Cambridgeshire Footpaths - Little Thetford
Thetford Catchwater from Burying Way, Little Thetford
maps & Cambridgeshire footpaths
In the early concept stages of designing gardens and landcapes I spend a lot of time looking at maps in their many forms. It starts with a topographical survey, a very accurate map of your plot upon which all design work is based. There’s also the wonderful National Library of Scotland maps which tell a historic story of places all around the UK - I use these to start pulling out narrative threads for the designs, and stay longer just because they’re so fascinating. Other kinds of maps I use might be geological or of conservations areas for example, and these also inform design choices along the way.
It was only when I moved back to my childhood county of Cambridgeshire in 2018 that I become much more interested in the Ordnance Survey Maps of my local areas. Recently I’ve been studying the satellite villages around Ely - my closest city - to find out more about their character and history. In an area dominated by vegetable agriculture, my eye is always drawn to the scattered green hatches of woodland and orchard, and the dotted green lines of local footpaths and rights of way. If I’m ever designing small developments in rural settings, connection to footpaths and green space is always top of my list of opportunities, not just to tick planning boxes, but because it’s really important for the people who will live there. They connect the community, promote wellbeing and a love of nature, and help with environmental protections while adding to the local character of an area.
east Cambridgeshire - Little Thetford
For my own wellbeing and interest, I have decided to explore the footpaths around some of my local villages, starting with the well-served Little Thetford in east Cambridgeshire. I started at the point where Main Street becomes Holt Fen and set off east on the Cawdle Fen Way towards the Thetford Catchwater. Along this section of the footpath you can see the effortlessly beautiful garden of number 33 Main street to your left. It’s the kind of garden that lives long in childhood memories, peppered with long grass and wildflowers, roses and small structures, and with the catchwater drain trickling along beside it. To whomever lives there: thank you for letting it be seen.
Watson’s Lane leading south
The footpath then took me north behind the gardens of Main Street and alongside Hall Fen. A little way along here there is a long view of Ely Cathedral which was an unexpected bonus. Not wanting to follow the Grunty Fen Catchwater all the way to meet it I turned left, west towards the gap in the hedge which leads to a really lovely community garden with wildflowers, fruit trees and a wildlife pond. I join up with the back of the village hall and cross over to continue the footpath south. I walk through the wooded area past a classic tyre & rope swing hanging in the trees and via Pope’s Lane I end up on a narrow track that takes me to a wooden footbridge over the catchwater and out onto the green opposite Holt Fen, where I began.
Although I only encountered one other intrepid walker to say hello to, the whole circuit felt welcoming and connected. A truly wholesome 30 minutes spent, and I’m feeling inspired for my next trip. Thank you Little Thetford and all who protect its lovely footpaths.
Footpath along Grunty Fen Catchwater looking towards the Thetford Catchwater.
