National Trust acquires Northfield land for nature restoration

The National Trust has taken ownership of Northfield in Cambridgeshire, marking its first land purchase since the 1960s after reaching an agreement with the current owners. The acquisition is aimed at restoring the area’s natural values.

The site boasts a rich natural and cultural legacy, including a chalk stream, and the trust describes it as "a distinctive fen-edge landscape where low-lying fenland meets the higher chalk ridge".

Archaeological evidence shows human activity on the grounds stretching back thousands of years, encompassing the Roman period.

The National Trust said it hopes that, over time, species such as harvest mice, water voles and turtle doves will benefit from the restoration work.

Northfield is the inaugural project under the trust’s new masterplan for the region and forms part of the wider Wicken Fen Vision, a long‑term scheme to create a more connected and resilient landscape for wildlife and people from Wicken Fen to the edge of Cambridge.

Ormond-Bones added: "Northfield has the potential to deliver meaningful benefit to both people and wildlife and we want local people to play a vital role in helping shape what that future will look like."

The charity said it wants to learn what matters most to local residents and how the site can become a place that people feel connected to, value and enjoy for generations. Community drop‑in sessions about the vision will be held between Saturday 21 November and Friday 27 November, with feedback set to inform the next planning stage before proposals are drawn up in 2027.