Nine Wells EarthCache
Hidden : 12/2/2009
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:

This Earthcache lies in Nine Wells LNR (Local Nature Reserve) just outside the city
of Cambridge, close to Addenbrooke’s hospital.

Access

This site has free open pedestrian access throughout and has a right of way via footbridges on a permissive path on the western edge. There is no vehicular access to the site. To reach the reserve you can either park on Granhams Rd and walk along the 1.1km footpath or use the Gt Shelford to Addenbrooke's cycle path which runs alongside the Cambridge to London railway line more commonly known as the stripey path.


Description

Nine Wells is a small wood of only 1.2Ha situated at the foot of rolling chalklands and is one of the outlets of springwater in the area. The copse contains four well developed chalk springs which are active throughout the year. The main springheads are linked by stream channels that have innumerable minor fissures that feed into these and provide water at a constant 10.2 degrees Celsius. This water source is rainfall from the higher ground which includes the Gog magog hills to the north, Copley hill and Meggs hill that extends the ridge southeast towards Linton. The underlying bedrock initially features layers of soft, exceptionally pure limestone followed by a band of hard fissured Tottenhoe clay some 6 metres in depth and then another chalk band under this which is clay rich and is more impervious to water. This geology was laid down 100 million years ago when the British Isles was covered by a deep tropical ocean. Over time the land has been uplifted and tilted to form the stratum that we see today and is shown in the figure below. The rainwater percolates through the chalk until it meets the Tottenhoe clay and is then forced to the surface at Nine Wells. Other springs exist in the area including the intriguingly named ‘Giants cave’ in the nearby village of Cherry Hinton, but it is the springs at Nine Wells that are not only of geological interest, but also have a historical significance.

As the source of the Hobson Conduit (a man made culvert), Nine Wells once provided the City of Cambridge with clean drinking water. Thomas Hobson was a wealthy owner of coaching stables and he left money to help finance the construction of the conduit. The engineering works carried out to canalise sections of the watercourse in the 17th century had a considerable impact on the lives of Cambridge residents. Further reading can be found at Thomas Hobson . Those of you who may be interested to follow the conduit and brook within the city can follow this link which details a 3-4 mile route and features the original market fountain also called Hobson’s conduit. Due to a fire it no longer resides in the market square but has been moved to Brookside and is worth a look if you happen to be passing.
Nine Wells was formally an SSSI until the drought of 1976 caused the Springs to dry completely which led the decline of some rare freshwater invertebrates and its subsequent de-classification. In 2004 a committee was formed to oversee the conservation and enhancement of the site with one of the aims to restore the invertebrates to the streams. As yet this hasn’t been possible, but improvements have been made to the streams and to the general condition of the site. Investigations into the minimal water flow required to preserve the chalk streams have been carried out and along with other objectives such as to enhance the woodland and hedgerows, improve access to the site and investigate potential expansion of the site with meadows and buffer zones could form part of an updated management plan due to be reviewed in 2010. A voluntary group is in existence supervised by Mr Ellis Selway (LNR Community Reserves Officer). If anyone wishes to get involved then Mr Selway can be contacted via the LNR website.

References;
Boreham, S. (2004) 'The Structure and Formation of the Wandlebury Area' Proceedings of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society XCIII: 5-8.

To claim this cache

To commemorate the construction of Hobson’s Conduit a monument was erected and it is situated within the reserve.
1) Locate the monument and find the name of the person who first suggested the idea of using the springs as a water supply for the city and also find the amended name on the obelisk. This name is inlaid in the stonework when compared to all other inscriptions.

2) Estimate the depth of the stream channels? The depth varies slightly depending on where you stand, so an estimate will do. Please don't climb into the streams with a measuring device!

3) Take a photo of yourself on one of the bridges or by the monument or of one of the springheads if you wish and add them to your log.

To fulfil the requirements of the cache and receive the all important smiley then please e-mail me the answers!

Well done to JF20938 for the accolade of FTF

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



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