Around Cambridge: river, greens and parks

As we've said, water birds can be seen most days on the river, and the ducks especially have quite a fondness for tourists, as they are fed regularly by picnicking Britons. As soon as the sun comes out, so do the rugs and deck chairs, and the various grassed areas are taken up by sun worshipping British people.

Here they are on Jesus Green...

and on The Backs...

Jesus Green is a large, well-mowed park behind Jesus College -- and so not far from where we live.

Midsummer Common is across the road from Jesus Green, and its grass has been left to grow in order to attract and sustain wildlife during the summer.

Parker's Piece is a highly-manicured piece of land a little further away. It has no trees except around the border, and on the day we took this photo it was being used for cricket.

The banks of the Cam are very popular for the pastime of picnicking, as are the various pieces, parks and the college ‘backs’. This last is a long grassed area behind the older colleges. Here are some pictures from the sunny day when we walked along The Backs.

The classic view of King’s College Chapel can be seen from The Backs.

The Cam presents quite a contrast between the wealthy (relatively speaking) tourists, picnickers and students, with the residents of many of the canal boats, the urban poor, and homeless people, all of whom can also be found around the grassed areas and waters of the Cam. Like most cities, the well off and the poor live side by side here.