lineup of shows for the summer can be seen here.
• Cambridge Corn Exchange has shows starting in June, and is booking events right through until November 2022 (!). See what’s lined up here.

RNLI Shop reopens

Geoff Heathcock’s RNLI Shop, something of a local institution in itself, will be reopening this Monday afternoon (3 May) between 2pm and 4pm, at 52 Queen Edith’s Way. All the usual goodies available to support this excellent cause.

Happy Birthday to Joy

Visitors to Joy’s Garden on Baldock Way are being encouraged to send messages to Joy Barker, who made the place such a landmark when she lived there. Joy is 91 today. One visitor sent the photo above with the message (both reproduced with permission): “We often spend a relaxed 30 minutes on the way home after school pick up, having a snack in Joy’s garden. The boys wander around in the garden and ask me the names of plants and flowers, so we all get some new knowledge. It’s an oasis among the traffic and daily stress, for kids and adults. Thank you Joy, I wish you the very best birthday, and blessings be with you.” If you’d like to send Joy a message, there are details on a poster in the garden.

Step out of lockdown with the Star Shine Walk

Everyone is invited to step out with Arthur Rank Hospice Charity’s Star Shine Walk on the weekend of 22 and 23 May, which – if all goes according to plan – will be the first weekend after Step 3 of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown. This year’s walk still cannot be held as a mass-participation event, but it is looking likely that teams of families, friends and colleagues will be able to get together and take part, wherever you are. Anyone can take part in the event by registering before 16 May. Every participant will receive a special walk pack including a customisable t-shirt. More details here.

Helping organisations take environmental action

Cambridge Carbon Footprint has three free seminars in May on using an Environmental Management System to support your business or organisation “to shift from ambition on the climate and biodiversity crisis to real, measurable action.” More details here.

The hottest new beer on the block

Cambridge Wine Merchants has collaborated with Wylde Sky Brewery to create Cambridge Hazy Pale, “a hazy hoppy New England IPA bursting with juicy citrus and lush tropical notes.” Buy a dozen large cans and get 10% off at the company’s new website – there’s home delivery, or collect from the store on Cherry Hinton Road. More here.

Queen Edith’s ‘Happy To Help’ volunteering service

The Queen Edith’s Community Forum’s ‘Happy To Help’ initiative has a team of 200 local residents ready to help anyone who needs it because of COVID-19 isolation. Frequently-received requests include picking up prescriptions from local pharmacies and collecting shopping. However, please note that we are a volunteer service run by your neighbours, and although we try to respond to requests within 24 hours, please don’t make last-minute, urgent requests.

Traffic disruption

One.network is the website which shows current and forthcoming road works. You can see the map here.

• Produced by the Queen Edith’s magazine team, part of the Queen Edith’s Community Forum, chaired by Sam Davies. Contact Sam by email at hello@queen-ediths.info
• Email us at hello@queen-ediths.info if you have any news you’d like to see included, or any updates to the information above.
• Previous issues of Queen Edith’s News can be read here.
• All issues of Queen Edith’s magazine can be read online here.
• All the best advice and information we can offer is updated frequently at the Queen Edith’s Community Forum website.
• Our friends in Cherry Hinton have a similar email newsletter which you can read and subscribe to here.