This is a newly-formed group of volunteers concerned about the continuing decline in the condition of the river Cam, especially where it flows through north Essex into Cambridgeshire. Along this stretch are the villages of Newport, Wendens Ambo, Littlebury, Little Chesterford, Great Chesterford, Ickleton, Hinxton and Duxford.
A long-standing problem of over abstraction from the Chalk aquifer is robbing the river of sufficient flow. Pollutants are not being diluted and washed away fast enough and biodiversity is being lost.
During the summer the Cam is completely dry from its historic source east of Widdington to the outflow of the sewage works at Newport. It is not getting the fresh spring water it should have. This is a man-made problem.
For much of the year the only thing keeping the Cam flowing in its upper stretches is recycled outflow from sewage works and topping-up by the Environment Agency using water from the already over-exploited aquifer.
Currently building teams of volunteers along the river to help with the following tasks. If you would like to get involved please get in touch. Even if you can’t directly help with these tasks please join us to keep in touch with what is happening along the river
Campaign – Contribute to the public debate about our rivers and liaise with other action groups such as the Cam Valley Forum to gain wider recognition of the threat to the Cam.
Test and analyse – Take samples from the river for testing and analysis. We do this under the guidance of the Wildlife Trust.
Monitor fish, bird and wild life – Walk the river, observe, take photographs and share anything out of interest via our facebook.
Improve the condition of the river and its banks
Work parties to clear stuff that should not be there (rubbish, invasive plant species, etc) and to improve the state of the banks.
