Past News and Events
Join us as we celebrate Christmas at the Community Centre on Sunday 7th Dec 3 – 4:30 pm. Everyone welcome! In partnership with St John’s Church, Orchard Park.
5/11/2025
Busway closure 1st Dec 2025
The Busyway and maintenance track will be closed from 1st Dec 2025 from Histon & Impington to Pagram Way for the installation of new fencing. Please note that the bus services will be affected. More information can be found on Cambridgeshire County Council’s website. Additional information can be found here.
Kids Halloween Party
Are you ready for Orchard Park’s Halloween Party?! Parents of children aged between 5-10 yrs old are invited to book free tickets to our event.
*For ages 5-10 years old
*Fancy dress
*Prizes and refreshments
*All children must be accompanied by an adult or legal guardian
*All tickets must be purchased by the parent or legal guardian – no group bookings for other people’s children. When reserving the tickets, please fill in the names of the attendees after the reservation page.
*Tickets must be shown at the door for entry
*Tickets are limited and are issued on a first come first serve basis. If you no longer need your ticket, please cancel your booking so that others can reserve a ticket.
Get your tickets here
Coffee with a Cop
The next Coffee with a Cop meeting is on 28th Oct 2025, 6 -7 pm at the Sports Hall. There will be an update on the points and comments raised at the previous meeting.
Macmillan Coffee Morning
Community safety events:
Click here or scan the QR code to comment on the proposal.
Have your say:
What areas should we apply for grant funding? Fill in this form
Do you have any anti-social behaviour concerns? Fill in this form
Celebrate Eid in Orchard Park on Sunday 6th April 4 – 7 pm.
Please book your free tickets on the Eventbrite page – bit.ly/4kxAj7n
Join us at the Community Centre to celebrate Chinese New Year! 6 pm – 9 pm on Sunday 2nd Feb 2025.
Youth Club is back!
Free Yr7&8 Youth Club is back at the Community Centre every Tuesday 4:15 – 5:45 pm during term time.
Let’s kick off the New Year with planting fruit bushes and wassailing!
As we continue to improve and enrich our community orchard, we shall be creating additional beds for fruit bushes, including raspberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, and whitecurrants. And for the first time ever, Orchard Park will hold its first wassailing event to wish our orchard a successful year ahead!
Orchard Park Playgroup
The Orchard Park Playgroup runs every Friday 9:30-11:30 am during term time. Come meet other parents and toddlers at the Community Centre, Central Ave.
Council Meeting Dates 2025/26
These meetings will take place in the Sports Pavilion on Ring Fort Road unless otherwise specified in the Agenda. Members of the public welcome.
19 April 2025 Annual Community Meeting and Easter Egg Hunt at 10.30am
14 May 2025 Annual Council Meeting 7pm
9 July 2025 Community Council Meeting
10 September 2025 Community Council Meeting
12 November 2025 Community Council Meeting
14 January 2026 Community Council Meeting
11 March 2025 Community Council Meeting
FIREWORKS
31 October 2024. Property has been damaged tonight by Fireworks in Orchard Park, in and around the playing field off Ring Fort Road. The police have been informed. Please be aware that it is an offence to set off Fireworks in public spaces, streets or highways other than as part of a properly organised, licensed event. In a residential area like Orchard Park, setting off Fireworks is also a threat to people and property. People wishing to get together in public to celebrate one of the many events going on at this time of the year, like Halloween, Diwali or Bonfire Night, must only do so through licensed, organised events. This is for the benefit of the community as a whole.
Join us for a community BBQ at the newly renovated park between Engledow Drive and Topper Street!
Farewell to Cllr Pippa Heylings as she resigns from her position as one of our local District Councillors. We wish her all the best as she takes on her new role as MP for South Cambridgeshire.
Press Release – Pippa Heylings ResignationDownload
The Orchard Park Playgroup runs every Friday 9:30-11:30 am during term time. Come meet other parents and toddlers at the Community Centre, Central Ave.
Joining the 20mph initiative
Many thanks to residents who have shared their views regarding making our roads safer for everyone. Orchard Park is now being considered for joining the 20mph initiative. Please complete this survey to share your views: https://consultcambs.uk.engagementhq.com/cambridge20mph
“As part of the Transforming Cities programme, the Combined Authority and County Council prioritised delivery of county-wide speed reduction measures including the implementation of 20mph speed limits in several towns across Cambridgeshire. As part of this programme, we are seeking to extend the current 20mph speed limits in Cambridge.
The County Council will be launching a survey on Wednesday 14 August, closing on Wednesday 25 September, to seek views on the proposed roads to be included within the extended 20mph speed limit.
Extending the number of 20mph roads within Cambridge city centre will reduce speeds, improve levels of road safety, and encourage walking and cycling as day-to-day forms of travel. Walking and cycling can make a very positive contribution to improving health and tackling obesity, improving accessibility, tackling congestion, reducing carbon emissions and improving the local environment.
Due to the number of roads already 20mph within the city, the survey will focus on those roads proposed to be included within the extended area. This includes 6 roads (or sections of roads) and Orchard Park (all roads) in the north area, 10 roads (or sections of roads) plus Eland Way (all roads) and Fulbourn Old Drift (all roads) to the east, 10 roads (or sections of roads) and Trumpington Meadows to the south, and 7 roads (or sections of roads) to the West. A full list of roads is provided in the survey.
The online survey will be available at https://consultcambs.uk.engagementhq.com/cambridge20mph. Details of the survey will be available in local libraries and community hubs across the city.” – Cambridgeshire County Council Highways and Transport.
14th Aug 2024
Council Meeting Dates 24/25
These meetings will take place in the Sports Pavilion on Ring Fort Road unless otherwise specified in the Agenda
17 April 2024
8 May 2024 (Annual Community Meeting and Annual Meeting of the Council)
10 July 2024 (including Annual Governance and Accountability Return – AGAR)
11 September 2024
13 November 2024
8 January 2025
12 March 2025
Annual Community Meeting Wednesday 8th May 2024 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Do you have a great idea for community projects?
The focus of this year’s meeting will be on grant-funded community projects. In the past, we have had success in being awarded grants to fund youth activities, collaborative art projects with the primary school, tree planting, and many others. We invite the community to come forward with your ideas so that together, we can bring them to life.
Join us at our Annual Community Meeting on Wednesday 8th May 2024 at 5:30 pm at the Community Centre to share your views and meet other members of the community.
Refreshments will be provided and we look forward to seeing you.
Community litter pick Weds 21st Feb 2024
Celebrate Chinese New Year Sat 24th Feb 2024 3:30 pm at the Community Centre
Community tree planting event – 11 am Sat 6th Jan
Christmas Lights Switch-on 2023
3 pm Sunday 10th Dec 2023 at the Community Centre
Come join us for our annual Orchard Park Christmas celebration at the Community Centre.
Arts and Crafts, mince pies, hot chocolate, carols around the tree!
Diwali Celebration 4 November 2023
Join us at the Community Centre for food, dance and Diwali celebrations from 2-4.30
SUMMER FIESTA 9 SEPTEMBER 2023
Everyone is invited to our annual Orchard Park Summer Fiesta. Click on the link above for details.
Coronation Big Lunch Sun 7th May
Everyone is invited to the Coronation Big Lunch Sun 7th May at the Community Centre.
10:30 am – Commemorative Service
12 noon – BBQ Lunch and arts and crafts
Many thanks to St John’s Church for organising the event.
Annual Community Meeting Weds 6 pm 10th May
Annual Community Meeting Weds 6 pm 10th May at the Community Centre. This is a great opportunity to come together with your neighbours and discuss important issues that affect us all. Your input and engagement are crucial to making our community a better place to live. We hope to see you there! Let’s work together to make a positive impact on our community.
20 mph Speed Limit Survey
Please print it out, fill it in, and drop it off at the Community Centre ASAP. Or take a photo of the completed form and email clerk@orchardpark.gov.uk . You can also fill in an online version: https://forms.gle/jVb253WeZdN1M9tR8
Community gardening at the Orchard
Easter Egg Hunt 2023
Join us at the Community Centre for our Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday 8th April from 10.30 am to 12 noon
Great British Spring Clean 2023
Join us for a Great British Spring Clean litter pick on SUNDAY 2nd April 10:30 am – 12 noon at 9 Marmalade Lane.
Celebrate the Lunar New Year at the Community Centre
WarmHub closed
The Orchard Park WarmHub is currently closed. Any local residents who require assistance, please contact the clerk at clerk@orchardpark.gov.uk or go to www.cambsacre.org.uk/warmhubs
Tel: 01353 860850
Christmas Lights Switch On
Orchard Park will be celebrating the Christmas lights switch on this Sunday 11th Dec 3-4:30 pm at the Community Centre with St John’s Church and Stardust Dance Academy.
Summer Fiesta 24th Sep 2022 11:30 am – 4 pm, Ring Fort Road
Join us for our annual “Summer” Fiesta on 24th Sep 2022 11:30 am – 4 pm, at the sports grounds on Ring Fort Road. There will be free sports activities, BBQ, face painting, dance, community engagement, scooter taster sessions, and more. There will also be a chance to sign the book of condolences for HM Queen Elizabeth.
Orchard Park Community Council Meeting:
21st Sep 2022 Sports Grounds multi-use room, Ring Fort Road. Agenda: View
It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II. Our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones.
Revd Chris Lowe (Vicar, St John’s Church), will hold a short moment of prayer and reflection at Unwin Square on FRI 9TH SEP 12 NOON.
8th Sep 2022
Community Forum on Bus Travel
Residents are invited to attend a community forum to discuss bus services within Orchard Park. Tues 13th Sept 18:30-20:00 at the multi-use room at the Sports Grounds, Ring Fort Road.
Annual Return
Orchard Park Community Council’s Annual Return has been submitted to our external auditors. A copy is available to view on the website, in the Documents section, together with a notice of the timeframe in which you may contact the Clerk if you wish to inspect the accounting records of the Community Council.
Annual Community Meeting 3rd June 2022
Meet your fellow residents, grab a drink, and get the conversation going. Come along to discuss what you feel is most important for Orchard Park and help shape the future of our community.
Primary School Jubilee Art Project Unveiling 26th May 3:30 pm Unwin Square
As part of a collaborative project to celebrate the Jubilee, Orchard Park Community Primary School will be unveiling artwork created by their pupils on Unwin Square. We shall also be planting a crabapple tree as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy Project. The SCDC Community Chest kindly provided funding.
Jubilee Picnic in Orchard Park
Save the date! On Saturday 4 June join us for a picnic in Orchard Park. Refreshments, entertainment, craft, games and more. Just bring yourselves, your picnic and a rug or chairs.
Booking enquiries: click here
We kindly ask customers to respect the fact that Orchard Park is a residential neighbourhood. We also ask that you leave the Centre or Sports facilities as you find them and take all litter home. CCTV is in 24-hour operation.
For all other enquiries (bookings, sports, Community Council, etc), please click here
Latest events:
Past events:
Half Term Activities
Orchard Park Fiesta 2021
Free family fun for all at Orchard Park sports ground, Ring Fort Road. 10am-4pm.
- Tennis
- Soft archery
- Football
- Dodgeball
- Community groups
- Refreshments
- BBQ
- and more!
Online public meetings
Video conferencing options will be made available to members of the public for all our meetings. The link will be given out in the agendas for each meeting. If you have anything you wish to bring to the attention of the Council or wish to speak, please contact the clerk via Contact us
Friday 19th Jan 2018
Sports Extension
Our new sports extension is complete, watch this space for more information to when it will be available for hire!
Friday 6th Oct 2017
Trial of new website design
We are happy to announce the trial of our new revamped website!
Orchard Park Children’s Halloween Party – Thursday 26th 2017
Orchard Park Community Centre – 5.30 pm – 7.00 pm.
Tickets go on sale next week @ £2.50 each (entry with burger or hotdog, and squash).
It’s going to be an eggtastic Easter in Orchard Park:
- Orchard Park Easter event Sunday 14th 2pm-4pm (Small hall)
- Eggciting Easter art with Chypps Wednesday 17th 11am to 1pm (Large hall)
- Skateboard lessons Thursday 18th 10am-3pm, equipment will be provided but must be booked with Shredderskateschool@gmail.com. Free for residents, £3 for non residents (Orchard Park sports grounds)
- Police crime prevention and Neighborhood Watch event Thursday 18th 6.30pm (Small hall)
- Community litter pick Saturday 27th 10-12, 12-1pm lunch, 1-3pm (Orchard Park sports grounds and multiuse room)
Kids Arts and Crafts Events at the Community Centre:
Christmas Celebration
- Orchard Park Celebrates Christmas on Sunday 9th 3-5pm at the Community Centre. There will be:
- Arts and crafts for children and families
- Lights switch on at 4.30pm
Carol singing
Hot drinks and refreshments
Everyone warming welcome!
Halloween Advice
Its that time of the year again and in order for everyone to be able to enjoy an evening of fun or a quite night in, Cambridgeshire Police have some useful tips and posters:
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Halloween is traditionally a night of fun. Whether you plan to go out trick-or-treating, have friends over for a party or choose not to celebrate it, we want you to enjoy yourself and stay safe.
Whilst it’s an exciting night for some, please bear in mind that there are members of the public who do not wish to take part. We ask that you respect people’s wishes and try not to disturb those who chose not to celebrate.
Over Halloween our officers patrol neighbourhoods to keep you safe, but please remember;
- officers do not want to spoil your fun, we just want to make sure you stay safe and enjoy your evening
- that children and young people should be accompanied by an adult when out trick-or-treating
- to avoid knocking on the doors of strangers
- to keep your ‘tricks’ appropriate. Any deliberate behaviour that results in damage or hurts someone is a crime
- to wear bright clothes and know our road safety advice.
Halloween posters
Whether you welcome trick or treaters or not, you can download posters to display in your windows. Our Community Safety Officers also distribute these local areas.
- Halloween poster for businesses
- Halloween message for schools
- Halloween poster for no trick-or-treating
https://www.cambs.police.uk/A-Z/Halloween
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Halloween Events this Half Term:
We are excited to announce two spooktactular events this half term at the Community Centre:
Free Children’s Arts and Crafts
Tuesday 23rd October 10:30 – 12 noon
Join us for spooky and seasonal arts & crafts
Children may come and go as they please
For ages 4-10 but younger siblings welcome
All children to be accompanied by an adult
Spooktacular Disco Party
Thursday 25th October 2pm – 4pm
Activities aimed at ages 7+ but younger siblings welcome
Tickets £1, available in advance on Tues 23rd 10am – 12noon at the Community Centre and then any remaining at the door Subject to availability
Posted Sat 20th Oct 2018
Volunteers urgently needed for Kids Halloween Event(s). Please comment on our Facebook post if interested.
Due to the lack of staff, we were unable to plan for a Halloween event this year. But if there’s enough interest and volunteers, we can try to put on some event(s) this half term.
Posted Tue 16th Oct 2018
Community Clean Up Day 10am-1pm 30th Sept@ Unwin Square (by the shops in Orchard Park)
Please join us as we work together to clean up our neighbourhood!
There will be:
- Organised litter picks (equipment and refreshments provided)
- Household recycling (e.g. metal, wood, electrical items; NO black/blue/green bin waste)
- Freecycling “Take it or Leave it” stand – please bring unwanted but items that are in good condition (e.g. clothes, books, games etc)
- Free bird feeder making advice and wildlife information
Join the Facebook Event:
Vacancy for Youth Worker for Orchard Park Youth Club (Cambridgeshire County Council)
| Organisation: | Cambridgeshire County Council | Hours: | 2.5
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| Salary: | £15,807 – £15,807 | Working Pattern: | Fixed Term
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| Location: | Orchard Park Youth Club, Cambridge | Reference: | 16499
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Closing date: |
25 September 2018 at midday
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Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) are looking for two enthusiastic and committed Youth Support Workers to work in the Cambridge City District Team at our Orchard Park Youth Clubs.
CCC has two vacancies, one in our open access youth club on Thursdays evenings and the other in both our open access football group (Wednesdays 4-6.30pm) and open access youth club (Thursdays 5-7.30pm), both are term time only. An interest in participating in football is essential for the football group post. Please indicate in your supporting statement which vacancy you are applying for.
Both posts are fixed term until March 2019 with a view to extend for a further year, funding dependant.
The team is multi-disciplinary and includes Education Welfare, Family Workers, Education Inclusion Officers and Young People’s Workers who are working to improve the lives of children and young people aged 0-19yrs.
You will need to be a good communicator and able to build effective working relationships with young people from all backgrounds. You will need to be adaptable and have some experience of open access youth clubs, though training will be available.
Interviews will be held on Wednesday 3rd October.
For informal enquiries please phone Faye Ackroyd 07909 830552.
Posted 13th Sep 2018
Part-time vacancy Assistant/Relief Caretaker
Orchard Park Community Council are seeking to employ a person to undertake the role of Assistant/Relief Caretaker. The person appointed will undertake duties such as caretaking/cleaning at the Community Centre, Sports Ground as well at the various play areas and other open space the Community Council is responsible for within Orchard Park.
The position is as an assistant/relief to our main caretaker to cover days off, holiday and other absences. Flexible hours as required, including some evening and weekend working. Approximately 10 to 15 hours per week on average. The rate will be hourly based depending on experience.
To apply please email clerk@orchardpark-gov-uk.stackstaging.com for an application form and more details.
Closing date for application: 16th August 2018
2nd Aug 2018
A14 Roadworks
Highways England are carrying out major works between J32-33, with the majority of the works being done in the late evening and into the early hours of the morning. Evening road closures, construction noise and vibration is to be expected until at least through August 2018.
OPCC, SCDC, CCC, and residents of Histon and Impington have formed an engagement group with HE to work together to minimise disruptions and address the public’s concerns.
To keep up to date with the A14 works, please see their website:
https://highwaysengland.co.uk/projects/a14-cambridge-to-huntingdon/
To get daily noise alerts, please email bob.pettipher@thea14.com
To join the discussion in the resident’s Facebook Group, please see:
Histon, Impington and Orchard Park A14 Action Group
Formal complaint information can be found here:
27th July 2018
Faulty Lights Diary:
We are keeping a record of street lights that have been reported here
If you find any street lights that are faulty, please add to the list and report them as follows:
Blue lamp posts with numbers: Cambridgeshire County Council
Blue lamp post in our parks and play areas: Orchard Park Community Council
Silver lamp posts or ones with no obvious numbers on streets: contact your housing association, estate management team, or developer
19th Jan 2018
Changes to Kerbside Recycling
Proposed changes to simplify the kerbside collection of recycling materials for residents have been published by South Cambridgeshire District Council.
A report to be presented at the next Cabinet Meeting recommends a system that would see residents place waste paper directly into their blue wheelie bins, eliminating the need for paper caddies.
The option is being recommended now because the Council is currently reviewing which type of new recycling collection trucks will be needed for use during the next seven years.
If approved, the approach would mean fewer replacement vehicles would be needed than if the paper caddy arrangement continues.
Trucks which collect dry recycling that is mixed together, rather than separated, do not need to have split bodies, and so can carry more materials.
This means collection rounds could be completed without the need for vehicles to return to base and be emptied as often.
Therefore, vehicles would cover around 26,000 fewer miles per year on South Cambridgeshire’s roads than the “paper out” of the wheelie bins option.
Lower fuel costs and reduced CO2 emissions would be achieved as a result.
Computer modelling carried out by waste bosses suggests current recycling rates, that see more than half of South Cambridgeshire’s waste recycled, would be at least maintained, if not marginally improved, if the change is made.
The report states that the recommended approach would save taxpayers around £670,000 during the next seven years, compared with the existing system.
This is mainly because fewer collection trucks would be required.
This altered approach to dry recycling collection would also mean fewer refuse staff are needed; however, given current vacancies within the service, it is anticipated that no redundancies would be necessary.
The recommended approach would also mean that the amount of heavy lifting being carried out by refuse workers is reduced.
Cllr Mark Howell, South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, said: “It is right that we take this opportunity to review how we collect recycling materials from residents at a time when we need to commit to how the service will be shaped up to 2025.
“We are justifiably proud of our recycling record in South Cambridgeshire, and, if this change is made, it is important to note that we anticipate the amount of waste we send for re-use will at least be maintained, if not bettered.
“If the paper is mixed in with other recyclables in the blue bin, it would be still sent on for re-processing by paper manufacturers.”
If the recommendation is approved, Council waste bosses say residents would be kept well informed, particularly via social media, South Cambs Magazine and the Council website, ahead of the new system beginning in the New Year.
The report will be discussed at the Cabinet Meeting that takes place at 6pm on Thursday 14 September at South Cambridgeshire District Council’s HQ in Cambourne.
The papers containing the report can be accessed here.
For more information contact Tom Horn in South Cambridgeshire District Council’s communications team on 01954 713025 or tom.horn@scambs.gov.uk
The Environment Now – Opportunity for Funding
The National Youth Agency are running a programme called The Environment Now which is an exciting opportunity from O2’s Think Big that will fund 17-24 years old with a grant of up to £10,000 to create their unique digital ideas to help the environment.
Successful applicants will be supported by The Environment Now team, their own professional mentor and other sustainability partners for the 10 months of the project timeline. We also offer support, work experience and insight sessions with industry professionals to help bring young people’s ideas to life.
The Environment Now programme is funded by O2 and the National Lottery through the Big Lottery Fund, and is part of the Our Bright Future (http://www.ourbrightfuture.co.uk/) programme. It is managed by the National Youth Agency (http://www.nya.org.uk/) .
We started this programme back in November and we have funded some brilliant projects during this time. You can read about some of these here.
We are currently looking to support more projects and after doing some reading of your website it seemed like something you may be interested in? We are open for applications until 27th October with numerous grants to give away. A poster is available with more information.
Orchard Park Sports Facility project – Essential Construction Work
The Principal Contractor has advised us that he will shortly be commencing the installation of the reinforced concrete slab. The slab needs to be laid and power floated in one continuous application and is likely to involve the work going on throughout the night. The machine used to power float the concrete floor slab will generate a noise similar to that of a petrol lawn mower. The work is currently scheduled to take place on Wednesday 30th August 2017 and on into the night. The Contractor has assured us that he will use his best endeavours to keep the noise, dust and light pollution to a minimum. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused as a result of this work.Crime in Orchard Park
Sadly, reported incidents of crime in Orchard Park has increased over the past year and continues to do so. House burglary, theft from garden sheds and bikes left chained in any open space are prime targets. Although the first point of contact for such criminal offences is the Police, the Community Council are doing what we can to reduce this statistic.
Please see our leaflet attached: police-flyer
The Community Council would like to hear from anyone who feels they could offer resources to a neighbourhood watch scheme.
Orchard Park Litter Pick’s
Kit’s are available any time from the Community Centre for all residents wishing to participate in keeping the Community litter free.
Recycling
The Community Council thank all of you who participate in the recycling program, this is of huge benefit for our County and district Council’s and the UK in general, saving from excessive landfill. Please ensure that you separate dry paper and place it in the paper caddy which fits inside the blue bin, further information regarding all recycling procedures can be found at www.scambs.gov.uk/recycling.
Waste & Recycling
There are changes to our waste and recycling collection days, the new collection date from W/C 27th February for Orchard Park is FRIDAY. Blue/green and black bins will alternate.
For further details please visit the SCDC web site on the link shown https://www.scambs.gov.uk/content/tuesday