NatHistCam is a project to study the wild plants and animals found in the city, concentrating on the built-up area from south of the A14 to Babraham Park & Ride, and east from the M11 to Teversham (map). Launched in June 2016 a variety of activities are planned to gather information on the existence and distribution of wild plants and animals in the city. As well as aiming to study one garden in each 1 km square, a rolling programme of surveys of specific species is planned, with a new one being launched every month or so.
We invite the general public to get involved with these surveys by putting relevant material onto our website and by issuing press releases and talking to the media. Details of sightings can easily and quickly be added to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Environmental Records Centre (CPERC) website.
The programme started with a survey of mistletoe, launched in January 2017. So far 118 records of mistletoe have been added to the CPERC database, with about a dozen people contributing sightings. The information is currently being analysed and a report will be written and added to the website in January 2018.
The mistletoe survey restarted in December 2017 but is focussing specifically on how much mistletoe there is on apple trees in Cambridge. Please let us know if you have apple trees in your garden (and what varieties) and whether any of them have mistletoe growing on them. See Apple trees and mistletoe.
If you have suggestions for specific species to survey, particularly if you can help by providing expert information, please get in contact by emailing nathistcam@gmail.com.
Ongoing surveys
Bryophytes (mosses and liverworts)
Gardens, begun summer 2016
Mammals (with Cambridgeshire Mammal Group)
Mistletoe, launched January 2017
Rooks and rookeries, launched February 2017
Programme of surveys for 2018
Note this is provisional and timings in particular are subject to change and other surveys may be added.
January: Apple trees and mistletoe
February: Muntjac deer & other large mammals
February: Bee orchid rosettes in lawns
March: Moles
April: Frogs, toads and other amphibians
May: Cockchafers – a national survey
June: Damselflies
June: Moths
July: Butterflies
October: distinctive fungi
2019
February: bee orchid rosettes
Programme of surveys for 2017
June: Large red damselfly
July: Reptiles, especially grass snakes and viviparous (common) lizards
August: Muntjac deer; Tawny owls
September: Fish; herons
October: Egrets; Ivy bee
November: Redwing and fieldfare
December: Mistletoe (continuing from previous winter)