The best little wetland in Cambridge

Our Latham Road Nature Reserve is our own biodiversity oasis, home to many wetland species and local wildlife. From resident warblers to breeding demoiselles, and grass snakes to nesting swans, it is a place that offers a place for students to learn practical conservation skills, explore natural history, and investigate methods to monitor biodiversity on the site.

My career has been dedicated to wildlife conservation and environmental action, ranging from exploring snow leopard conservation methods on the Russian-Mongolian border to creating multimedia climate change action plans with looked-after children. I have extensive experience leading national "citizen science" programs for the Wildlife Trusts and researching recycling behaviours for DEFRA, and am a Fellow of the Highland Institute and member of the IUCN European Communication & Education Committee. I am passionate about empowering people to engage with key societal issues like plastic pollution and biodiversity, and I am now passing on my knowledge and experience to our students.

The Nature Reserve allows students to learn skills to restore a water meadow, create new habitats, manage a reed bed system and maintain a small pond. It is our unique resource for integrating formal and non-formal education with ecology as part of the school’s commitment to be an exemplar of education for sustainable development from Early Years to Sixth Form. This is not just a learning space, many students comment on how calming the activities are as they sow, grow and seed from one year to the next.

Wayne Talbot
Stephen Perse Cambridge Conservator

 

Co-curricular environmental clubs

Senior School students have the opportunity to join the ‘Eco-Enrichment’ club with the opportunity to learn practical conservation and habitat restoration skills on our Nature Reserve under the guidance of our Conservator.

Students can also participate in the 'Spud (Allotment) Club' where they learn vegetable growing skills. They can apply their enthusiasm for engineering and construction by using recycled and natural materials to design propagators, fencing or maintain raised beds. There are opportunities to experiment and compare different growing techniques such as Hügelkultur beds, lasagne soils or Altai water conservation. 
 

 

 

Our 'Intercontinental Potato Experiment’

Through our flagship ‘Intercontinental Potato Experiment’ programme, we have built vibrant partnerships with schools across India and the USA. This project transcends borders, allowing students to act as global scientists.

By swapping data and observations, they compare how diverse climates and soil types affect growth, fostering a deeper understanding of agricultural science and international collaboration.


Pictured: Wayne Talbot delivering a remote lesson to Pontiac Township High School in Illinois, USA.