Once a clay extraction site for brickmaking, the Madingley Brickpits have transformed into a vibrant County Wildlife Site, one of nine city or county wildlife sites on University lands. The pits, created by extracting clay, now act as ponds capable of providing critical habitats for aquatic plants, invertebrates, and amphibians.
Restoration and impact
In 2020, under the leadership of Peter Wilderspin, Rural Surveyor at the University of Cambridge’s Park Farm, and with support from Natural England and the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group East, we carried out crucial rejuvenation works:
- dredging and reprofiling of ponds
- clearing of vegetation to reduce shading
Within a year, aquatic plants such as water crowfoot began emerging from the seed bank, showing a strong ecological response to the restoration efforts.
Survey findings
We commissioned a subsequent survey from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Northamptonshire Wildlife Trust in the summer of 2025. The findings were extremely promising, with a notable improvement in habitat quality found as well as a diverse mix of shaded, unshaded, and seasonally dry ponds, ideal for invertebrate microhabitats.
Beyond the ponds
The survey also highlighted the value of the arable land surrounding the Brickpits for biodiversity. The land, managed by a tenant farmer, was found to be of county, and potentially national, significance for arable plants. As well as being valuable in its own right, it was found to be acting as a buffer zone in protecting the ponds from agricultural impacts. This may lead to an update to the site’s wildlife designation.
Looking ahead
We hope that the ponds will eventually support great crested newts, a protected species found in the nearby area, alongside a wide range of aquatic plants and the invertebrates that depend on them. The water crowfoot plant now blooming is a very good indicator of water quality and is one of several used by great crested newts for egg laying. No evidence of newts has been found so far, but monitoring will continue as we work to make the Brickpits a great home for wildlife.
This project highlights how restoring even small, often overlooked landscapes can deliver significant biodiversity benefits. It forms part of the University’s wider commitment to enhancing nature across our estate.
More information is available on our Biodiversity and Our progress pages.