Location, location, location: Coton Orchard one side, country reserve the other. No surprise our @rspb.bsky.social #BigGardenBirdWatch did rather well, despite the dreary weather 🐦

Planting trees is easy. Replacing ecosystems isn’t. With all the talk of National Forests & Forest Cities, it’s worth remembering that felling is quick, creation takes decades, and species already in decline can’t wait for new habitats to establish. Protect what we have first 🌳

Scrub gets written off far too easily. A walk through Coton’s scrub today, it was alive with fieldfares, redwings, starlings and house sparrows, all feasting on winter berries. Proof that these scruffy edges quietly keep a lot of our declining birds going. #SaveCotonOrchard

𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲❓ 𝘎𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘧 𝘙𝘩𝘺𝘴 𝘑𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦 — fb.watch/DGFEi-E7ZP/?

To mark National Tree Week & the close of the Inquiry, the Coton Tree of Hope was planted by Sir Partha Dasgupta, economist & President of Wildlife Trust BCN, a leading voice on the value of nature & supporter of the campaign to #saveCotonOrchard. @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/environment/...

‘Sustainable’ Cambridge busway will cause irreversible ecological harm, inquiry told

𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝟐𝐂 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧. The C2C public inquiry has lurched into its final week and the finishing tape is, at long last, wobbling into sight at the Belfry in Cambourne… 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲, 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 www.facebook.com/share/p/1Pq4...

When is an orchard not an orchard 🍎🌳❓Apparently, when it stands in the path of a GCP busway 🚍💰 www.facebook.com/share/p/16tb...

Dusk to Dawn, Moths. Volunteers data gathering to help #SaveCotonOrchard

After a week of being pilloried by County barristers, we’re feeling a bit sensitive about the claims that Coton Orchard has no worth, no amenity and that the bonkers busway would somehow improve it. It’s not perfect and neither are we, but we care deeply and do our best 📺 youtu.be/iSy0z2pkvi8?...

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐚 £𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐚 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 🔐 C2C Inquiry Coton villagers take the stand 🌳🚌❌ #SaveCotonOrchard 🔗 www.facebook.com/share/p/17B9...

C2C Inquiry: When you can’t defend the scheme, attack the objectors 🥊 Appalling tactics by Council KC 🔗 m.facebook.com/story.php?st...

The Herefordshire @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social @tobywildlife.bsky.social on BBC Countryfile explaining about the importance of Traditional Orchards youtu.be/mx7EvZP2Fos?...

Biodiversity loss for County Wildlife Site, net gain for the Council 🌳🪚🟰💰🗞️ www.facebook.com/share/p/1WLu... @chrisgpackham.bsky.social @markavery.bsky.social @privateeyenews.bsky.social

𝐂𝟐𝐂 𝐈𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟖: 𝐆𝐂𝐏’𝐬 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐞 🌳🚌❌ At the C2C Inquiry this week, Miranda Fyfe showed the GCP’s busway for what it is: costly, pointless, and indefensible 🔗 m.facebook.com/story.php?st...

Report by @itvnews.bsky.social on the public inquiry into the £200m Cambourne to Cambridge (terminating in Grange Rd) busway 🌳🚌 ❌ #SaveCotonOrchard ✏️ www.change.org/p/save-the-g...

BBC News reporting on Cambourne to Cambridge Busway Public Inquiry #SaveCotonOrchard ✏️ www.change.org/p/save-the-g...

🚍🔗 www.change.org/p/save-the-g...

While plotting a new wildflower meadow in Coton Orchard today, OTV Ben found a Rosy Knot-horn moth (Oncocera semirubella). Nationally Scarce B and of conservation concern. Luckily its larval food plants – bird’s-foot trefoil & clover – are thriving here 🔍🐝 Reason 263 to #SaveCotonOrchard 🌳🚌❌

Please Pay Attention, Else Next Spring Falls Silent fb.watch/BZgdwzvzj3/?

A moment in Coton…

What a day❗️Huge thanks to the organisers of the Coton Village Fete for all their hard work and to everyone who joined in the fun 🌻🐝 With proceeds shared with @cambridgeppf.bsky.social fighting fund #CotonAction

Collecting fruit for the village fête today, a volunteer recalled donning a picking bag here as a child. 50 years on, these same trees still yield their harvest but if the bonkers busway cuts through, our children may never taste their gift 🍎

Watched Lois and Ben release the moths from their traps in Coton Orchard… what a disgrace it would be if our County Council are given the power to throw this place under a busway 🔍 🐝

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝟭.𝟲 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀: Today we joined Rob, whose family has farmed on Madingley Hill for generations, to see the most objected to stretch of the GCP Cambourne to Cambridge busway 🌳🚌❌ #SaveCotonOrchard 📺 youtu.be/FzSYWo6QlYM?...

Last @savebutterflies.bsky.social #BigButterflyCount of 2025, this one in the Coton allotments 🦋

Thank you Derry & Ylana for showing us around @darwincollegecam.bsky.social garden & orchard today 🍏🐝

The Council plan to route a busway off road across Madingley Hill won’t just fell hundreds of trees, severe hedgerows and nature corridors but also gut farms as one fourth generation farmer tells us, this may be their last harvest if a TWAO is granted #NoFarmsNoFood ✏️ www.change.org/p/save-the-g...

A lovely morning in Coton Orchard with CLO for our @savebutterflies.bsky.social #BigButterflyCount 2025 ⏱️ Sunshine, showers… 133 butterflies across 12 species. Gatekeepers the clear winner. We started with a moth trap with Camb Moth Group, finds still being identified 🔍🐝 #SaveCotonOrchard

🍏 Coton Orchard is a beautiful example of food production on the edges of our towns and cities. But it’s threatened by a new busway route. We need better public transport, but not at the cost of precious orchards. Learn more: www.cpre.org.uk/coton-orchar...

You can’t offset the roots of a century. You can’t recreate the hum of a traditional orchard. No metric of ‘net gain’ makes this expendable. Surely this is something worth saving❓ #SaveCotonOrchard ✏️ www.change.org/p/save-the-g...

Alfie helps his dad water the trees and watch over his friends in this County Wildlife Site. Cap in muzzle, he’s asking you to help him stop Cambs County Council from throwing their home under a busway. Paws in for #TeamAlfie 🐾 @weratedogs.com Help #SaveCotonOrchard ✏️ www.change.org/p/save-the-g...

How a £1.5bn ‘wildlife-boosting’ bypass became an environmental disaster @theguardian.com “How can we trust future promises on environmental mitigation?” ask CambsCC Cllrs. Good Question. Your answer re: felling 100s of mature and veteran trees at Coton Orchard❓ www.theguardian.com/environment/...

A red kite scrap, a dead mic, and not a turtle dove in sight – but a cracking glimpse into Coton’s mosaic habitat. Backed by experts, but still far too much resting on the shoulders of a few fighting to #SaveCotonOrchard and protect nature in Cambridgeshire youtu.be/GfzXSes0bf4?...

Tony Booth asked what Cambridge University owes the city; many rose to answer in St Paul’s this evening. Can we find common ground❓ @friendsofthecam.bsky.social

Out watering with CLP. Lots and lots of Whites, Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers, Peacocks, Red Admirals and Ringlets down in the brambles and thistles. And a few White-letter Hairstreaks up in the elms today @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social looking good for @savebutterflies.bsky.social Big Butterfly Count 🦋

Mini moth trap at Coton Orchard for their second BioBlitz weekend – a lovely finale to #CambridgeNatureFestival 2025 #SaveCotonOrchard

Joined @CotonBuzz in Ben’s Meadow at Coton Orchard today, releasing eight Painted Ladies raised as part of #CambridgeNatureFestival activities. Set free among 320+ butterflies already dancing across the grasses and thistles. A privilege to witness. #SaveCotonOrchard @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

Cambs CC didn’t listen—not to Wildlife Trusts, PTES, 12 NGOs, experts, Lords, Chris Packham, Sir David or 23,000+ petitioners. Today, we hope the inspectors will listen. Battle lines are drawn for Sept’s Public Inquiry. Pls sign & share. Help #SaveCotonOrchard 🌳🚌❌ ✏️ www.change.org/p/save-the-g...

By the Cam this evening with @friendsofthecam.bsky.social, we stood for what still flows and still grows. When asked to accept the felling of orchards or the fouling of rivers, we will say no 🌳💧🚌❌ #Save✏️ www.change.org/p/save-the-g...

@epollard.bsky.social 13 species of butterflies recorded yesterday in Coton Orchard and more moths than I could count, some not seen in Cambs for many years #CambridgeNatureFeatival #Buiblitz 🦋 🔍

Thanks to everyone who came to today’s record-breaking Bioblitz at Coton Orchard with @cotonbuzz & @onthevergecambs. Grateful to the expert recorders who shared time and knowledge. Part of @CambridgePPF #CambridgeNatureFestival – so much still to discover, and protect 🔍🐝 #SaveCotonOrchard

@norfolkbutterflies.bsky.social lovely show of Swallowtails at NWT Hickling Broad and Marshes earlier this week.

Coton Orchard’s Struggle Reflects a National Crisis in English Orchards @telegraphnews.bsky.social Ben East www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/b7f4dd8...

Come, come along catch a… 🦋🐦🐭 🐛🐞❓🔍🐝 cambridgenaturenetwork.org/naturefestival/

A walk around a #WilderCoton

Went on an evening stroll in Coton Country Reserve but neither we nor @birdsoftheworld.bsky.social App could ID this #bird. Any ideas❓ 🤔

Glorious day with @ontheverge_cambridge & @cotonbuzz adding plants to the Black Polar Pebble Pond in Coton Orchard. Amazing how much #wildlife has already found it! 💧🐝 #savecotonorchard

The Bonkers Busway Cambs news Facebook page has somehow been silenced but thankfully the @CambridgeIndy is giving locals a voice. To help #SaveCotonOrchard, more info, sign petition or link to donate to @CambridgePPF #FightingFund see @CotonBusway cotonbuswayaction.com

Blooming marvellous morning with Coton Loves #Pollinators at Blue Barrel Cider’s Arcadia Orchard #blossom picnic 🧺🌸🐝 #SaveOurOrchards