Children with sticks in Oaks Wood Cambourne Nature Reserve by Rebecca Neal
Cambourne Area Activities
Our team based in Cambourne work with communities in the local area
We work with all ages in the Cambourne area, enthusing and teaching people about local wildlife and environmental issues, and encouraging people to take action for wildlife, by delivering walks, talks, and family sessions, as well as visiting schools, youth groups and community groups, and supporting volunteers. Many of our events happen on the accessible Cambourne Nature Reserve. Our enthusiastic Communities and Education Officer Rebecca Neal has nearly 20 years of experience delivering environmental education. She is a qualified teacher, a Level 3 Forest School Leader, DBS checked, and First Aid trained.
Please note that our community engagement work is not (usually) funded, and there is a charge to cover the cost to the charity of our qualified and experienced staff.
Events
Events for families: we deliver regular family events like our Wild in the Woods Wednesday school holiday activities, and our Little Bugs pre-school sessions. Many of these happen on Cambourne Nature Reserve because it has accessible paths and a car park.
Youth Rangers: we run monthly activities for young people aged 11-17 who are interested in local wildlife and global environmental issues. These are a mix of practical and event volunteering, socials, walks, and surveys. These are usually held on Trumpington Meadows Nature Reserve, or in Cambourne.
Events for adults: we deliver regular events such as guided walks for members of the public on our reserves, and can also run walks specifically for your community group. We can deliver in-person and online talks with a variety of topics.
Schools and home-education
Schools
Outreach: Wilder Schools workshop
Our standard one-day classroom-based curriculum-linked programme is designed for KS2 children. It covers Science and Geography topics, focusing on grouping animals, food chains, adaptations, using biological keys, OS maps, and human impacts on the environment, all using local examples.
We can cover some of the topics in a morning or afternoon session, or add a sharing activity to make the programme longer.
Additional offers
We are adaptable! Please contact us to discuss what we can offer for all age groups; below are a few ideas. Outdoor sessions may be able to make use of a local nature reserve, or school grounds if you have appropriate habitat.
- Forest School programmes for small groups
- Non-curriculum-linked outdoor sessions
- Assemblies (can be offered free or for a donation)
- 30 minute online Q and A (can be offered free or for a donation)
- Careers sessions
- School grounds advice
Professional development
We offer inset days and twilight courses at your site, to help staff:
- feel more confident using the outdoors
- deliver the curriculum creatively
- identify wildlife
- practice simple outdoor activities
- improve their outdoor space for the benefits of learning and wildlife
Home Education
If you have a group of families, we can offer a flexible programme of activities, or one-off sessions. Please contact us to discuss your needs.
Local community
For adults
We can lead exclusive walks, or deliver talks or other activities for adults who are, for example, in care homes or part of community groups such as churches, U3As, or WIs.
For young people
If you run a youth group or after-school club, why not invite us to deliver a fun, interactive session to learn more about your local wildlife? Indoor and outdoor workshops are available.
We could offer things like:
- Mini-beast hunts
- Forest-school programmes for small groups
- Bush craft sessions
- Owl pellet dissection
Community events
We might be able to attend your fair or community event in the Cambourne area...please get in touch and give us plenty of notice!
Volunteering
There are many different volunteering positions with the Wildlife Trust BCN are all advertised on the volunteering section of our website.
Here are some examples of volunteer roles available in the Cambourne area:
- Our Cambourne Work Party Volunteers meet monthly to undertake practical work to improve the nature reserve for wildlife and people. There is also a regular group of volunteers who meet over the autumn and winter in Hardwick Woods nearby
- A Volunteer Ranger carries out their duties whilst on their regular walk around the reserve. The might pick up litter, cut back over-hanging vegetation, report problems like fallen trees, submit wildlife records, or provide a link to the local community.
- A Communities and Education Volunteer assists directly or indirectly with events and activities. They may promote events by putting up posters or posting on social media, or help on guided walks or family sessions.
- Toad Patrol Volunteers help migrating amphibians in the spring to cross roads safely.
Contact details
- Communities and Education Officer Rebecca Neal
- rebecca.neal@wildifebcn.org
- 07894 599020
- Facebook: BeccaBadgerWTBCN
Alternative contact details
- The Manor House, Broad Street, Great Cambourne, Cambridge CB23 6DH
- cambridgeshire@wildlifebcn.org
- 01954 713500
Toy otter and map in classroom by Rebecca Neal
Families jumping in the woods by Rebecca Neal
Child pond dipping in Cambourne by Rebecca Neal
Adults enjoying the view on Cambourne NR by Rebecca Neal
Toad patrol volunteer by Rebecca Neal
Little Bugs in the woods on Cambourne Nature Reserve by Rebecca Neal
Mum and baby by Lake Ewart, Cambourne Nature Reserve by Rebecca Neal
Clay face in Oaks Wood, Cambourne Nature Reserve by Rebecca Neal
Upcoming events
Willow wreath and festive craft workshop for adults (Cambourne)
Cambourne area Youth Rangers (practical activity and pizza)
800 year old hedge leading to Hayley Wood - Robert Enderby
West Cambridgeshire Hundreds
The West Cambridgeshire Hundreds are a collection of wildlife rich ancient woodlands in an area defined for over 1000 years by the old Anglo-Saxon regional divisions known as the Cambridgeshire Hundreds. Historical records show that some woods like Hayley Wood are older than the Domesday book and may go back much earlier. Our vision for this area is a landscape of connected woodlands where wildlife can move freely between.