Each year Cambridge Natural History Society focusses on a particular area for its almost monthly field studies. In 2026 this will be Grantchester Meadows between Newnham and Grantchester, which we explored in 2006 and 2016.

As now traditional, the first visit will be on New Year’s Day and will coincide with the BSBI New Year Plant Hunt. Because urban situations usually have more plants in flower than rural ones we will concentrate on Grantchester itself on January 1. Meet at Grantchester church (TL433554) at 11:00 am. We will finish about 3:30 pm, so bring your lunch and suitable clothing.

The Grantchester monad has 500 known species and around half remain to be refound; the central monad has around 300 species, with around 100 still to be refound.

Dates for further visits will be announced in due course and details circulated to those on the CNHS mailing list. Simply email cnhs_mailings-join@cnhs.org.uk to be added to the list and follow any instructions you are sent.  The list will only be used by the CNHS officers to send emails.

For notes from the visits made in 2016 and 2006 see https://legacy.bas.ac.uk/met/jds/cnhs/grantchester.htm