A meeting of the Environment Committee took place on 31 May, see minutes here

The new Committee Chair for the coming year is Cedric Foster

Items of special note include:

• Wildflower verges – keep your eyes open for our 4 trial verges in Histon & Impington this year!

• Bee Orchids have been found growing in The Coppice and the Council has put protective measures in place. The Bee Orchid is one of the most beautiful and well known of the native orchids in Britain. The flower is quite unique, with its pink petals and a brown centre which looks like the body of a bee.

Unfortunately it is no longer a common species and is less frequent than it used to be so, with its preference for chalky soils, we’re lucky to have these plants. When a bee orchid does find a place to flourish it can grow up to 30cm, however it can take 5 to 8 years to flower and may only do so once in its lifetime. If picked, the plant is unlikely to flower again, so will have lost its only chance of producing seeds which it normally does in late July.

Bee orchids are protected, as are all wild flowers, under Section 13 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981). This section prohibits unauthorised and intentional uprooting of any wild plant.

• The Committee heard about plans for two environment-related events:

On Saturday 2nd July, Histon and Impington Community Orchard Project will be holding a Birds and Bees Breakfast as part of Feast Week.  The RSPB will have their bird-ringing experts and there will be a bee-keeping exhibit too.  Cooked breakfast will also be available.

On Saturday 1st October, the Sustainability Group and HICOP are holding a Village Food Festival.  There are plans for apple juicing, making smoothies by bicycle, a surplus stall for exchanging excess home-grow veg, local food vendors, plus stalls with information on poultry keeping, foraging, premium space growing, apple identification and the community allotment.