Issue 144 • Friday 2 July 2021 Emailed to over 1,500 local homes
Open Studios is back
The annual Open Studios begins this weekend and on all four weekends this month – with many new artists taking part as well as long-standing members. Studios will normally be open for anyone to wander in and visit between 11am and 6pm on both Saturday and Sunday. A tour of studios open in Queen Edith’s (above) could make a lovely walk. The complete guide, and maps, can be found here.
Babraham busway gets green light
The Greater Cambridge Partnership Executive Board, which represents the three Labour and Liberal Democrat-run councils in the area, yesterday voted to continue work on the controversial ‘CSET’ off-road busway to a new Park & Ride car park at Babraham. This was despite being presented with a petition now signed by over 1,900 people and this letter of objection written by our South Cambridgeshire MP, Anthony Browne, along with Queen Edith’s independent councillor Sam Davies and a range of local parish councils and other organisations. Mr Browne said it is “quite unusual to see that uniformity of opposition” to such a scheme. There’s a Cambridge Independent report here.
Robin Hood junction not closed tonight
Tonight’s planned overnight closure of the Robin Hood junction for final surfacing works has been postponed.
Gas works begin on Monday
A reminder that work starts on Monday (5 July) to reinforce the gas supply to the city, very much affecting our area. The work will be completed in 4 phases over 22 weeks. In phase 1, the works will begin in the carriageway on Babraham Road, where there will be two-way lights with a pedestrian crossing. This will last for approximately 5 weeks. In phase 2, there will be four–way lights on Babraham Road, Knightly Avenue, Hills Road and Worts’ Causeway for approximately 2 weeks. In phase 3, Worts’ Causeway will be closed at the junction with Hills Road/Babraham Road, and there will be access only from the Gogs end, just for residents, for 3 weeks. Finally, in phase 4, works will take place on the farmland from Babraham Road to opposite the ABCAM building (on the Biomedical Campus). Some disruption to the cycle route may occur. This will last for approximately 12 weeks. For more information, visit the Cadent website and click on the ‘Cambridge Reinforcement’ link.
Latest Coronavirus news
Coronavirus restrictions remain in place, including for people who have been vaccinated. You can meet indoors in a group of up to 6 people, or a group of any size from 2 households; or outside in a group of up to 30 people. More details at the government website here.
Anyone aged 18 and over can now book a vaccination, with plenty of appointments available at the Cherry Hinton vaccination centre.
Walk-in sessions are available at the Grafton Centre daily from 9am–3pm, offering second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to people aged 40 and over (or clinically vulnerable people) who had their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine at least eight weeks ago, and for people who are aged below 40 who had their first dose at least 11 weeks ago.
The COVID Symptom Study estimates that 328,528 people are currently predicted to have symptomatic COVID in the UK, including 933 people in Cambridge. The latest Cambridge Independent update says confirmed case numbers have shot up by 288% in a week in Cambridge as the easily transmissible ‘Delta variant’ spreads. Please be careful.
Care home reopening next month
Heathlands House, Care UK’s new care home in Bullen Close, is set to open in August, and will provide ‘hotel-style accommodation’ for up to 68 older people. There’s more information about the home here and details of jobs available here (search ‘Bullen Close’).
Ever thought about fostering?
County Councillor Alex Beckett tells us that the council is looking for more foster carers, with the launch of a new campaign called ‘It’s The Little Things’. Support, guidance, and training are on offer throughout the process. There’s a lot more background about the opportunities available here.
Warning over cat food
Our friends at Cambridge Veterinary Group on Cherry Hinton Road tell us that there has been a recall of a number of cat foods due to a potential link with a new, fatal disease called feline pancytopaenia. Investigations are ongoing. Details can be found here. Cats are getting very poorly very suddenly, and over 60% are dying. Recalled foods include dry foods from Applaws (products with a Best Before date of Dec 2022 to June 2023 and a site reference code of GB218E5009); AVA (Pets at Home); Sainsburys’ hypoallergenic products; and Wilko. It is recommended that owners feeding these foods stop feeding their cats immediately, and change to a new food. CVG offers a screening blood test alongside a consultation for any cat that has been on this food. Pets At Home have a scheme to cover the cost of this.
Have your say on tackling crime
New Cambridgeshire Police & Crime Commissioner Daryl Preston is working on setting policing and crime priorities in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough for the next 3 years. He’d like the final plan ‘to reflect the concerns, views and lived experiences of local people from across our county’ and is inviting all of us to have a say in a short survey.
Come for a run with Joy’s Joggers
Joy’s Joggers is a small, friendly group of neighbours who go for a leisurely run once a week, exploring the local area, and sharing new routes. They usually meet in Joy’s Garden (Baldock Way/Hills Avenue junction) on a Sunday morning at 9am and do a circuit of 5–7km from there. Recently the group has been to the Beechwoods, Nine Wells nature reserve, Cherry Hinton Chalk Pits, the guided busway and Hobson’s Brook. Text James on 07791 749032 if you would like to join in and to be added to the WhatsApp group.
Free library in Gunhild Way
Alix and family at 75 Gunhild Way have installed a free library in their front garden and want to let everyone in the community know that you’re welcome to come by to take a book or leave a book. As you can see in the picture, Fernando likes the view from the roof. He’s really friendly, so if he’s there when you visit, feel free to stroke him!
Go plastic-free for fruit and veg
Local fruit and veg heroes Cambridge Fruit Co are now offering plastic-free fruit and veg delivery. “No more punnets, no more plastic wrap”, they say, “just fresh, greengrocer quality, fruit and vegetables.” Their home-delivered boxes are selected according to what’s in season at the time, from Portobello mushrooms to Piccolo tomatoes. Each box is designed to contain enough fruit, veg and salad for two people for a week. Best of all, they’ll donate £5 from each sale to Surfers Against Sewage – an established marine conservation charity based in the UK. More information here.
Informal meet-ups for parents of the very young
The Nightingale Garden team have organised an opportunity for local parents or carers of very young children to meet each other next week. Just turn up! Here are the details…
Cambridge Summer Music visits St John’s
The Cambridge Summer Music Festival will be back from 17–31 July, featuring 30 concerts and over 100 musicians. There will be a day of concerts at St John the Evangelist, Hills Road on Wednesday 28 July. The festival programme has a special focus on French and British music and general booking is now open. Note the free entry for those aged 16 and under at all but one of the concerts, extending to those aged 25 and under at many events.
This Week at The Light Cinema
Our multi-screen cinema’s films this week include A Quiet Place Part II; Another Round; Black Widow; Cruella; Daisy Quokka: World’s Scariest Animal; Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds; Fast & Furious 9; Freaky; In The Heights; Kinky Boots The Musical; Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway; Raya and the Last Dragon; Scoob!; Supernova; The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It; The Father; The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard; and Violet Evergarden.
Get yourself a ticket to watch England’s quarter final on the big screen tomorrow (3 July) – it’s free if you buy any large combo and bag of sweets for only £15! Sit back and relax in comfy seats and catch all the action on a giant cinema screen. More details here.
This week at Cambridge Junction
Events at Cambridge Junction this week include a performance by Olcay Bayir, “one of the finest, most intriguing singers on the British world music scene”; Fireworks, “a mixed bill of original new theatre, song, storytelling and dance’; and Figs in Wigs’ Astrology Bingo, “the world’s first ever cosmic game show for astrology lovers, bingo wingers and their sceptic friends.”
The Queen Edith’s Community Food Hub, which offers free fresh and packaged food supplies and household goods for anyone experiencing hardship, is open again this Saturday, from 10.30am to 12.30, at St James Church in Wulfstan Way. Food donations may once again be brought to the church on Friday afternoons from 3pm to 4pm.
One.network is the website which shows current and forthcoming road works. You can see the map here.
Happy To Help scheme
The Queen Edith’s Community Forum’s ‘Happy To Help’ scheme has now closed, but the Patients Participation Group at the Queen Edith Medical Practice is providing prescription collections for local residents who find themselves unable to leave home – telephone 07968 538783 or email ppg@queen-ediths.info.
How to contact our local councillors
The Queen Edith’s Community Forum has produced a guide to our local councillors to ensure you contact the right one depending on your problem and the street where you live. Find it here.
Queen Edith’s city councillor Sam Davies writes a weekly email discussing what she’s been doing and what issues have come up in the area. You can add yourself to the circulation of Sam’s free email here. If our other councillors produce anything similar we will highlight it here.
Queen Edith’s News is 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.
Issue 145 • Friday 9 July 2021 Emailed to over 1,500 local homes
Please get vaccinated
Coronavirus cases in Cambridge continue to rise, so if anyone you know has not been vaccinated yet, please encourage them to do so. In the last 7 days, 400 people had a confirmed positive test result in the city, an average of more than 4 people in every ward, every day. There are walk-in vaccination locations for anyone over 18; just turn up for a first or second dose. It only takes ten minutes. Anyone can choose to attend a walk-in clinic for a second dose after at least eight weeks have passed since their first dose. The walk-in locations are at:
The Guildhall (Market Square) – Saturday 10 July, 8am to 8pm; and Sunday 11 July, 8am to 6pm;
The Grafton Centre – daily until 1 August, 9am-3pm (also 5.30-7.30pm on Wednesdays);
South Cambridgeshire MP Anthony Browne writes: “Local infrastructure has dominated my month, ending in a disappointing announcement from the GCP that they will progress plans for two huge concrete busways through the Cambridge greenbelt. We need fast action to fix our transport system in South Cambs, but not with poor value and damaging projects such as these. I will continue working alongside the residents, representatives, environment groups, and transport leaders opposing these schemes, and I am confident there are better long-term transport solutions to be explored.” There’s more details in our MP’s latest newsletter.
Latest Coronavirus news
Coronavirus restrictions remain in place, including for people who have been vaccinated. You can meet indoors in a group of up to 6 people, or a group of any size from 2 households; or outside in a group of up to 30 people.
The government has published details of its next transition away from lockdown, which should come into force on 19 July (ten days’ time). Details can be found here.
Anyone aged 18 and over can now book a vaccination, with plenty of appointments and walk-in clinics available (see above).
Lewis Herbert, Leader of Cambridge City Council, says:“ With cases again unacceptably high in Cambridge, now is definitely not the time to stop wearing masks in public indoor environments like shops, or while entering pubs and restaurants, or in busy outdoor queues or overcrowded places. Please continue to wear masks in the places you do now.”
The latest studies show that in people aged 64 or younger, the prevalence of infection among those who had received 2 doses of vaccine was 0.35%, compared with 1.15% (three times as much) among those who had not received any vaccine.
Latest modelling analysis from Public Health England and the Biostatistics Unit at the MRC here in Queen Edith’s suggests that the COVID-19 vaccination programme has so far prevented an estimated 7.2 million infections and 27,000 deaths in England alone. More details here.
Following last week’s report on the forthcoming gas works in the south of Queen Edith’s, residents have queried the contractors Cadent’s statement that “Worts’ Causeway will be closed for appoximately 3 weeks. Access for residents only.” Councillor Sam Davies tells us that – as the residents have correctly assumed – this is not quite as draconian as it seems; access will indeed be cut off, but only to motor traffic, and only at the Hills Road end; there will still be access from the Limekiln Road end. And of course there is no way Cadent can – or will try to – enforce ‘residents only’ access.
Free our pavements
Street clutter can clog up our pavements and make it hazardous for people to get around. Poorly-placed bins and A-boards, excessive signage and more can be especially problematic for disabled people, those with buggies and older people. Next week is Living Streets’ Cut the Clutter Week of Action, when you will be able to chart the scale of the problem across the country and call for local action. There’s more information here.
Wulfstan Way phone mast application returns
On the subject of pavement furniture, as predicted by many people, the company wanting to site an 18m high 5G mobile phone mast outside the shops on Wulfstan Way has offered to reduce it to 15m. Many people objected to this as being an inappropriate place for a mast (although one person did support it), but in either case you will need to say so – possibly again – on the City Council’s planning website. Please visit the planning application page here and click on the ‘make a comment’ button. Click on ‘Public Comments’ to see what others have written.
Love Nine Wells or Hobson’s Conduit?
Earth Scientist Tony Eva is making a film about Hobson’s Conduit/Brook, and as part of this would like to interview on camera anyone who has a strong connection with any of this ‘green corridor’. If you think you might be interested, please email Tony.
Protecting your pets against grass seeds
It’s the time of year when our friends at Cambridge Veterinary Group on Cherry Hinton Road are starting to see pets coming in with grass seeds having caused nasty wounds. Dogs are most commonly affected, especially in the paws between the toes, and down the ears, but cats, rabbits and guinea pigs can also be affected. Top tips for prevention of seed problems in dogs include clipping short the hair of the feet and between the toes and on the inner side of the ear flap and around the entrance to the ear canal. Always check your dog’s feet and ears at the end of any walk. Any visible seeds should be removed straight away. If you are worried your pet has a grass seed problem, please call the vets. There’s more information here and here.
A walk around Orwell
The next St John’s Walking Group event is next Thursday (15 July), walking a five-mile circuit from Orwell, taking in the Wimpole Estate. All are welcome. The walk will be led by David Waterhouse, and will begin at 10.00am at St John’s Church, Hills Road, or 10.30am at the car park in the middle of Orwell village. To join in, please email Cathy Davies to arrange transport together.
Arthur Rank shop reopens
Queen Edith’s based Arthur Rank Hospice Charity is reopening its ‘Retail Hub’ in Sawston tomorrow (10 July) at 12pm. Running until 4pm, a celebration afternoon will provide an opportunity to meet the team, enjoy some socially distanced activities and peruse discounted bargains. There will be a visit from Arthur Bear and traditional village-fete type games including COVID-secure children’s lucky dip, hook-a-duck and a tombola. More details here.
Dive into wine from Germany
Fresh from winning the IWC Large Independent Merchant of the Year and IWC Regional Merchant of the Year (Eastern England), Cambridge Wine Merchants on Cherry Hinton Road is holding its German Riesling month. There’s a ”Trinity Case’ available, or there’s 10% off any three or more Rieslings. Read more about this fascinating wine style here, then visit the store or shop online.
This Week at The Light Cinema
Our multi-screen cinema’s films this week include 42nd Street – The Musical; A Quiet Place Part II; Another Round; Black Widow; Cruella; Daisy Quokka: World’s Scariest Animal; Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds; Fast & Furious 9; Freaky; Godzilla vs. Kong; In The Heights; Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway; Raya and the Last Dragon; Supernova; The Father; and The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard.
Cambridge Junction is pointing potential show-goers this week towards the Cambridge Comedy Festival, which starts today at Grange Farm in Huntingdon. An incredible lineup includes Rob Beckett, Dara O’Briain, Al Murray, Milton Jones, Nina Conti, Ed Byrne, Seann Walsh, Mark Watson, Gary Delaney, Hal Cruttenden, Jen Brister, Russell Kane, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Arthur Smith, Reginald D Hunter, Rosie Jones, Darren Harriott, Sindhu Vee, Paul Foot, Jo Caulfield, Kelly Convey, Nabil Abdul Rashid, Andrew Bird, Jarred Christmas, Mick Ferry, Andrew Maxwell and Jeff Innocent, amongst many others. More details here.
The Queen Edith’s Community Food Hub, which offers free fresh and packaged food supplies and household goods for anyone experiencing hardship, is open again this Saturday, from 10.30am to 12.30, at St James Church in Wulfstan Way. Food donations may once again be brought to the church on Friday afternoons from 3pm to 4pm.
One.network is the website which shows current and forthcoming road works. You can see the map here.
Happy To Help scheme
The Queen Edith’s Community Forum’s ‘Happy To Help’ scheme has now closed, but the Patients Participation Group at the Queen Edith Medical Practice is providing prescription collections for local residents who find themselves unable to leave home – telephone 07968 538783 or email ppg@queen-ediths.info.
How to contact our local councillors
The Queen Edith’s Community Forum has produced a guide to our local councillors to ensure you contact the right one depending on your problem and the street where you live. Find it here.
Queen Edith’s city councillor Sam Davies writes a weekly email discussing what she’s been doing and what issues have come up in the area. You can add yourself to the circulation of Sam’s free email here. If our other councillors produce anything similar we will also highlight it here.
Queen Edith’s News is 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.
Issue 146 • Friday 16 July 2021 Emailed to over 1,500 local homes
Performance is back!
Chris Rand, Editor, writes: I don’t think we’ve had so many theatre, musical and entertainment performances to announce for a long time, so if you possibly can, please get out and support the many amazing local events listed below. Some are outdoors, and all are taking great care to be safe, so why not just buy a ticket and see how it goes? We all need some escape, and there’s plenty of it happening just around the corner from where we live.
Don’t invite thefts this summer
Cambridgeshire Constabulary want to remind us to take extra precautions to secure our homes now that summer has arrived. “There is usually a notable correlation each year”, they say, “between when we get the warmer months and opportunistic burglaries where windows and doors have been left open.” As well as ensuring windows are closed fully when going out, remember homes without basic security features are five times more likely to be burgled than homes with visible alarms and security lights.
Join our weekly litter pick!
Fancy a useful lunchtime break? Cambridge City Council and the Queen Edith’s Community Forum are setting up a weekly litter pick, meeting at 1pm on Thursdays at Wulfstan Way shops. There’s a chance for a social gathering afterwards at the Coffee House if you’re interested. The council will be providing equipment. Just turn up! Email us if you have any questions.
Be considerate with your hedges
City Councillor Sam Davies has had a number of requests from residents with reduced mobility or visual impairments to see if hedges can be kept to a minimal amount of intrusion over our pavements. Where these are private hedges around your gardens, please do keep them tidy and cut back – it makes more of a difference to people than you might think.
‘Pop-Up Fruit Stand’ returns with a +1
The Hills Road Pop-Up Fruit Stand will return for the summer starting this Saturday (17 July) from 10.30am at 253 Hills Road. In addition, another stand will also open at 36 Kinnaird Way from Saturday at 2pm. The stand will be offering Kordia cherries and some berries, all at the farm shop price, with any discount received going to the Food Hub. Please bring cash.
Cambridgeshire County Council’s Holiday Activities and Food Programme is aimed at providing healthy food and enriching, fun activities for primary and secondary school aged children who are eligible for benefit related free school meals. Eligible children are able to access up to 64 hours at a holiday scheme with a healthy meal, a variety of exciting activities, sports and the opportunity for to socialise with other children. More information here.
Latest Coronavirus news
From Monday (19 July) we are moving to ‘Step 4’ of the government’s roadmap. Everyone should be cautious whilst managing the risks, as cases of COVID-19 remain high. Most legal restrictions will be lifted, which means:
We will not be expected to stay 2 metres apart from people we do not live with. There will also be no limits on the number of people we can meet. However, we should still minimise the number, proximity and duration of social contacts, as well as meet outdoors where possible and let fresh air into homes.
We are no longer being instructed to work from home where possible.
The requirement to wear face coverings in law will be lifted. However, “the Government expects and recommends that people wear face coverings in crowded areas such as public transport.”
There will no longer be limits on the number of people who can attend weddings, civil partnerships, funerals and other ‘life events’. There will be no requirement for table service at such events, or restrictions on singing or dancing.
There will no longer be restrictions on group sizes for attending communal worship.
COVID-19 has not gone away, so it’s important to keep yourself and others safe. In addition to any additional personal precautions that you may wish to make, please note that organisations may have stricter rules. For example, NHS England has said that masks and social distancing rules will remain mandatory in healthcare settings, including pharmacies, beyond 19 July. Patients will need to follow these rules in GP and dental practices, optometrists and pharmacies. Cambridgeshire mayor Dr Nik Johnson is calling for those who can, to continue to wear masks in public places.
Cambridge’s positive COVID-19 test result rate is up to 265 per 100,000 people, which is slightly higher than the Eastern Region of England in general, although below the country as a whole.
Catch the Young Actors next weekend
The fantastic Young Actors Company, based at Netherhall School, has its Open Air Theatre running from next Friday (30th July) over that weekend. Productions include The Gruffalo on Friday, Greek Gods and Goddesses, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Lord of the Flies on the Saturday, and DNA, Twelfth Night and Julius Caesar on the Sunday. YAC has been running in various incarnations, for over 40 years, and some of its alumni have gone on to stardom. With a festival backdrop and atmosphere – and a purpose-built, outdoor stage and screen area, the Open Air Theatre will really be worth a visit. Ticket details can be found here.
Handel and harpsichords at St John’s
The Cambridge Summer Music Festival starts tomorrow (17 July), and runs for two weeks, featuring 30 concerts and over 100 musicians. Later in the run (Wednesday 28 July) there’ll be a day of concerts at St John the Evangelist, Hills Road including a 50-minute performance by The Cambridge Handel Opera Company featuring Julian Perkins (harpsichord) and Thalie Knights (mezzo-soprano) at 1pm, and Music for Two Harpsichords at 6pm and 8pm. The festival programme has a special focus on French and British music and general booking is now open. Most performances have free entry for young people.
Open Studios continues
The city’s biggest local art event, the annual Open Studios, is open again all around us this weekend and next – with many new artists taking part as well as long-standing members. Studios are normally open for anyone to wander in and visit between 11am and 6pm on both Saturday and Sunday. A tour of studios open in Queen Edith’s could make a lovely walk. The complete guide, and maps, can be found here.
80 oranges, 7 watermelons, 9 performers
Gandini Juggling’s Smashed was one of the most celebrated pieces of street theatre of the last decade. “A witty look at the strained relations between men and women”, Smashed2 is “juggling reinvented”, using plenty of explosive fruit and slow-motion comedy, and reverses the male and female roles for the very first time. Performances take place at Cambridge Leisure next Wednesday (21 July) at 2pm and 6pm and are free, but ticketed. Get your tickets here.
New theatre writing all weekend
The excellent Hotbed Festival returns this weekend (16–18 July), with three nights of live theatre at Cambridge Junction. This is truly a local event, as Queen Edith’s resident Patrick Morris is one of the festival directors. Hotbed features new plays from exciting up and coming playwrights, alongside those by seasoned professionals. Highlights include ‘Love, No Country‘, ‘Under the Weather‘ and a topical set of micro-commissions, ‘Covid Connections‘. Tickets are very limited with audiences sat in bubbles, so booking is advised for all events. Full information on all events can be found on the Cambridge Junction website.
Activity trail at Cherry Hinton Hall
Get active with the whole family at Cherry Hinton Hall this weekend, using Wildgoose’s Mobile Adventures app on your smartphone. The Cherry Hinton Hall adventure has a ‘can you find?’ theme, giving you plenty of opportunity to explore the park. You can start anywhere within the grounds and the adventure is suitable for children aged 4 to11. More details from the City Council here.
Interested in green home improvements?
Local members of the Association for Environment Conscious Building have a monthly ‘pub chat’ (currently alternating online and in-person), where you can drop in and talk about improving new or existing houses. Anyone is welcome to come along; the group has a table in the back room of the Alex (Alexandra Arms) in Gwydir St from 7:30pm. They’re typically there for an hour or two, depending on who turns up. You don’t need to stay for the whole time. The group currently meets on the third Thursday of each month, including next week (22 July). Just turn up!
Open House at new care home
Heathlands House is Care UK’s new purpose-built care home in Bullen Close, off Cherry Hinton Road. Next weekend (30 July – 1 August) it’s throwing open its doors to allow everyone to meet the team and take a closer look around the modern facilities. For more information and to book an appointment, please email tanya.jackson-turner@careuk.com.
Surveying Swifts
Swifts make incredible migration journeys, travelling from Africa to nest here with us each year. Sadly, their numbers in the UK have declined by more than half since 1995. Swift Mapper, supported by the RSPB, is a mapping tool where anyone can submit records of breeding swifts, building a picture of where they are nesting around the UK. This enables local conservation action for swifts to be focused in the right places. The map says we’ve had sightings here in Queen Edith’s, so if you think you can add to the records, do take a look.
This Week at The Light Cinema
Our multi-screen cinema’s films this week include A Quiet Place Part II; Another Round; Black Widow; Cruella; Daisy Quokka: World’s Scariest Animal; Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds; Escape Room: Tournament of Champions; Fast & Furious 9; Funny Girl – The Musical; In The Heights; Off the Rails; Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway; Raya and the Last Dragon; Space Jam: A New Legacy; The Croods 2; and The Forever Purge.
Cambridge Junction this week hosts the Hotbed Festival and Gandini Juggling’s Smashed2 (see above), as well as Metis: Love Letters to a Liveable Future, Central Cee Live, and All Star Cabaret Threesome. Also on Saturday (17 July) is The Cambridge Kilo – come and shop tonnes of sustainable, vintage, retro and branded fashion for just £15 per kilo.
The Queen Edith’s Community Food Hub, which offers free fresh and packaged food supplies and household goods for anyone experiencing hardship, is open again this Saturday, from 10.30am to 12.30, at St James Church in Wulfstan Way. Food donations may once again be brought to the church on Friday afternoons from 3pm to 4pm.
One.network is the website which shows current and forthcoming road works. You can see the map here.
Happy To Help scheme
The Queen Edith’s Community Forum’s ‘Happy To Help’ scheme has now closed, but the Patients Participation Group at the Queen Edith Medical Practice is providing prescription collections for local residents who find themselves unable to leave home – telephone 07968 538783 or email ppg@queen-ediths.info.
How to contact our local councillors
The Queen Edith’s Community Forum has produced a guide to our local councillors to ensure you contact the right one depending on your problem and the street where you live. Find it here.
Queen Edith’s city councillor Sam Davies writes a weekly email discussing what she’s been doing and what issues have come up in the area. You can add yourself to the circulation of Sam’s free email here. If our other councillors produce anything similar we will also highlight it here.
Queen Edith’s News is 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.
Issue 147 • Friday 23 July 2021 Emailed to over 1,500 local homes
Children’s activities all summer long
There’s an amazing amount of activity for families being organised this summer by Cambridge City Council’s Children and Young People’s Participation Service (‘ChYpPS’). It’s 13-page Playdaze Summer 2021 booklet can now be downloaded here. Among the activities are play sessions at local parks, including Cherry Hinton High Street recreation ground next Monday (26 July), Coleridge recreation ground next Wednesday (28 July), Nightingale Avenue recreation ground next Thursday (29 July) and Gunhild Close recreation ground next Friday (30 July).
The Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service is warning that fortnightly green bin collections could be disrupted in the weeks ahead due to the pandemic causing staff shortages – although collections remain as scheduled for now. The council service is currently unable to secure enough agency workers to cover all absences due to demand from elsewhere, and the number of agency workers currently needing to self-isolate. If necessary, crews will concentrate on emptying blue and black bins during the coming weeks.
Robert Macfarlane on Desert Island Discs
It’s not often we get a Queen Edith’s connection on one of the world’s most famous radio programmes, but this Sunday (25 July), local writer Robert Macfarlane will be sharing the soundtrack of his life with Lauren Laverne. The show is at 11am on BBC Radio Four, or you can listen to it afterwards online here. Find out more about Robert’s books here.
Charity looks for help with match-funding offer
Home-Start Cambridgeshire is a charity operating in Queen Edith’s and across the county, supporting families with children under 5 who are going through difficult times. Its staff train and supervise volunteers who visit families weekly offering non-judgemental emotional and practical support according to their individual needs. A ‘match funding’ offer to help HSC support more local families is looking for donations which must be for a minimum of £500 from a new donor. To find out more about HSC’s work, please visit the website here.
Latest Coronavirus news
We are now on ‘Step 4’ of the government’s roadmap. Everyone should be cautious whilst managing the risks, as cases of COVID-19 remain high. Most legal restrictions have been lifted, and we are no longer being instructed to work from home where possible.
Cambridge City Council leader Cllr Lewis Herbert is encouraging people to continue with the simple measure of wearing masks: “With cases again unacceptably high in Cambridge, now is definitely not the time to stop wearing masks in public indoor environments like shops, or while entering pubs and restaurants, or in busy outdoor queues or overcrowded places. Along with getting vaccinated, face coverings protect the people around you and cut their and your risk of joining the one million with long Covid or over 128,000 who have died.”
Cambridge University Hospitals (including Addenbrooke’s and The Rosie) has issued this statement about visiting. All visitors are asked to wear facemasks, and visiting continues to be restricted. Please attend any appointments alone, and do not visit other areas of the hospital – the Food Court remains closed to the public.
Cambridge’s positive COVID-19 test result rate has soared this week up to 346 per 100,000 people, although this is still well below the country as a whole (488). The latest Queen Edith’s figure is 218.
Don’t let one or two cats become many more
The team at Cambridge Veterinary Group on Cherry Hinton Road has drawn our attention to a neutering campaign run by Cats Protection’s Cambridge branch. This allows anyone with a low household income to get their pet cat neutered for £5. Microchipping is also available. More details here.
Submit your butterfly sightings
The Big Butterfly Count is a UK-wide survey aimed at helping assess the health of our environment simply by counting the amount and type of butterflies we see. It’s a lovely project which anyone can take part in. More details here.
Flood defences survey
An ARU Researcher, Joanna, is conducting research for a masters dissertation on public perceptions of solutions to flooding, looking at the difference between man-made and natural solutions. If any reader is interested in the subject and has a few minutes, there’s a short online questionnaire which will really help with the work. You can find it here.
Live classical music at St John’s
As part of the Cambridge Summer Music Festival next Wednesday (28 July) there’s a day of concerts at St John the Evangelist, Hills Road including a 50-minute performance by The Cambridge Handel Opera Company featuring Julian Perkins (harpsichord) and Thalie Knights (mezzo-soprano, above) at 1pm, and Music for Two Harpsichords at 6pm and 8pm. More details here, and remember there’s free entry for young people.
Summer with the Museums launches
All summer, museums in the city and beyond are offering a range of co-ordinated events, activities, trails and resources. From making dinosaur feet, interactive storytelling and scavenger hunts, to amazing women scientists, hunting for fossils and the art of mosaics, there are loads of activities and events, many of which are free. Full details can be found here.
Free Wellbeing Walk
Health Trainer David Lynch is leading a ‘Wellbeing Walk’ next Wednesday (28 July) at Nightingale Recreation Ground, organized by the City Council’s Health You partnership. All are welcome; meet at 10am in the Community Garden, for what will be a slow gentle walk, especially for those with reduced mobility or who prefer to walk slowly and mindfully. The walk will continue to take place on the 4th week of the month. Book your place here.
Pop Up Fruit Stand this week
The Fruit Stand will be open at 36 Kinnaird Way (off Nightingale Avenue) this Saturday afternoon (24 July) from 2pm selling Kordia cherries which are now at their sweetest. Note that the Hills Road stand will not be open this week. We hope you can support this community effort to benefit local fruit farms, with profits going to the Queen Edith’s Community Food Hub.
Join our weekly litter pick!
Fancy a useful lunchtime break? Cambridge City Council and the Queen Edith’s Community Forum are setting up a weekly litter pick, meeting at 1pm on Thursdays at Wulfstan Way shops. There’s a chance for a social gathering afterwards at the Coffee House if you’re interested. The council will be providing equipment. Just turn up! Email us if you have any questions.
Open Studios last chance
The city’s biggest local art event, the annual Open Studios, is open for its final weekend. Studios are normally open for anyone to wander in and visit between 11am and 6pm on both Saturday and Sunday. A tour of studios open in Queen Edith’s makes a lovely walk. The complete guide, and maps, can be found here.
Young Actors in open air theatre
The fantastic Young Actors Company, based at Netherhall School, has its Open Air Theatre running from next Friday (30th July) over that weekend. Productions include The Gruffalo on Friday, Greek Gods and Goddesses, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Lord of the Flies on the Saturday, and DNA, Twelfth Night and Julius Caesar on the Sunday. YAC has been running in various incarnations, for over 40 years, and some of its alumni have gone on to stardom. With a festival backdrop and a purpose-built, outdoor stage and screen area, the Open Air Theatre will really be worth a visit. Ticket details can be found here.
One for your diary: Brass Band in the Park
The City of Cambridge Brass Band is coming to Nightingale Recreation Ground on Sunday 1 August at 3pm for a free concert. More details in next week’s issue.
Open House at new care home
Heathlands House is Care UK’s new purpose-built care home in Bullen Close, off Cherry Hinton Road. Next weekend (30 July – 1 August) it’s throwing open its doors to allow everyone to meet the team and take a closer look around the modern facilities. More information here.
RNLI Shop goes contactless
Geoff Heathcock’s RNLI Shop at 52 Queen Edith’s Way now has contactless payment available for its year-round range of products, including Christmas cards and calendars/diaries for 2022. Drop by on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday afternoons between 2–4pm or ring Geoff on 01223 244901.
This Week at The Light Cinema
Our multi-screen cinema’s films this week include Black Widow; Cruella; Daisy Quokka: World’s Scariest Animal; Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds; Escape Room: Tournament of Champions; Fast & Furious 9; In The Heights; Off the Rails; Old; Raya and the Last Dragon; Space Jam: A New Legacy; The Croods 2; The Forever Purge; and The Sparks Brothers.
Shows at Cambridge Junction this week include All Star Cabaret Threesome; Metis: Wild Dress; Shazia Mirza: Coconut; Tiff Stevenson: Mother; Flo & Joan: Before the Screaming Starts (sold out); and Luke Wright: The Remains of Logan Dankworth
The Queen Edith’s Community Food Hub, which offers free fresh and packaged food supplies and household goods for anyone experiencing hardship, is open again this Saturday, from 10.30am to 12.30, at St James Church in Wulfstan Way. Food donations may once again be brought to the church on Friday afternoons from 3pm to 4pm.
One.network is the website which shows current and forthcoming road works. You can see the map here.
Happy To Help scheme
The Queen Edith’s Community Forum’s ‘Happy To Help’ scheme has now closed, but the Patients Participation Group at the Queen Edith Medical Practice is providing prescription collections for local residents who find themselves unable to leave home – telephone 07968 538783 or email ppg@queen-ediths.info.
How to contact our local councillors
The Queen Edith’s Community Forum guide to our local councillors will ensure you contact the right one depending on your problem and the street where you live. Find it here.
Queen Edith’s city councillor Sam Davies writes a weekly email discussing what she’s been doing and what issues have come up in the area. You can add yourself to the circulation of Sam’s free email here. If our other councillors produce anything similar we will also highlight it here.
Queen Edith’s News is 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.
Issue 148 • Friday 30 July 2021 Emailed to over 1,500 local homes
Brass Band in the park this Sunday
The City of Cambridge Brass Band is coming to Nightingale Recreation Ground for a free concert on Sunday (1 August) from 3pm to 5pm. Chairs are provided, and there’s no charge – just wander down to the park in good time. There will also be storytelling from local authors between 1pm and 2pm.
Help get us back into the Cambridge constituency
This Monday (2 August) is the last day to comment on the Boundary Commission for England’s latest proposals for new parliamentary constituencies across the country. There’s a sound argument, supported by past and present Queen Edith’s councillors, that our area is put back into Cambridge, but it needs plenty of local support.You can read the full background on the ‘Around Queen Edith’s’ blog here, where there’s a link to the form where you can make your own comment. Please do so if you want to help make it happen.
What goes in what bin?
If you’re ever unsure about what rubbish goes where, Cambridge City Council has this useful page describing the right bin for your household waste. Where do you think expanded polystyrene packaging should go? What about used paper tissues? Nappies? Garden soil? The answers are all on the page – and in some cases the answer is not in any bin at all!
Latest Coronavirus news
We are now on ‘Step 4’ of the government’s roadmap. Everyone should be cautious whilst managing the risks, as cases of COVID-19 remain high, but most legal restrictions have been lifted. Cambridge scientists are among those encouraging the continued wearing of face masks and all visitors are asked to wear facemasks at Cambridge University Hospitals (including Addenbrooke’s and The Rosie), where visiting continues to be restricted. The Food Court remains closed to the public.
A reminder from Cambridge City Council to put all medical waste and PPE such as face masks and gloves in your black bin. Use a litter bin if you are outside, or take it home with you. If you are suffering from coronavirus symptoms, always put your medical waste and PPE in a separate bag, and leave it for 72 hours before putting it in your black bin.
Although official confirmed COVID cases have been falling this week, data from the ZOE COVID Study shows a slightly different story. Prof. Tim Spector investigates the discrepancies in his latest video here, and offers a first look at the results of the recent ‘pingdemic’ survey run in the app.
Cambridge’s positive COVID-19 test result rate has fallen slightly this week to 304 per 100,000 people, which is still below the country as a whole (354). The latest Queen Edith’s figure is 207, a small fall from last week’s 218.
Brand new men’s socks urgently needed
The local donation hub for the Cambridge Convoy Refugee Action Group has received an urgent request for socks to go to refugees in Europe. They are looking for brand new men’s socks, UK size 6-11 (Eur size 39-47), ideally by next Thursday (5 August). If you are able to donate socks (or any other clothing on the current needs list here), please email James here.
Making a StoryBeast
Families are invited to an outdoors craft event next Thursday (5 August) at Rock Road Library, where participants will be decorating pebbles to assemble their very own ‘StoryBeast’ for the library garden. It’s completely free, and you can sign up here. This year’s Summer Reading Challenge, “Wild World Heroes”, is now under way: more details here.
Spend an hour looking for bats
Readers are enjoying the various wildlife surveys we’ve mentioned recently, so here’s another: a simple bat survey anyone can do from their garden, local park or even doorstep. This survey is ideal if you don’t have previous bat surveying experience. More details here.
Pop-up Fruit Stands
The local fruit stands will be open this Saturday (31 July) at both 253 Hills Road, from 10.30am, and 36 Kinnaird Way – off Nightingale Ave – from 2pm. They’ll be selling Regina cherries and Herman plums as a community effort to benefit local fruit farms, with profits going to the Queen Edith’s Community Food Hub.
Weekly litter pick continues
Cambridge City Council and the Queen Edith’s Community Forum are running a weekly litter pick, meeting at 1pm on Thursdays at Wulfstan Way shops. Equipment is provided, and all ages are welcome. Here’s last week’s good work by five volunteers and Charlie the dog, waiting for the arranged collection by the council team. Email us if you have any questions, otherwise just come along and join in. All ages welcome!
Can you help us with publicity?
The Queen Edith’s Community Forum is looking for a few volunteers to distribute posters on noticeboards across the ward, so we can let residents who don’t get this email know what’s going on. If you’d be happy to occasionally print off an A4 notice and put it on your local noticeboard,please get in touch. The area’s noticeboards are at Wulfstan Way, Nightingale Park, Ninewells, Joy’s Garden, Rock Road Library and (soon) Red Cross Lane.
Many of you may already be watching the new Sunday evening ITV series Professor T, but for those who haven’t seen it, there are a lot of recent aerial (and other!) shots of Cambridge. Last week’s episode included this shot of Fendon Road and Addenbrooke’s, and we’re sure there will be plenty more!
Mobile Adventures activity trails now running
Get active with the whole family at Cherry Hinton Hall, Coleridge Recreation ground or Nightingale Recreation Ground with some new activity trails for children aged 5 to 11 years. Each adventure includes a variety of fun challenges that the family can take part in together. There’s also a fun quiz to celebrate the Olympic Games. More details here.
Make a date for Popup Science
On 9 August, Cambridge Science Centre’s Popup Science will be outside the shops on Wulfstan Way, with activities for children from 7 to 12 years old. There’s a two-hour session at 10am and another at 1pm. More details next week, but make a note in your diary!
Outdoor swimming all year round?
Although it’s quite a way from us, Jesus Green Lido is the closest public outdoor swimming pool. It normally closes for the winter in September, but the City Council is considering extending its operation over the winter period. A survey has been created to assess support for this, and to get views on how it might best work. You can find it here.
This Week at The Light Cinema
Our multi-screen cinema’s films this week include Black Widow; Blackpink the Movie; Fast & Furious 9; In The Heights; Jungle Cruise; Old; Raya and the Last Dragon; Space Jam: A New Legacy; Spirit Untamed; The Croods 2; The Forever Purge; and The Suicide Squad.
Shows at Cambridge Junction this week include Stone Foundation; Shy FX (sold out); Boudica; Jess Fostekew: Hench; and The Noise Next Door’s Comedy Lock-In
The Queen Edith’s Community Food Hub, which offers free fresh and packaged food supplies and household goods for anyone experiencing hardship, is open again this Saturday, from 10.30am to 12.30, at St James Church in Wulfstan Way. Food donations may once again be brought to the church on Friday afternoons from 3pm to 4pm.
One.network is the website which shows current and forthcoming road works. You can see the map here.
Happy To Help scheme
The Queen Edith’s Community Forum’s ‘Happy To Help’ scheme has now closed, but the Patients Participation Group at the Queen Edith Medical Practice is providing prescription collections for local residents who find themselves unable to leave home – telephone 07968 538783 or email ppg@queen-ediths.info.
How to contact our local councillors
The Queen Edith’s Community Forum guide to our local councillors will ensure you contact the right one depending on your problem and the street where you live. Find it here.
Queen Edith’s city councillor Sam Davies writes a weekly email discussing what she’s been doing and what issues have come up in the area. You can add yourself to the circulation of Sam’s free email here. If our other councillors produce anything similar we will also highlight it here.
Queen Edith’s News is 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.
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Chris Rand
