Safeguarding the future of the Backs

The Colleges share a common interest in the future of the Backs, recognised around the world as a landscape of outstanding beauty, including management of the existing tree stock and the planting of new trees.

Most of the trees which line the Backs are still in their prime, but a few are over 150 years old. These are likely to die in the near future and there are serious concerns about a fungal disease which is destroying Horse Chestnuts.

A row of some of the oldest Horse Chestnuts on the Backs has recently had to be felled at Trinity Hall.

The majority of trees are Limes at present. The report encourages the Colleges to plant a mixture of oaks, planes and other species to provide diversity and safeguard against such threats as the wholesale loss of Elms in the 1970s.

The landscape strategy has been drawn up by Robert Myers Associates, landscape architects who specialise in restoring historical sites. Their previous projects include work at Clare College, Hereford Cathedral and Rockingham Castle.

Myers himself, who was educated at Girton College, is responsible for the design and liaised closely with the City Council and the Colleges during the process.

In addition to being one of the most scenic landscapes in the world, the Cambridge Backs are also home to a community of water voles, whose numbers have fallen across the UK by 95% in the last 20 years.

Experts have found their burrows on the borders of King's and Clare Colleges, and a wildlife corridor is being proposed as part of the plan, which should help ensure their survival.

This is not the first proposal for a new look for the Backs. In 1779, Capability Brown proposed a comprehensive redevelopment of the Backs. His scheme involved the removal of the avenues and three bridges, and planting clumps of trees to block out the views of all the colleges except for King's. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it wasn't adopted.