Published: 20 May 2025
Far from ignoring ‘No Mow May,’ which brings a few logistical issues with it, Milton Parish Council is fully committed to working within the village to promote a wide range of conservation and eco projects instead. What MPC has is a plan throughout the year of managed projects which will lead to a better greener village.
We agree with the view that it is better to design a space and to choose the plant communities that will work together and support wildlife in that area and then manage it properly. The parish council has therefore been actively conducting several projects within the village with this in mind.
Cemetery
During 2023 and 2024 we added some noteworthy features to the site in Landbeach Road to encourage more flora and fauna to flourish. We designated areas for wild growth, Spring growth and Summer growth. This included seeding areas which will hopefully yield a flourishing array of wildflowers this Summer and which will attract insects and bugs in the coming months. We have also established log rolls for habitats, hedgehog hotels and bird boxes. The results were so good that we were given a Bronze award in the Cambridgeshire Churchyard Conservation scheme and we have been invited by the Wildlife Trust of Beds, Cambs and Northants to a special presentation event at Ely Cathedral in June.
Edmund Green
MPC entered a bid to get funding from the Green Spaces Shared Prosperity Fund offered by SCDC and we were successful. Our bid outlined our plans to turn Edmund Green, which is on the corner of Cambridge Road and The Rowans, into a haven for wildlife but at the same time making it more accessible so that people had a quiet place to visit in the centre of the village. The plan is to add some seating in the centre of the area and around that to plant more hedges and shrubs, install some log roll habitats, bird boxes, and plant some pollinators to attract a range of insects.
Tomkins Mead
For those not familiar with this part of Milton it lies behind the Doctors surgery and can be used as a route in Milton Country Park. This has been described as the ‘swampy’ part of the country park and yes there is a pond and a stream in there. Currently MPC is in the process of working with CCC to ensure the drainage ditches that lead away from Tomkins Mead and through the village towards Fen Road are cleared so that drainage is improved. Hopefully, this will lead to the return of more frogs which at one time were living there in greater numbers than now. Areas within Tomkins Mead are also being cleared particularly around the pond area to encourage both pond life and encourage birds and animals to visit.
Paddock Wood
At the Northen end of the village lying just beyond the allotments is Paddock Wood. Here MPC have been planting trees in abundance so that in years to come the village will have an attractive orchard to visit. Several of the trees planted are flowering or fruit trees which will in time attract all manner of insects and wildlife to the area.
The Bund
Running along the Western edge of the village is The Bund. The path winds through a heavily wooded area which although managed has been left wild in some areas to encourage further growth and provide habitats for wildlife. MPC have a maintenance plan which each year includes some cutting back and removal of trees which have become dangerous. Typically, logs are left there as habitats.
North Lodge Park
The area around the Pavilion is managed by Milton Community Centre on behalf of MPC. There is a small garden there which in the next few months is going to be looked after by a small team of pupils from the Red Balloon Learning Centre in the village. Additional planting is being considered to attract more birds and insects to the area. Working with Red Balloon is a good example of getting the community actively involved helping the village which MPC is keen to encourage especially for ‘green’ projects.
Throughout the year MPC will continue to manage the rest of the village responsibly by keeping verges alongside footpaths and roads cut, drainage ditches cut back to ensure there are no flood risks, removing invasive weeds and removing growth which overhangs and impedes our paths. It should be noted MPC only owns a relatively small amount of land within Milton with much of the rest in the hands of Cambridgeshire County Council and of course private owners.
MPC is always happy to hear from residents who have suggestions on projects that could be considered or would like to volunteer in helping us to implement our valuable ongoing work.