Parklife Autumn 2021 by Dimension6000

Parklife September – November 2021

Discover & Explore... FOX PLAY YOUR COMMUNITY GREENSPACE 10 YEARS OF VOLUNTEERING

Autumn WHAT’S ON GUIDE

Ham Farm House, Ham Lane, Peterborough PE2 5UU E: visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk T: 01733 234193 www.nenepark.org.uk If you would like to be added to our mailing list or require this magazine in another format, please get in touch.

Green gifting

We’re committed to reducing our environmental footprint at Nene Park and this extends to the gift shop where there’s a move towards toys made of more sustainable materials such as wood, cardboard, and recycled plastics. Other eco-conscious products include the range of stainless-steel drinks bottles from One Green Bottle. These longlasting bottles are designed to last a lifetime. Included in the range are insulated bottles to keep drinks hot or cold for longer, with many of them featuring a built-in straw. Pop in and take a look! It’s been another busy summer in the Park with the sunshine and lifting restrictions bringing huge numbers of visitors to explore the many Park areas and activities on offer. The team at Nene Outdoors have been very busy hiring out paddlesports and booking in campers to the new campsites there and they are now getting ready to welcome more schools and groups back.

Welcome

to the autumn edition of Parklife!

We are looking ahead to the next few months which will see the opening of our new play area, Fox Play; the start of our Heritage Lottery funded project Your Community Greenspace; the celebration of 10 years of volunteering and of course all the stunning autumn colours across the Park. You can read more about all these things in Parklife and don’t forget to take a look at our What’s on guide to find out about all the events happening over the next few months, including our Autumn Festival over October half term. We look forward to welcoming you to the Park soon! The Nene Park Trust team Front cover image credit - Tony Martin

DISCOVER

Station Master’s garden

Over the last few years, as part of the Nenescape Landscape Partnership scheme, staff and volunteers have been busy restoring Station Master’s Garden at Castor. It is now a lovely place to stop and have a quiet moment, sitting on one of the handmade benches and enjoying the planting, fruit trees and abundant wildlife there. Go and take a visit when you’re next out for a walk in the Rural Estate and enjoy some moments of quiet reflection.

You can find out more about the garden’s restoration and history on our new interpretation board there. 2

#NeneParkArt

Sculpture spotlight! Each Parklife issue we will be asking a volunteer or staff member to talk about one of their favourite sculptures from the Peterborough Sculpture Collection. For our first spotlight, we asked Louise, Project Development Officer (Arts) to choose a sculpture. ‘One of my favourite sculptures within the Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail is Untitled, 1989 by the Artist Miles Davies. The artwork is made of interlocking iron pieces and can be discovered on the north path. To me, the sculpture acts like a series of doorways that frame different views. The rectangular shapes echo the shape of the rowing lake and the grid of roadways that pass nearby, but the deliberate aging and rusting of the sculpture’s surface also remind me of the rich history of the site with a constant movement of people through the area that can be traced back over 2000 years to the Bronze Age.’ Have you seen this sculpture? Maybe you have walked through the doors and seen the framed views yourself? Share a photo of you exploring the sculpture #NeneParkArt or tell us about your own favourite artwork by emailing louise.thirlwall@neneparktrust.org.uk You can find out more information about the Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail and the Peterborough Sculpture Collection on our website at www.nenepark.org.uk/peterborough-sculpture-collection

Fundraising update Just tap to give! We are very excited and pleased to say we now have contactless giving at Nene Park; a brand new way to donate and support the work of Nene Park Trust and the Park you love. Find our Nene Park heart at Ferry Meadows in the Visitor Centre window. It is very simple to use… Take a payment card of your choice; hold it up against the window in front of the card reader for a few seconds. You will see a ‘thank you’ once the donation has processed and that is it! Each donation is £3 and goes directly to support the Trust in maintaining our greenspaces for for the benefit of wildlife and our visitors.

A big thank you for prizes donated to our Big Summer Hunt challenge this year:

Your feedback matters!

Parklife survey

In the Park we’re always keen to hear positive and constructive feedback which will help us continue to improve the Park for all.

We’re keen to know what you think of Parklife magazine.

Next time you visit the Park, how about filling in a comment card in the Visitor Centre OR going onto our website to leave us your feedback at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SQPX9SJ

What do you like and what would you like to see more of? How can we make sure it is full of the Park news and features that you would like to read or listen to?

We also really appreciate feedback on Trip Advisor, Google and Facebook. Thank you for taking the time to do this.

Please let us know by completing our Parklife survey here: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/XTST9J3

WELCOME

TO OUR NEW CHAIR

Jackie Bland

I can’t think of a role that I would rather have than Chair of Nene Park Trust.

I can’t think of a role that I would rather have than Chair of Nene Park Trust. This unique and beautiful Park has been an integral part of my life since 1994, when I moved to Peterborough to take up a new role. Since then I’ve walked, cycled, camped, canoed and run charity events, using all areas of the Park and its lovely Rural Estate. I’ve guided visually impaired people, and pushed my friends and family who are wheelchair users along its unusually accessible lakeside paths. I’ve brought my four children and then eight grandchildren to enjoy the playgrounds and open spaces; I’ve even moored my boat overnight on Nene Park Trust’s moorings, waking up in the early morning to the peace and quiet with just waterfowl and fish for company. Perhaps best of all I have enjoyed the wildlife; flocks of geese noisily arriving

This summer, our new Chair of Trustees, Jackie Bland officially took up the role and here she reflects on this role and how important Nene Park is to her. first thing, tiny frogs emerging from the lakes in spring, nesting swans, and seagulls sitting about on the ice on those sharp frosty and snowy days that bring a stark frozen beauty to the Park. I know that everyone at Nene Park Trust, from our staff and dedicated volunteer teams to my fellow Trustees, take enormous pride in creating an organisation, and a community of people who make all these experiences, and many more, possible for every visitor we welcome here. As we look to the future we already have plans to invest even more in caring for our natural environment and providing more exciting opportunities for leisure, recreation, education, culture and sport. We are also excited about offering the Park, and the organisational skills and resources we have developed, to support individual and community health and wellbeing. For me, it will be a tremendous honour and pleasure, (and no doubt sometimes a challenge!) to support this incredible Nene Park Trust community as we strive to further improve, develop and thrive.

As Jackie takes on her new role, we also said goodbye to longstanding Chair Jon Marsden and trustees Colin Prosser and Allan Simpson. Thank you to them all for their hard work and dedication over the years.

Reopening Longthorpe Tower Longthorpe Tower opened its doors to the public again on 10 July, after day to day management changed hands from Vivacity to Nene Park Trust. Since then, there has been a steady stream of visitors, coming to see the fascinating medieval wall paintings with our team of dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers sharing their knowledge, bringing the remarkable paintings to life. Longthorpe Tower will remain open to visitors on Saturdays and Sundays 10am-4.30pm until the end of October and will then close for the winter, reopening again next spring. Find out more about visiting the tower and book your 1-hour visit at www.nenepark.org.uk/longthorpe-tower 4

INTRODUCING OUR NEW PLAY AREA AT LAKESIDE

FOX PLAY

Throughout the summer, construction of our new play area, Fox Play has been continuing apace and we’re excited that it’s on track to be completed and open at the end of September. At the point of writing, the play area is starting to take shape with many of the play features visible on site including the forest fountains, the zip wire, the play tunnel, stone climbing stack and swing frames. We can already see how exciting the play area will be for all our visitors and are looking forward to its completion. Please keep an eye on our website and social media for news of an opening date. Key facts about the play area:

Inclusivity features: Inclusivity has been important to the play area design from the beginning. We wanted to create an adventurous play space which offers play opportunities for a wide range of ages and abilities. Some key accessible features of the play area include: ● A wheelchair accessible wobbly bridge ● A hand pump in the ‘water forest’ operated at child / seated height and on a concrete surface ● A wide slide that an adult can assist a child to slide down ● A 4-seater seesaw so an adult can sit with a child ● A range of swings including an upright seat

● Natural sensory material such as water, sand, stone and wood used throughout the playground ● 230m of new, level, surfaced paths between equipment and to the wider park allowing better access ● A range of seating in and around the play area, including in a quieter shaded area ● Close proximity to the car park and toilets, including the accessible changing facility at Nene Outdoors.

Environmental features: Right from the start of the Fox Play project we have been keen to ensure that the design and construction are as environmentally-friendly as possible. Fox Play has a nature-inspired aesthetic and uses natural materials, landscaping and planting. We have also discussed Issues such as water consumption as part of the project concept, and carried out independent archaeological, arboriculture and ecological surveys to inform the design and construction. Some key features are as follows: ● Trees - 22 trees of 5 different species will be planted

● Turf - purchased from a provider who does not use peat ● Water play - water is activated via pumps and sprays, chosen to lower the amount of water used. All spent water will drain into adjacent planting, which will help with their growth ● Timber - play equipment has been accredited by the PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification). Construction timber is sustainably sourced ● Concrete and aggregates sourced as locally as possible ● Old play bark - the play bark from the old Lakeside Play area was collected by the Trust for reuse as mulch around the Park.

Thank you to our generous funders, FCC Communities Foundation and Viridor Credits Environmental Company, who have made it possible for us to construct this exciting play area.

● Plants - 1574 new plants of 17 different species, including nectar rich and fruiting plants, which are good for wildlife will be planted

Drawing competition! Throughout the summer we have been running a drawing competition for 3-12 year olds where they have been invited to send in a drawing or painting of themselves ‘enjoying Fox Play’. We are hoping that the winning entries will be on display in the Park at the time of the play area opening. Keep your eyes on our website and social media for news of the winners! We hope you enjoy visiting Fox Play. Let us know what you think! 5

A decade of volunteering at Nene Park Trust It is hard to believe that we have been welcoming volunteers to Nene Park Trust for the last ten years. Where has the time gone? Over the last decade, volunteers have become integral to the day-to-day running of Nene Park Trust. We can do more for our visitors and wildlife because of their dedicated support and we can’t thank them enough! Let’s go back to the beginning... Just over ten years’ ago, Nene Park Trust started to think about working with and alongside volunteers and conservation volunteering seemed a good place to start. The very first session took place on 5 October 2011. The day of the first session arrived and we were a bit nervous. Would the volunteers turn up? What would they be like? Would they like it? Within five minutes, the volunteers’ enthusiasm, hard work and banter was plain to see and we haven’t looked back

since. We were up and running with a team of 5 volunteers. Due to its popularity, conservation volunteering expanded rapidly from one session a month to now three session a week. We now have over 60 conservation volunteers and this is by far our most popular volunteer role at the Trust. These volunteers support the Park Management Team with the day to day upkeep and maintenance of the Park. Over the years they have helped replace the Boardwalk in Bluebell Wood, coppiced hazel and willow, felled and planted trees, and cut, raked and burned reeds on Ham Mere, to name but a few tasks. Perhaps you have seen our volunteers in their blue polo shirts and fleeces working hard in and around Nene Park. New volunteer roles have followed over the years and we now have 150 volunteers supporting us across 17 roles. We are very proud that we still have a good number of our original volunteers as well as making new volunteers very welcome.

Here is what some of our volunteers say about their volunteering experience at Nene Park Trust: Rachel Hill said “I am a conservation volunteer. We meet every two weeks for conservation projects throughout the Park. I’ve been part of the team since last summer and I really enjoy it. You don’t always know what you’re going to be doing till you get there (sometimes it’s weather dependent!) but I really love getting stuck in and seeing the difference a small group of us can make to an area in just a few hours. It’s great to meet people from all walks of life and I’d recommend getting involved to anyone.”

Lilian Paine said “We are fortunate to have such a beautiful park, so to give something back makes me feel happy. A friend asked about becoming a volunteer and what it was like and my reply was that it’s great camaraderie and banter and also a great sense of achievement. I look forward to the variety of roles and have met some lovely people.”

Thank you so much to all our volunteers, past and present – you bring so much to the Park. Education volunteers support our youngest visitors in Nature Tots sessions. Volunteer Rangers patrol across the Nene Park estate; they are our eyes and ears in the Park, reporting any issues to the Duty Rangers. Wildlife Survey volunteers go out on their weekly walks looking for birds, butterflies, moths and wildflowers. This is vital work in understanding the biodiversity within Nene Park and helps us plan for the Park’s future. Visitor Centre and Deli/Farm shop volunteers play an important role, as they are very much the face of Nene Park Trust helping our visitors with enquires and selling merchandise and products.

Other volunteer roles include Photography, Firewood, Woodcrafts, Events, Administration, Longthorpe Tower Guide Leaders and Housekeepers, Nene Outdoors and Woodlands site support. And the opportunities will continue to grow! Over the years, we have tried hard to create a sense of community among Nene Park Volunteers. We do not take our volunteers for granted and are extremely grateful for their time, energy and expertise; we offer volunteers training courses to upskill within their

volunteer roles. It is great to be able to offer our volunteers a chance to meet other volunteers from different roles and so over the years we have been on visits to National Trust sites, looked behind the scenes at other Country Parks, held quizzes and curry nights, offered dawn chorus and bat walks and more recently held a picnic and rounders match on Coney Meadow. A firm favourite with our volunteers is the annual summer BBQ and Christmas meal.

Audio volunteers record readings of our written publications to make them accessible for those who would prefer to listen to our news rather than read it! Our Hit Squad work with our Park Management Team on more specialist Park maintenance tasks.

We look forward to the next 10 years and the growth of volunteering opportunities in the Park, through the Your Community Greenspace project.

Carol Rosbrook said “It’s lovely to hear people around the Park say ‘thank you’ for what you are doing to keep the Park clean and tidy. I often get asked what it is like volunteering at Nene Park Trust.”

In 2019 we were proud to be awarded the Investing in Volunteers quality standard mark where our work in volunteer management was assessed and recognised. 7

COMING SOON... We are very pleased to announce that we have been awarded £1,965,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund towards the delivery of our ambitious £3 million, 5 year project Nene Park: Your CommunityGreenspace. This is wonderful news as we have been developing this project for almost 4 years - the last 18 months supported by Heritage Fund funding - and finally we can now deliver this transformative project for the Park and the Trust. Look out for lots of exciting activities, opportunities and infrastructure improvements in the coming months and years. Your Community Greenspace has been developed from consultation with current and potential visitors, an understanding of activities and infrastructure within in the Park where we have reached capacity, and a genuine desire to follow through on the Trust’s charitable objective to help improve people’s health and wellbeing. With funding made possible by players of the National Lottery, Your Community Greenspace has three key themes: ● Empowering and engaging our communities to help conserve the natural heritage of Nene Park. ● Building bridges with the multi-cultural communities of Peterborough to make Ferry Meadows an inclusive community hub. ● Improving physical and mental health and wellbeing through nurturing connections with nature and the outdoors.

These themes will be delivered through building our capacity in two key areas. Firstly, we will develop our volunteering offer to provide more opportunities to engage with the Park, and secondly, we will implement an expanded events and activities programme co-created with local communities that truly reflects the culture of modern Peterborough. We will undertake a suite of much-need infrastructure improvement works to ensure the park is resilient and welcoming to increasing numbers of visitors. This includes the replacement of Pontoon Bridge, an iconic landmark of the Park that is

reaching its end-of-life, and refreshing the welcome area and toilets close to the Visitor Centre. But that is not all. The project will allow us to offer training and vital work experience to three apprentices who will work closely with our Rangers to learn essential landscape / habitat management skills. We will form a volunteer Project Support Group to help steer the direction of the project. And we will develop sustainable transport opportunities to support groups getting to and around Nene Park.

KEY MILESTONES DURING THE PROJECT INCLUDE: ● Project start – October 2021

● Project staff recruited - March 2022

● Companion walks started – April 2022 ● Youth panel set up – October 2022

● Pontoon Bridge replaced and Welcome area refreshed – March 2023 ● Community World Garden planted – April 2023 ● Sustainable transport initiatives begun – April 2023 ● Guided cycling started – June 2023

● Volunteer space extended – October 2023 ● Ham Mere improved - March 2025

Your Community Greenspace will be far reaching; improving and transforming Nene Park to meet the needs of the many communities of Peterborough and helping improve physical and mental health and wellbeing for all as we recover from Covid-19. We are really looking forward to delivering this exciting project. Look out for project updates in future editions of Parklife.

New meeting room and event space Lynch Lake Community Hub Situated in the heart of Ferry Meadows, our new Lynch Lake Community Hub provides a flexible indoor-outdoor meeting venue in a great central location. The Hub is now available to book for meetings, public facing events, or as a creative studio space. Situated half way between the Visitor Centre and Nene Outdoors it also provides a great base for family get-togethers. For more information visit the venue hire page on our website or email visitor.services@ neneparktrust.org.uk

Corporate experiences & team building days Nene Outdoors can provide an exciting selection of group activities and team building opportunities that can help your team rebuild relationships that may have suffered during the months of remote working. Our staff will work with you to discuss the desired outcomes from the activities you choose. For example, if you were hoping to encourage communication within your team we might suggest orienteering or problem solving. If you were hoping to build determination skills, we might suggest kayaking or mountain biking. We can also recommend activities based on the physicality of your team.

this autumn

For those wanting a more tailored team building experience, our staff can provide a half or full day programme of land and water-based activities which will facilitate learning and team bonding through challenges and competition.

Get your school out! We’re looking forward to welcoming more school groups back to the Park throughout the autumn too. Do get in touch to discuss whether you would like us to lead a curriculumfocused session for your group or whether taking part in some adventurous activities to encourage year group bonding is more what you’re after. From studying the river or using map skills to having a go at climbing or paddlesports, there is something to suit everyone at Nene Outdoors.

Hire a room with a view!

Did you know that we have a stunning meeting room overlooking Gunwade Lake which can be booked for work meetings or family gatherings? Lakeside meeting room is the perfect venue for getting people face to face again after a long time apart this year. Over a year of working at home has had a significant impact on staff wellbeing and team morale in most organisations, with employees feeling isolated, stressed and missing the usual office camaraderie. Whilst video meetings have offered a great substitution, there is no question that remote working has challenged us all. With restrictions on social contact now lifted, businesses, organisations and family groups can start getting back together again for some much over-due face-to-face meetings and social events. Lakeside Meeting Room is a unique venue for meetings and events, situated within Nene Outdoors at the heart of Nene Park in Peterborough, and can be utilised in a number of different ways; from team meetings, talks and seminars to a venue for staff or family parties. The room can accommodate a number of meeting styles and complimentary use of our IT equipment, projector and screen is provided. A range of food and beverage options are available through Meadow Brown, our onsite catering partner, and all room hire packages include free self-service tea and coffee. You’ll also benefit from stunning views over Gunwade Lake, and access to a private decked veranda overlooking the water. 10

Room hire rates vary from just £40 per hour to £180 for a full day. To find out more, just email the team at nene. outdoors@neneparktrust.org.uk

Three birds to spot in the Park

Our ranger Terry shares his knowledge of birds and gives you three birds to look out for this autumn.

Hobby Look to the sky to spot this fast agile raptor. The Hobby is a kestrel-sized falcon and has slightly longer wings to help with its dashing flight. It sometimes resembles a giant swift from a distance. It hunts large insects like dragonflies and small birds like house martins and sand martins. They can sometimes be spotted hunting sand martins around Lynch Lake, where we have the sand martin nesting banks - but keep your eyes peeled as they are fast!

Fun Facts ● The scientific name for a Hobby is “Falco Subbuteo” and it was borrowed by the table top football game creator after the trademark office declined his application to call it ‘Hobby’. ● Hobbies do not make their own nests. They purposely arrive in the UK a little later than other migrants so they can use crow nests when the crow chicks have already left the nest. ● Hobbies catch their prey on the wing and sometimes eat while flying too!

Jay Around this time of year Jays are busy collecting acorns and will be stashing them away for winter, sometimes caching away up to 5000 acorns! They do this by burying them in the ground and returning to them when food is scarce in the winter. Obviously they don’t find them all and that’s good for the oak tree, as the acorns will be in the ground ready for germinating the following year. Jays are normally very elusive but you sometimes catch a glimpse of the back of them as they fly away with their white rump clearly visible. In autumn they become easier to spot as they look for acorns.

A good place to see them here in the Park is on Oak Meadow beneath the oak trees. Fun Facts ● Jays will sit on ant nests and let the ants crawl all over their body! This is to help clear parasites that may be on the bird. ● Jays will sometimes mimic the sounds of other birds if they feel threatened. They can imitate Tawny Owls, Sparrow hawks and sometimes even cats! ● In the 19th century the bright blue wing feathers were a common fashion accessory and sometimes whole dresses were made with them!

Swallow The swallow will be migrating back to Africa in the autumn, most leaving around the end of September. It takes up to six weeks to get there but you should still be able to see them up until early October in the Park. They can be seen on both Coney & Oak Meadow and on all three of our lakes flying acrobatically and quite low to the ground hunting for flying insects.

Although they resemble swifts they are not even distantly related to them. Fun Facts ● It takes a swallow up to 1500 visits to build a nest and only the female lines the nest. ● Swallows always drink on the wing, flying low to sip water. ● Swallows belong to the Hirundininae species which include sand & house martins. 1111

Share Farming update Craig and Ryan Baxter, our farmers on the Nene Park Rural Estate, give us an update on what’s been happening on the farm. The lambs born in the spring are thriving. The rain throughout the season has seen the grass grow well, giving the lambs and their mums plenty to eat. Of course, mild and humid weather does pose another challenge for sheep – maggots. This is where blow flies lay eggs in the fleeces of sheep, which then hatch into maggot larvae that feed on the skin of the sheep. Being out and around the sheep every day allows us to identify any cases at an early stage, at which point the best thing to do is often to shear the sheep, removing any maggots from the skin and reducing the risk of a repeat as there is no wool into which eggs could be laid. The newly established herd of Ruby Red Devon cattle are out grazing on Tumuli field alongside the river. Ruby Red Devons are a native breed originating from the West Country. They have a docile temperament, are renowned for their foraging ability and the premium Ruby Red Beef

they produce. This breed is therefore well suited to our extensive, grassbased system. The offspring will be slow grown at grass, and we hope will provide local produce of fantastic quality which will be available through The Lakeside Farm shop in due course. The cattle have been sourced from pedigree farms in Huntingdon, Worcester and Devon and the addition of Admiral, the Ruby Red Bull, should see calves being born on the Rural Estate from midApril 2022. Hay making took place in July, an important part of environmental land management. This land provides food and shelter for wildlife during the spring and early summer, and when the hay is made it returns wildflower seed to the meadows to maintain bio-diversity. Working with Nene Park Trust, we are planning for hay from ground richer in wildflowers to be transported to other sites before being manually re-spread to give greater wildflower reach and cover. Finally, we were delighted to take part in #Farm24 on 5 August. This campaign celebrated British farming and offered a valuable insight into where and how food is produced and the huge variety of roles and responsibilities taken on by farmers as food producers and custodians of the countryside.

You can see the video that we made at www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY57Eb7yNZM

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From Park to Plate Park to Plate is an initiative that brings you the produce of the share farming partnership between Nene Park Trust and first-generation farming brothers, Craig and Ryan Baxter. This unique partnership has sustainability at its core, producing meat responsibly and in harmony with nature. This is red meat you can trust, based on a simple three-part promise: 1. Sustainably farmed on your doorstep We farm in harmony with nature, and our livestock roam extensively on land that is managed for the long-term benefit of the environment, all of which falls within a 15 mile radius of Lakeside Farm Shop. The land is voluntarily registered under environmental stewardship schemes. We restrict the use of artificial sprays and fertilisers, incorporate wildflower rich pastures to build bio-diversity and create and maintain habitats for wildlife. 2. Welfare without compromise The welfare of our animals is of paramount importance. We are kind

to our animals which are healthy, happy and are farmed under the Red Tractor farm assurance scheme. This guarantees that our produce is traceable, safe and farmed with care. 3. Full of flavour, naturally Our farming system is entirely forage based – this means our livestock enjoy their favourite food; grass, throughout their lives. Our pastures incorporate wild grasses, flowers and herbs, and our animals are slow grown ensuring our meat is full of flavour, naturally. All of this means that the meat sold to you is of the highest quality, with low environmental impact, travelling small distances, as it makes its way from Park to Plate.

For more information on Park to Plate, the products available and the story of this unique partnership go to www.nenepark.org.uk/park-to-plate. Buy our fantastic range of lamb and beef at the Lakeside Farm Shop or find it on the menu seasonally at Lakeside Kitchen and Bar. 13 13

Events Autumn

Paul Topham

SEPTEMBER Pond Dipping

Suitable for: All ages

Wild Home Educators

Wed 1 Sept 12–3pm

Meeting point: Lynch Lake Come along to our drop-in session and spend some pond dipping platform time pond dipping and Cost: Free – donations identifying the fascinating welcome creatures you find.

Open Water Swimming Suitable for: 8 yrs+ Meeting point: Nene Outdoors, Ferry Meadows Cost: £5.50

Thurs 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Sept 5.30–7pm Come along for our weekly open water swimming session. 5.307pm at Nene Outdoors

Mon 13, 27 Sept 1.15–3.15pm

Suitable for: Ages 5–11 Meeting point: Discovery Den, Ferry Meadows Cost: £5.50 per child

Guided Walk with a Ranger Tue 14 Sept 9am–12.30pm

Pay and Play Watersports Suitable for: All ages

Daily from 11am–6pm

Suitable for: 8 yrs+

Meeting point: Nene Outdoors, Ferry Meadows

Choose from a pedalo, rowing boat, kayak, canoe, stand up paddleboard or a sailing dinghy. You can also hire a bike to explore the wider Park.

Meeting point: Visitor Centre, Ferry Meadows

Cost: Varies

Musical Summer Sunday Suitable for: All ages

Sun 5 Sept 2–4pm

Meeting point: Outside the Visitor Centre, Ferry Meadows

Pull up a chair and enjoy some summer live music.

Cost: Free – donations welcome

Social Walking Group Mon 6, Wed 22 Sept 10.30am–12.30pm Suitable for: 12 yrs+ Meeting point: Splash Lane Car Park, Castor Cost: Free to attend but places must be booked

Join one of our Visitor Rangers for a social walk around Ferry Meadows and the wider Nene Park and meet like-minded people. The September location and routes of the walks will be the Normangate and Waternewton Loop.

Nature Tots Mon 13, 27 Sept 10–11.30am Suitable for: 2 yrs+ Meeting point: Discovery Den, Ferry Meadows Cost: £3.50 per child 14

A fun monthly outdoor parent and toddler group. Each session has a nature theme and the whole session will take place outside so please dress for the weather.

Here at Ferry Meadows we will be running 2-hour sessions every month for home schooled children. Each session will have curriculum and nature-focused activities, with each month having a different theme.

Cost: £2.50

Join Ian Lowe for a guided walk starting in Ferry Meadows and going out to some of the Rural Estate on a 6 mile looped walk. He will be highlightng points of interest along the way and answering any questions you may have.

RYA Powerboat Level 2 Course Sat 18 – Sun 19 Sept 9am-5pm

Suitable for: 16 yrs+ Meeting point: Nene Outdoors, Ferry Meadows

Power boat training is essential for operating a powered craft safely and appropriately. To do this you can attend a course with us to achieve an RYA Level 2 Power Boat Certificate. During this 2-day course at Nene Outdoors, you will be trained to drive and manoeuvre the craft in a safe and controlled way.

Cost: £255

Wildlife Cruise Sun 19 Sept 9–10.30am Wyndham’s near silent-motor means that she is the ideal craft for wildlife watching. Join us on a cruise along the River Nene where swans, geese and other water fowl will glide alongside Suitable for: 10 yrs+ the boat with you. We cannot Meeting point: Boat Jetty, guarantee what you will see but wildlife highlights may include opposite Otter Play area Herons, Kingfishers and the Cost: £12 per person elusive Otter!

OCTOBER Social Walking Group

RYA Powerboat Level 2 Course Sat 16 – Sun 17 Oct 9am–5pm

Mon 4, Wed 20 October 10.30am–12.30pm

Meeting point: Thorpe Meadows Car Park

Join one of our Visitor Rangers for a social walk around Ferry Meadows and the wider Nene Park and meet like-minded people.

Cost: Free to attend but places must be booked

The October location is Thorpe Meadows.

Suitable for: 12 yrs+

Meeting point: Nene Outdoors, Ferry Meadows Cost: £255.00 per person

Nature Tots

Suitable for: 2 yrs+

Suitable for: 16 yrs+

October Half Term Holiday Trail

Mon 11, 25 Oct 10-11.30am

Meeting point: Discovery A fun monthly outdoor parent and toddler group. Each session Den, Ferry Meadows has a nature theme and the Cost: £3.50 per child whole session will take place outside so please dress for the weather.

Wild Home Educators

Suitable for: All ages

Sat 23 – Sun Oct 10am–3pm

Meeting point: Visitor Centre, Ferry Meadows

Collect a trail sheet and hunt for clues around Ferry Meadows. Collect a prize at the end.

Cost: £1

Fungi Foray Suitable for: 16 yrs+

Meeting point: Discovery Den, Ferry Meadows Cost: £5.50 per child

Wildlife Cruise Wed 13 Oct 10-11.30am Wyndham’s near silent-motor means that she is the ideal craft for wildlife watching. Join us on a cruise along the River Nene where swans, geese and other water fowl will glide alongside the boat with you. We cannot Suitable for: 10 yrs+ guarantee what you will see but Meeting point: Boat Jetty, wildlife highlights may include opposite Otter Play area Herons, Kingfishers and the elusive Otter! Cost: £12 per person

Youth RYA Sailing Course – Stage 2 Sat 16 – Sun 17 Oct 10am–4pm

Suitable for: Ages 8–15 Meeting point: Nene Outdoors, Ferry Meadows

This 2-day course covers launching and recovery, steering, parts of the boat and basic sailing. After the course participants will be able to steer and understand basic principles. All safety equipments including wetsuits and buoyancy aids are provided.

Sat 23 Oct 10am–12.30pm Check website for updates.

Wildlife Cruise Sat 23 Oct 9.30–11am

Mon 11, 25 Oct 1.15–3.15pm

Suitable for: Ages 5–11

Power boat training is essential for operating a powered craft safely and appropriately. To do this you can attend a course with us to achieve an RYA Level 2 Power Boat Certificate. During this 2 day course at Nene Outdoors, you will be trained to drive and manoeuvre the craft in a safe and controlled way.

Suitable for: 10 yrs+ Meeting point: Boat Jetty, opposite Otter Play area Cost: £12 per person

Wyndham’s near silent-motor means that she is the ideal craft for wildlife watching. Join us on a cruise along the River Nene where swans, geese and other water fowl will glide alongside the boat with you. We cannot guarantee what you will see but wildlife highlights may include Herons, Kingfishers and the elusive Otter!

Autumn Festival 23–31 October

9 days of autumnal activities and events to coincide with October half term, including: • Hedgehog hospital – get to know your local hedgehogs and how to care for them this autumn • Nene Park fundraising – find out different ways you can support the Park • Broomsticks and tree hunt event • Fungi Foray • Bushcraft skills • Scarecrow making • Guided walk

Cost: £155 15 15

Herbology Workshop Suitable for: 18 yrs+

Sat 13 Nov 10.30am–12.30pm

Meeting point: Discovery Den

Coughs and colds, flu and the winter blues can easily get us at this time of year. In this workshop join Nicola, a medical herbalist, who’ll introduce you to the plants and foods that can get you through winter in tip top condition!

Cost: £20 per person

You’ll discover how to keep your immune system in peak condition, taste herbal tinctures, teas and powders and discover the natural remedies that can help you if the bugs do get a hold of you!

Guided Walk with a Ranger Stacey Homewood

Kate Nightingale Suitable for: 8 yrs+

NOVEMBER Nature Tots

Meeting point: Visitor Centre, Ferry Meadows Cost: £2.50

Tue 16 Nov 1–3.45pm Join one of our Rangers; Ian for a 6 mile walk around Ferry Meadows and the surrounding area. Ian will highlight various points of interest along the way and you can ask any questions about the Park and its history. Gain confidence walking in the rural estate and find new routes you may not have explored before.

DECEMBER

Glass Making Workshop Suitable for: 2 yrs+

Mon 8, 22 Nov 10-11.30am

Suitable for: 16 yrs+

Sat 11 Dec

Meeting point: Discovery Den, Ferry Meadows

A fun monthly outdoor parent and toddler group. Each session has a nature theme and the whole session will take place outside so please dress for the weather.

Meeting point: Discovery Den, Ferry Meadows

Join June from Semperart to create your very own unique fused glass. June will take you through the steps to design your beautiful decorations or choose something with a purpose.

Cost: £3.50 per child

Wild Home Educators

Christmas Willow Weaving Workshop

Suitable for: Ages 5–11

Mon 8, 22 Nov 1.15-3.15pm

Suitable for: 16 yrs+

Meeting point: Discovery Den, Ferry Meadows

Cost: £5.50 per child

Events information  All events can be booked online using our booking system: www.nenepark.org.uk/events Unless stated, all events must be booked in advance, some of which have multiple time slots.

Cost: £20

Cost: £15

Sun 12 Dec 10am–12pm and 1.30–3.30pm Join Martin from Rutland Willow as he takes you through the techniques you need to create 3 pieces of work. You will make 3 items from dragonfly, butterfly, fish or snail.

 Many of our events are either free or on a cost recovery basis. If you enjoyed an event and would like to donate towards the £50,000 spent annually on delivering these events, the suggested donation is £2. Thank you. Accessibility

 Event details are correct here at the time of going to press. Please check the website for up to date information.

 We offer a range of services at events such as hearing assistance equipment, accessible maps, mobility scooters and assistance dogs are welcome.

 If you book onto an event and are unable to come, let us know.

 If you have any special requirements or queries, please get in touch or visit the accessibility page on our website.

 Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult, up to a maximum of three children per adult.

 Please call us to find out more information about the accessibility of individual events.