With the first residents settling into their new homes and the weather warming up, Waterbeach is celebrating the summer by hosting an event on Sunday, 19 May to launch managed water sports on the lake, bike hire and the new lakeside café.
Cambridge Sports Lake Trust (CSLT), based at Milton Country Park, has been appointed to operate wild swimming and paddleboarding taster sessions on the lake on selected days this year. The team will provide equipment, supervision, training and coaching with the aim of widening participation in water sports. Access to the lake is only available through activities booked with CSLT.
Nikki Henrywood from CSLT, said: “Waterbeach lake is a hidden gem offering a different experience to Milton Country Park. We hope residents and the local community will come along to enjoy time in and on the lake during our exclusive sessions.”
Swimming session will operate from 10-11am on a course around 400m in length, with the ability to shorten your route as needed. Paddleboard tasters run for an hour from 11.30am and will get you on a board and exploring the near parts of the lake. These sessions are fun, friendly and designed for all abilities. No previous experience is necessary, and all equipment is provided.
Cambridge charity New Meaning Foundation, which offers training and employment to those experiencing hardship, has been commissioned to design and build three colourful beach huts to provide storage and changing facilities for the water-based activities.
For those preferring to stay on the land, App Bikes will also be available from the sustainable travel hub, with 45 minutes of free hire subsidised by Urban&Civic as part of its commitment to encourage active travel around the new development and into the wider area. Take a leisurely ride around the lake and explore the beautiful scenery or pop into the village for a spot of shopping or to run some errands.
Evolve, which owns and operates a coffee shop and bar in Cambridge Innovation Park in Waterbeach, will also be launching its new lakeside café kiosk. Alongside a variety of hot and cold drinks, it will be serving a delicious array of hot food including paninis, baps, jacket potatoes, pasties and soup as well as sandwiches, cakes, ice cream and snacks. Following its launch on 19 May, the café kiosk will be open from 7.30am-2pm on Thursday and Friday and 8am-4pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Fiona Reardon-Rose, Communities and Partnerships for Urban&Civic, said: “Bringing the lake into community use has always been a priority for Waterbeach and we have some great partners that are helping us realise our vision. We hope residents and people living in the local area will come along to try out the activities and amenities on offer.
“We’ve scheduled the lake activation days for the third Sunday in May, June and July, so they coincide with Waterbeach Community Market and the Waterbeach Military Heritage Museum being open, so families can come along and make a day of it and get a real taste for life at Waterbeach!’
Housebuilders Stonebond and Cala will also be open, with show homes available to view. No need to book an appointment, drop into their sales offices to find out more about how you can make Waterbeach your home.
The next lake activation sessions will take place on 19 May, 16 June and 21 July. More sessions will be organised in response to demand. To find out more and book wild swimming and paddle boarding sessions, go to miltoncountrypark.org/waterbeach-lake.
Waterbeach lake is a hidden gem. We hope residents and the local community will come along to enjoy time in and on the lake during our exclusive sessions.
