Cambridge City
Local Nature Reserves
Welcome
The Local Nature Reserves (LNR’s) in Cambridge are for both people and wildlife. The designation of these reserves helps to protect some of the best wildlife habitats and geographical features across the City, whilst making an important contribution to the UK’s biodiversity. The reserves provide an opportunity for people to study, learn about and enjoy nature on their doorstep.
Over the last 100 years, urban development, agricultural intensification and the abandonment of management operations have put many habitats and species under threat. Today, Cambridge City Council’s Local Nature Reserves make an important contribute to the protection and enhancement of the UK’s biodiversity.
A lovely morning was had in the October sunshine with local company Sentec. They are an enthusiastic group of co-workers committed to making Logan’s Meadow reserve a more bio diverse habitat. There are several sessions planned over the autumn where employees from the company will be given time away from their desks to help out on the reserve. It was great to see how much they enjoyed the work and also the interest and love they had for their local nature reserve.
This beautiful Herald moth ( Scoliopteryx libatrix) was spotted under some undergrowth at Paradise nature reserve, perhaps not totally surprising seeing as the larvae feed on willow (Salix ) and poplar (Populus). Both plentiful in and around the reserve. This moth is a member of the family Noctuidae and overwinters as an adult. It can therefore be one of the last moth species to be seen before winter and then one of the first to be spotted in the spring. They have also been recorded overwintering together in…
It’s always worth having a look under leaves, especially at this time of year. This little cluster of Birch Shield bug eggs were found under an oak leaf. Looking at them under a microscope revealed their very amusing markings.