Sometimes it may not be obvious that Littleport is a rural community as it has an increasingly urban feel about it.  

Maybe because of its smart venues for wining and dining, socialising and even clubbing, cosmopolitan take-aways, superb tonsorial salons – great service providers from cleaning companies to music teachers and you can find the evidence for all that in the community magazine I compile and edit, Littleport Life. 

The circulation of which is increasing as new-comers buy up the hundreds of new-builds in our newly designated town, search Facebook or www.littleportwhatson.co.uk. 

Check out pubs and clubs; The Crown Inn, Littleport Ex-Servicemen’s Club, The Swan. Restaurants: La Strega, Habis, Indian Garden, and while you buy your gardening tools and accoutrements and plants at Sharman’s Garden Centre in Camel Road you can eat next door at Clare’s Kitchen!  

Ely Standard: Last weekend St George’s Church played Littleport Bowls Club raising £178 split between the two!Last weekend St George’s Church played Littleport Bowls Club raising £178 split between the two! (Image: Lyn Gibb de Swarte)

But it is the countryside settlement it always was with farmland stretching for many square miles around, and in the heart of Littleport we have the Paddocks and a cultivated woodland garden, Peacock’s Meadow with access in Limes Close. 

It has thriving populations of insects, butterflies, birds, frogs, toads, foxes, deer and hedgehogs. 

And the friends of the garden group put out a library of children’s books for visitors to read while they are there when the weather is clement.  

Now my lady Cathy and I found a poorly hedgehog in our front garden, and after a few days medical care and swimming physio at Heather’s Hedgehog Hostel in Chatteris, we returned her back to the wild in that safe space for both humans and animals, Peacock’s meadow.  

If you have a passion for gardening, preserving nature and wildlife and you have a few hours to spare, email t.c.curtis@btinternet.com Sports clubs activities go on apace.  

Last weekend St George’s Church played Littleport Bowls Club raising £178 split between the two! Won by LBC, Stewart Rogers was presented with the trophy by a gracious in defeat Vicar, Rev Natalie Andrews. Wednesday 23rd Littleport Leisure hosts a fun skate 10-12pm.