Replace previous planting in Kings Hedges

From "Environmental Improvement Programme 2023-24: New bidding round"

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From the images captured across 2011 - 2021 in Google Street View, across a variety of months, it appears that where there was once some form of green planting, this is long gone and not replaced.

Suitable replacement planting would be a quick win for the community, greening the area in a space that was previously green. This is especially noticeable as there is the empty former Jenny Wren site adjacent, boarded up for a number of years, adding to the feel of neglect for the area. A small expenditure here could have a large impact on the feel of the area for the community.

Clearly this space has not managed to spontaneously re-wild over a decade, it would be low-cost to replant this area with some low shrubs or similar.

This is on a major bus route and will be seen and appreciated by a significant number of people.

I believe that this proposed should be given reasonably high priority as there is evidence of a 'problem' dating back at least a full decade, and the low cost of providing planting will deliver good value for money.

There should be minimal future maintenance cost if suitable plants are selected.

Estimated cost: £200.

I believe this meets a number of the EIP criteria as follows;

* Has a direct, lasting, and noticeable improvement to the appearance of a street or area.

* Would be publicly visible and accessible

* Low future maintenance cost

* Will benefit a large number of local people.

* Easy and simple to implement

* Meets key policy objective: Biodiversity

*Is within an area of predominately council owned housing

Official updates

Last update: 22 January 2024

Dear Ben, Thank you for your project application idea, the project concept would contribute towards improving the local environment. This project was taken to the North Area Committee 13/11/2023 for consideration within the funding and criteria for EIP area funding. Following North Area Committee consideration and Officer recommendations this area project was unfortunately not approved. The key reasons for this were that the EIP programme was oversubscribed consequently the proposal rating didn't fall within our our overall programme budget, planting would be hard to establish in such a harsh environment of compacted soils and therefore the plants would be unlikely to establish without considerable decompaction works. Regards

James Ogle (Cambridge City Council Officer)Posted on 22 January 2024