Cambridgeshire

Located in east England, Cambridgeshire has seen much glacial activity which has impacted the landscape we see today. For example, the Western Plateau, a rolling area known for its boulder clay woodlands, was formed from prehistoric glacial deposits during the Anglian Glaciation – the most extreme glaciation during the last 2 million years. It is based between the Ouse Valley to the north and the Cam Valley to the south, and is home to the rare Oxlip, a plant which is related to the primrose. 

Due to the clayey nature of the soil and the fact that most of the land is low-lying, the area is often quite water-logged. Holme Fen was historically wetland, and is the UK’s lowest physical point, at 2.75m (9 ft) below sea level. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, with some relict (formerly widespread) wetland plants surviving today, such as saw sedge and fen wood-rush. Cambridgeshire houses a significant portion of Greenbelt land around the city of Cambridge, which was drawn up in the 1950s, to protect it from development.

The county sees much traditional British weather, with rainfall highest in July. Maximum temperatures are also seen in July though, so gardens in Cambridgeshire can take advantage of humid conditions to grow an array of traditional fruit and veg, and even some exotic and tropical plants suited to warm weather.