College allotment grows from strength to strength

Students at St. Catherine’s College have revived a college allotment with money from the Master’s Fund. A budget of £750 has been allocated to the project, with students aiming to establish St. Catherine’s Allotment Society.

In addition to financial contributions from the college, the group of students also receives advice from Head Gardener Alan North. They plan to work with the College’s Green Working Group in future activities, including developing sustainable gardening methods such as “growing carrots in old welly boots” from local charity shops.

Peter Bolgar, one of the students involved, said: “the allotment already provides a really secluded, calm space where students can connect with nature [...] where we can experiment, be creative and just have fun, with a sense of freedom that is often lacking in adult life.”

Cambridge City Council trials new smart bins and city centre seating

The Council is experimenting with two new initiatives as residents and visitors return to the city following the coronavirus pandemic this summer. Smart bins and picnic tables have been placed in the city centre on a trial basis.

Wooden picnic tables installed in Market Square may be extended to other locations around the city centre, potentially including Fitzroy Street and Christ’s Lane.

In addition, ‘Solar Street Bins’ are being installed in busy areas to increase capacity and reduce litter collection costs. The solar-powered new bins can accept up to ten times more waste than a typical street bin.

Ian Sandison, CEO of Cambridge BID, said in a press release: “As the city opens up and residents and visitors spend more time in the city centre, these community seating areas support the local economy and encourage people to dwell more, take their time and enjoy our beautiful city.”

Cambridge law student wins vlogging competition

Cambridge law student Dylan Kawende has won a vlogging competition co-run by the London Young Lawyers Group (LYLG) and law platform Legal Cheek.

Entrants created video responses to the question ‘What new habits will stay with you, even when we have come through the pandemic?’. The committee highlighted the “importance of young and aspiring lawyers being confident in expressing their thoughts and opinions” during the “challenging” lockdown period.

Kawende is a law student at St. Edmund’s College with his own YouTube channel. In his winning entry, entitled ‘The Advocate’, he shares his daily routine, including a daily mindfulness practice, cold showers, and journaling, which help to focus his vision as being “a steward for social change.”

Footlight alumnus Phil Wang guest judges Great British Menu

Comedian and former Footlights president Phil Wang appeared as a guest judge on the BBC 1 cooking competition show Great British Menu last week (17/05).

During his engineering degree at King’s College, Wang won the Chortle Student Comedian of the Year in 2010. He has appeared on a host of panel and comedy shows, including Have I Got News For You and Live at The Apollo, as well as two stand-up shows.

In the episode, Wang was excited by a science-themed dish: “this is what I want from a science dish - beakers, pipettes, glassware. Now we’re talking”.