News

The cattle

The cattle are back. The local vet, Angelika von Heimendahl, has brought 11 Red Poll steers to delight the people of Cambridge - young and old alike. This is excellent news. The bad news is that they were moved to another Common before the Fairs arrived and we are still waiting for their return. Get more information about grazing on Midsummer Common.

Trees

Potentially dangerous trees on Cambridge commons are beeing felled - see the City website. Midsummer Common lost 6 trees and FoMC collected £1,400 from its members and friends to have them replaced by 3 Black Poplars, 2 Dutch Elms and 1 Horse Chestnut. The Council has written to FoMC, extending its thanks for this donation and promising a summer watering programme for the trees.

FoMC Annual General Meeting

FoMC held its AGM on the 18^th March. The usual formalities took place - a financial report and the election of officers and committee members. More interesting, perhaps, was a report on achievements in the past year and a forward look into the year ahead. There are a number of challenges ahead and these are described in the minutes.

Forthcoming Events on the Common

The following events have been scheduled for 2008:

• May Fair: 1-5 May
• Cancer Research UK Race for Life: 1 June
• Strawberry Fair: 7 June
• Midsummer Fair: 18-23 June
• Cancer Research UK Race for Life: 6 July
• London to Cambridge Bike Ride: 27 July
• Creative Community Trust: 20 and 21 September
• Memory Walk for the Alzheimer's Society: 21 September
• Oxford to Cambridge Bike Ride: 28 September
• Bonfire Night: 5 November

Current Concerns

Condition and Management of the Common

The condition of the Common has continued to decline. A proper mowing regime has not been implemented. In consequence chickweed, thistle and nettle infestation has seriously increased. Many of the newly-planted trees appear neglected with nettles impeding the flow of water and nutrients. Some of the trees have been vandalised with branches and bark torn away. Litter remains a constant problem. Most Local Authorities used powers under the Commons Act 1899 to prepare and implement a management plan for their commons. Cambridge City Council has not used these powers. However, the Council recently engaged the Wildlife Trust to help prepare a Management Plan for Midsummer Common and other green spaces in the town. A draft of this Management Plan for Midsummer Common has been delivered to the Council and FoMC has submitted its views to the author (see the submission).

Vehicular access

Legislation has long protected English commons from 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 Midsummwer House restaurant. Unfortunately, this gate is too often left unlocked and other vehicles ignore the Council notice and enter and park illegally on the common. The Council has promised a solution to this problem but we are still waiting.

Thistles

The FoMC Secretary, Barry Higgs, organised a ‘thistle pull’ last year to help clear the Common. It had been well supported with 12 helpers but the task proved challenging and in a morning’s work only the area to the south of the path from Parsonage Street to Cutter Ferry Bridge was cleared. However, as this was a discreet area it would allow comparison to be made this year with other areas where the thistles were simply mown.

Pinch Points

To comply with the Disability Discrimination Act, the Council has decided to remove or alter some of the pinch points controlling access to the Common to make them passable by those persons using wheelchairs or mobility scooters and those with wide pushchairs. FoMC has submitted its views to the Council (see the submission).

Fairs

The two main fairs on the Common - Strawberry Fair and Midsummer Fair - are over for another year. They were both enjoyable events. Midsummer Fair has a long tradition and is enshrined in statute (see Midsummer Fair). The Council does a grand job in managing this fair. Strawberry Fair has its own independent organising committee and the Council merely gives it permission to use the Common. Problems in recent years caused the Council to impose conditions this year and the organisers did their best to meet these and run an orderly event. Unfortunately, there were many off-site problems that affected local residents. FoMC has reported these to the City Council with suggestions as to how they might be resolved if Strawberry Fair is to continue next year (see the submission).