There are phenomenal communities in Cambridgeshire reimagining a better, fairer and greener future. In winter 2024, we had a chance to speak with some of them and hear their stories. These community members – who we call ‘Regenerators’ – take action in wonderfully diverse ways, from making local rain gardens, to clearing a city verge of overgrowth to allow existing seed banks to germinate, to repairing textiles and kettles in Repair Cafes or volunteering as a mentor and leader in youth sports groups. Remarkably, these Regenerators work as nature does: in connected networks, constantly learning and adapting along the way, reimagining possibilities and finding ways to restore and protect balance in our communities and landscapes. We are delighted to share their words with you. We hope their stories spark inspiration, ignite your inner activist and generate a feeling of freedom to explore actions that work for you, however big or small.
Stories gathered and edited by artist-writers Gabby Arenge and Emily Dowdeswell, Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination.
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“We just decided to look at the world around us differently. And once you put that filter on and look at the world around you with an insect’s eyes, you immediately begin to make changes to the way that you live in that space. We can all do that, we can all imagine ourselves into a different future”
