Coe Fen

The countryside sneaks right into the centre of Cambridge south of Silver Street. This piece of land is called Laundress Green, as it was here that laundry would be stretched out to dry and bleach in the sun. Classed as a Local Nature Reserve, the fen is managed to encourage an increase in natural diversity and is intended to remain as a water meadow habitat with periodic flooding.

Although it is only minutes from the city centre, cattle graze here in the summer and the grass is left uncut.

It is a very popular gathering place for picnickers and drinkers from the nearby pubs. Punts can be hired for taking up river through the meadows to Grantchester, or for floating downstream past the Backs by all the riverside colleges to Jesus Lock.