WELCOME
STEP INTO SPRING T he sight of daffodils can stir the heartstrings
EDITORIAL Editor Liz Potter 01223 492249 lizpotter@bright.uk.com Editor in chief Nicola Foley 01223 499459 nicolafoley@bright.uk.com Editorial director Roger Payne Chief sub editor Matthew Winney Sub editors Zanna Buckland & Minhaj Zia ADVERTISING Sales director Sam Scott-Smith 01223 499457 samscott-smith@bright.uk.com Ad manager Maria Francis 01223 492240 mariafrancis@bright.uk.com Senior sales executive Claire Cornish 01223 499453 clairecornish@bright.uk.com CONTRIBUTORS Mark Box, Fiona Cumberpatch, Charlotte Griffiths, Marina Jordan-Rugg, Sally Petitt & Elisha Young DESIGN & PRODUCTION Design director Andy Jennings Magazine design manager Lucy Woolcomb Junior designer Hedzlynn Kamaruzzaman Ad production Holly May MANAGING DIRECTORS Andy Brogden & Matt Pluck TYPEFACE Nyght Serif / Maksym Kobuzan from Tunera Type Foundry ON OUR COVER Illustration by Holly May, inspired by a photo from @elliedyduch on Instagram Find us @cambsedition
Among these events is the Cambridge Festival from 19 March to 4 April – a rare opportunity to explore the work of the city’s academics. As part of this, I got to interview a table-top, AI-powered android named Furhat from Sweden that can change gender and skin colour to appeal to a wider demographic (page 20). It talked to us about its role in exciting post-graduate research at the computer science department of King’s College, with PhD student Alva Markelius. Furhat got this somewhat unusual name when its developers had to rush a partly built prototype to a conference with wires sticking out of its head, hiding them under a fur hat. Why not meet Furhat yourself? Check out the full programme at festival.cam.ac.uk/events Our piece on charity events (page 44) focuses on the many outdoor activities you can take part in to raise funds during 2025 – from the TTP Cambridge Half Marathon on 9 March to the Dragon Boat Festival, local 10k races and cycling sportives that will take you all over the county and beyond. There’s plenty of inspiration for everyone – whatever your fitness level – to raise funds for good causes.
at this time of year. Even on the greyest day, these winsome spring flowers seem to glow through the gloom, springing
up in all sorts of wayward locations. The Cambridgeshire village of Thriplow makes a point of celebrating its daffodils with a festival weekend on 22 to 23 March (page 15), which seems a lovely, upbeat idea. In our cover story this month (page 8), we take a look at all the places you can go to enjoy fresh air and green space around the city and its surrounds – from country parks and botanic gardens to historic landscapes and nature reserves (some of which we’d never heard of until researching this feature!). There’s no excuse not to get out for a good yomp among the blossoms and bluebells, so take our inspiration and wrap up warm. Our Agenda listing is a comprehensive guide to all the other fun things to do this month – from painting Frida Kahlo at The Station Tavern to attending the Gin, Rum and Vodka Festival at St Paul’s Church. We even have a reader discount of 20% on the latter; just use code NEWYEAR25 when booking tickets online at thegintomytonic.com
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1 Mustard and brick striped linen cushion, £98, Joanna Wood 2 Bamboo fibre bird feeder in orange, £9.95, Rex London 3 Orange sun suncatcher, £10.99, Tenovus Cancer Care 4 Wiggle mug in orange by Florence Mytum, £35, Not Just A Shop 5 Knut saffron lambswool throw, £79, Country Mouse
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