Imagine cows lazily grazing. This is Coe Fen. It’s a semi-rural meadowland. Coe Fen lies east of the River Cam. It’s surprisingly close to Cambridge’s center.
Coe Fen sits behind Peterhouse. The Fitzwilliam Museum is nearby. The Leys School is also close. The Fen Causeway cuts across Coe Fen. A footbridge and Crusoe Bridge also span the area.
Coe Fen and Sheep’s Green form a natural area. It was once important for Cambridge’s commerce. Up to three watermills operated here. The land often flooded. It was best for grazing. Cows grazed on Coe Fen. Sheep grazed on Sheep’s Green. That’s how they got their names.
By the 19th century, Coe Fen was boggy. It was partially drained to prevent disease. Today, it’s a semi-natural space. It’s a Local Nature Reserve, shared with Sheep’s Green.
Have you noticed the little stone shelter? That’s Hodson’s Folly. John Hodson built it in 1887. He wanted to watch his daughter swim. He later became a Pembroke College butler. The city council has owned it since 1936. Vandals attacked it in 2014. People petitioned to restore it.
Cambridge Past Present and Future worked to restore Hodson’s Folly. They also improved its boathouse and secret garden. That was in 2013.
The north end of Coe Fen reaches Mill Lane. It crosses a weir. This grassy area is Laundress Green. People used to dry laundry here. The sun would bleach it white. Today, it’s near The Anchor and The Mill pubs. It’s a popular picnic spot in summer.
Did you know Coe Fen is also a hymn tune? Ken Naylor wrote it. He was a music master at The Leys School. It’s used for the hymn “How shall I sing that majesty?”
Sheep’s Green and Coe Fen together cover 16.9 hectares. The River Cam divides them. Sheep’s Green sits to the west. Another arm of the river borders its west side. You might spot waterfowl here. Egrets, kingfishers, and herons live here. Water voles are increasing in numbers. Mature willow trees dot the landscape.
Charles Darwin surveyed beetles here. In wet weather, ancient stream patterns appear on Sheep’s Green. This land floods easily.
In 2023, Cambridge supported bathing water designation for Sheep’s Green. Despite its popularity for swimming, sewage caused pollution. Now, the Environment Agency tests the water quality. The River Cam was granted Designated Bathing Water status in May 2024. But following monitoring, it has been rated as ‘poor’.
Cows graze here. They eat common plants. This helps rarer plants grow. The cows’ grazing and trampling create varied habitats. Their dung attracts insects. Insects feed birds and bats.
You can access Coe Fen from Fen Causeway. Also from Lammas Land, Mill Lane, and Trumpington Road. There’s a car park at Lammas Land. A level path surrounds the sites. It can be difficult to use when it’s wet. There’s a café and public toilets at Lammas Land.
Coe Fen remains a vital green space. It balances nature and history in Cambridge. Its blend of rural charm and historical significance makes it special.