We would urge you not to overlook the chalk streams arising around Fulbourn and Great Wilbraham, which feed the Little Wilbraham River which flows into Quy Water and ultimately into the Cam. Historically some of these streams have maintained a small area of wetland within the Fulbourn Fen Nature Reserve (SSSI) where hundreds of wild orchids bloom in early summer.
However, the springs adjacent to the Fulbourn Nature Reserve east of the village, which arise close to the 15m contour, are often dry due to the depleted water table level, largely due to the scale of water abstraction from the underlying aquifer by the Cambridge Water Company from the Fleam Dyke Pumping Station. As a result, the area of wetland and the small chalk streams running through the site are often entirely dependent on water specially pumped from a borehole at Dungate Farm to the east of the A11 as part of a water augmentation scheme. This is not considered to be a long-term sustainable solution to protect the biodiversity of the local flora and fauna.
The springs at the north western end of the village emerge at a lower level, nearer the 10m contour, and are usually flowing year-round into the chalk stream at Poor Well and into the drainage ditch system all flowing north towards the Caudle Ditch, which links to the Little Wilbraham River. The drainage ditches to the east of Fulbourn also connect to the Little Wilbraham River (there is a Preservation Society) flowing past the SSSI at Wilbraham Common and feeding the fen reed bed area at Wilbraham Fen, which is another SSSI which supports significant biodiversity including some important bird species, such as marsh harriers, migrant warblers and cranes. Also, there is a County Wildlife Site on the River designated for water plants. This fen area along the Little Wilbraham River is within Area 4 ‘Enhancement of the eastern fens’ of the Greater Cambridge Strategic Green Infrastructure Initiatives.
Many residents of Fulbourn and The Wilbrahams value these chalk streams and the Wilbraham River and we feel that it should be recognised as part of the River Cam corridor south east of Cambridge. This topic is covered in the Submission Draft of the Fulbourn Neighbourhood Plan.
There is a Wilbraham River Preservation Society:
Home | Wilbraham River Protection Society (thewrps.org)