Back in 2008 the Cambridge City Council engaged the Wildlife Trust to prepare a Management Plan for Midsummer Common. This Management Plan sets the Council 7 main objectives, which are to:
FoMC wants to see this Management Plan fully implemented and is lobbying Councillors and officers to make this happen.
The first objective in the Management Plan is to enhance the species richness of the Common. To achieve this, three areas of meadow will be created and wildflower seeds sown and allowed to spread naturally over the rest of the Common. The presence of wild flowers should improve both the aesthetic appeal of the grassland and its biodiversity.
In discussion with FoMC, the Council decided to establish a trial meadow at the Butt Green end of the Common. In November, FoMC members joined Councillor Julie Smith and Council officers in raking and seeding this first trial area. If all goes well, Midsummer Common will be more colourful in the Spring.
Recent media reports have highlighted the loss of orchards from the British landscape. The National Trust and Natural England put Cambridgeshire as the second worst offender with an 80% loss over the last half century. Another objective of the Management Plan is to plant an orchard on Midsummer Common.
FoMC has welcomed this idea and presented its own planting proposal using heritage trees of local provenance. In the first phase a section of the pound would be cleared of brambles, nettles and thistles and New Rock Pippin, Wayside, Histon Favourite and Jolly Miller apple trees would be planted there. These trees will supply apples for eating from October to May and cooking apples in September. In the second phase another section of the pound would be cleared and Wallis’s Wonder plum trees, Cambridge Gage and Willingham Gage trees would be planted there. These trees will supply plums and greengages for eating from August to October. In the third phase some Laxton Favourite and Warden pear trees would be planted on the site for eating and cooking in September and October. There might be further room on the site for planting some crab apple and quince trees, a new hedge and some wild flowers to enrich the biodiversity of the Common. The Council has given the go-ahead and a group of FoMC volunteers will start digging holes and planting trees in the new year.
The condition of the Common has declined over recent years. The grassland is in a poor condition - the lack of a proper mowing regime has resulted in the spread of chickweed, thistles and nettles over large areas. FoMC volunteers have helped pull the weeds out but the task is monumental and never ending. Many of the newly-planted trees have been neglected with nettles impeding the flow of water and nutrients. FoMC volunteers have helped clear them away. Some of the trees have been vandalised. Heavy vehicle movements close to the trees have compressed and damaged their roots and rutted the soil elsewhere. This has impeded the natural drainage of the Common and results in long-lasting puddles. Other vehicles have been driven and parked on the Common illegally. Too many people leave litter which is unsightly and a danger to grazing cattle. Some of those walking dogs fail to clear up their foulings. Others light fires which damage the vegetation.
It is comforting to report that the situation has much improved recently. The grass has been mown, nettles and brambles round the trees have been removed, the trees themselves have been pruned, one footpath and its lights have been upgraded, all the railings have received a fresh coat of paint, drain covers damaged by vehicles have been rebuilt, the river banks have been reinforced with concrete, and more waste bins have been installed. There is a need for many more trees to be planted and a few notice boards erected. Some of the pedestrian gates need widening and some picnic tables and barbeques might be welcomed. Once fully implemented, the new Management Plan should ensure that this good work on the site infrastructure is maintained.
The only traceable byelaws for Cambridge Commons are those dated 1851 and 1969. The former are over 150 years old and reflect a bygone age - for example, any person beating or shaking a carpet, rug or mat or gambling, betting or playing with cards, dice or any other article on Midsummer Common can be fined forty shillings. The 1969 byelaws do no more than impose a £20 fine on any person feeding animals depasturing on the Common. This is a sad picture, especially when compared with what other local authorities have done. FoMC has produced a draft set of new byelaws based on Defra guidance and what other local authorities have produced. The Council has been asked to consider these and respond.
The ancient byelaws and other legislation ban fires on common land. Unfortunately ther has been a spate of bonfires on Cambridge Commons in recent months and Midsummer Common has suffered more than most. Groups of youngsters congregate, light up assembled rubbish and have a party - the turf is burnt, litter and drink bottles and cans are left, and the cattle are exposed to dangerous morsels. This is an unwelcome and illegal activity and the Council has engaged local groups, including FoMC, in discussing how this activity might be stopped. Colder and wetter weather seems to have put a stop to this activity for the moment.
Legislation has long protected English commons from unauthorised vehicular access. The fence around Midsummer Common stops vehicles entering and parking. However, there is a gate to let service vehicles access the Fort St George pub and Midsummer House restaurant. Unfortunately, this gate is too often left open and other vehicles ignore the Council notice and enter and park illegally on the Common. How many offenders have been prosecuted in recent times? We are still waiting for the Council to provide a robust solution to this problem.
All the trees on Midsummer Common have been surveyed by a Council Arboricultural Officer. As a result, an extensive programme of pollarding and pruning has been carried out. The pollarded tree on the left soon recovers its foliage on the right. The survey also resulted in a number of trees being identified as damaged or diseased and these have been felled. The Common lost 6 trees this way in 2008 and another 7 have just gone in 2009. The pictures below show one of these fallen trees with the tree surgeon showing the diseased wood. FoMC collected £1,400 from its members and friends to have the first fellings quickly replaced by 3 Black Poplars, 2 Dutch Elms and 1 Horse Chestnut. The Council has promised to replace the latest fellings.
Nettles are becoming all too common on Midsummer Common. Nowhere is this more evident than around the newly planted trees - see the pictures on the left. Two FoMC members took it upon themselves to clear the offending weeds. Suitably protected and with much pulling and digging they cleared the nettles and left them in piles ready for collection by the Council - see the pictures on the right.
A detailed map of the trees on Midsummer Common can be viewed.
