Parklife March – May 2021
Step into
Spring
WITH A WALKING CHALLENGE
Discover YOUR COMMUNITY GREENSPACE
Achieving Silver! We’re proud to announce that Nene Park Trust has been awarded Silver level accreditation with Investors in the Environment! The team has worked hard throughout the year to reduce our usage of fuel, paper, electricity and water and log our waste and recycling. We are now spurred on to aim for the top prize of ‘Green’ accreditation.
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.
Welcome
to spring Parklife 2021!
At the point of writing we are still in a national lockdown and some of our facilities in the Park remain closed. However, thanks to Boris’ roadmap we are very pleased to share that Nene Outdoors watersports and activity centre will open again for Pay and Play watersports activities on 29 March and our Visitor Centre will reopen on 12 April. We are also looking forward to welcoming far flung visitors back to our footpaths and lakes to enjoy the emerging spring colours. Please keep an eye on our website and social media for the latest announcements from the Park. In the meantime, local visitors to the Park can still enjoy the arrival of spring and we are sharing images and video clips wider via our social media channels. We are also busy working on new projects in the Park. Read all about Your Community Greenspace plans on pages 6 & 7, our exciting plans for special trips on our electric boat trips and our campsite on page 10 and if you’re looking for a new active challenge, how about taking part in our spring walking challenge ‘ Step into Spring’ and help fundraise for the Park. Find out more on page 12. We look forward to seeing you in the Park soon. Front cover photo: With thanks to Lucy Aukland 2
Otterly brilliant wildlife Our resident family of otters has been seen numerous times by our visitors across Nene Park in recent months, with the best places seeming to be Lynch Lake and along the river next to the boardwalk. Did you know that otter territory is very large which may explain why the otters seem to disappear from the Park sometimes? For a male otter it can be around 35km and for a female around 25km. Here are some other top otter facts: Length (including tail) – up to approximately 135cm Weight – between 6 and 8kg Life expectancy 5-10 years Breeding – have 2-4 cubs per year, born in the Holt (underground burrow). Cubs stay with the mother for approximately a year learning survival skills before being forced out to find their own territory.
Survival or comeback? Nigel, one of our Park Rangers, recounts seeing a rare water vole in the Park. At the beginning of winter 2020/21 there were a couple of sightings of water voles; one by a local photographer and one by myself. I have been working for Nene Park Trust for the last eleven years and also regularly fish on the River Nene, but I do not recall ever seeing a water vole in all that time. Until now that is. Is this just a couple of animals just hanging on or is this a comeback for the species? Let’s hope it’s the latter and they do make a comeback. With many apex predators in our waterways nowadays, such as mink and weasels, they may have a tough time ahead but with luck the numbers will steadily increase to a healthy population within Nene Park.
Photo by Adam Frost
Rare birds spotted Keen bird watchers spied a female smew and a Great Northern Diver in February – both rare and unusual sightings for the Park. The recent influx to the Peterborough area, of what are normally sea birds, has been attributed to storm Darcy. The cold easterly wind and snow forced many birds across the North Sea to the UK.
Photography competition 2021 Following the success of our photography competitions in 2020, our monthly competition for 2021 has got off to an amazing start. This year, each month has a different theme with a £20 voucher on offer for the winner to spend in the Visitor Centre. January’s theme was ‘Sunrises and Sunsets’ and we received a whopping 332 photos from 132 entrants. The winner was Julija Riabova with this stunning photo of a flooded Park taken from Milton Ferry Bridge. For more information on entering the competition throughout the year, please go to www.nenepark.org.uk/monthly-photographycompetition-2021
New hybrid elm trees planted Following the felling of our much-loved veteran elm trees due to Dutch elm disease last autumn, we are pleased that we have now planted three replacement hybrid elms in front of the Visitor Centre in Ferry Meadows. These trees have been developed to be resistant to Dutch elm disease, so they should grow and flourish for many years to come.
Spring sale at the Visitor Centre The Visitor Centre team is preparing for the day we can re-open with a new range of wildflower seeds, perfect for attracting insects to your garden or window boxes. Throughout lockdown the online shop has been open selling a large range of products including food, binoculars and great gift ideas. New items are added every couple of weeks and every penny you spend with us stays within Nene Park Trust, helping us look after our parks and green spaces across the city. As there was no January sale this year, when we reopen there will be a Spring Sale, with up to 70% off selected items. This sale will be in-store only and will include gardening items, food, sweets and even a bit of Christmas stock too!
New parking payment app We introduced our new parking payment app to the Park in February. Visitors can now pay for their parking at Ferry Meadows and Orton Meadows via their smart phones as an alternative to visiting the payment machines. Download the free app by searching for ‘S-Park’ in the Apple or Google Play app stores. At Ferry Meadows, simply enter your licence plate in full at the end of your visit to the Park and pay by credit card, debit card or PayPal. Visitor feedback has been very positive so far and we are pleased that we can offer a contactless payment option in the current climate and queues at payment machines will be reduced on busy days. For more details on the parking payment app, please visit www.nenepark.org.uk/parkingapp
Lockdown Learning Despite school groups not being able to visit the park in recent months, our education team have been hard at work preparing remote learning resources that parents, carers and teachers can access to enhance their remote teaching and learning with their children. Designed to tie in with the KS1 and KS2 curriculums, you can watch videos and take part in activities about classifying invertebrates, create some Stone Age art or build your own pirate ship and see if it floats. To find out more go to www.nenepark.org.uk/lockdown-learning 3
Farming on the
RURAL ESTATE Craig and Ryan Baxter our share farmers on the Rural Estate give an update on how working through the floods and snow was for them.
It’s fair to say that the establishment of our own share farming operation on Nene Park Trust’s Rural Estate, has not been without challenge. From sourcing livestock amidst a global pandemic, to the increasingly familiar challenges of exceptionally wet weather, flooding and snow – it’s been tough! Through careful monitoring of the flooding, we have managed to keep the sheep on dryer ground and safe from the reaches of flood water. However, in a grass based system, snow poses a very obvious challenge – countless days have been spent taking hay to the flock to keep them in reasonable shape as the spring approaches. So, hay made when the sun shone has been very quickly consumed when the snow has fallen! The rams were in with the ewes over winter and in late February, the flock were pregnancy scanned on site using ultrasound equipment and we’re pleased to share that there are 436 lambs expected. It is with great excitement that we await the outcome, to see a glimmer of what spring on the Rural Estate will bring.
4
UPDATE
WOODLANDS Whilst the current lockdown situation has had a negative impact on many sporting activities, one positive outcome is that the pitches at Woodlands have had time to recover.
The grass coverage is looking healthy on all football pitches, and this period of inactivity has enabled a number of essential maintenance tasks to be carried out, such as deep tine aeration. The cricket square is doing well after the autumn renovations and we have even managed to use the new electric mower a couple of times, despite the ever changing weather conditions! We are excited to begin the year developing plans for a new, permanent sustainable pavilion facility for sporting clubs and the wider community to use at Woodlands. We are delighted to have appointed local firm, Butcher Bayley Architects, based in Yaxley, to develop the building design, and Sheils Flynn to develop the accompanying landscape design. Over the next few months, we will be busy working on the designs and preparing the planning application which we hope to submit in late spring. We are looking forward to consulting with the relevant sporting bodies, local Parish Councils and residents in a variety of ways, including through our website, social media, surveys and printed materials. Please keep an eye on our website and social media channels for any future project updates.
THE FLOODED PARK Greg Higby, Park Manager, talks about the effects of the recent flooding on the Park and the role of the Park as a floodplain for Peterborough. Back in the 1970s, Ferry Meadows was created with a dual purpose; to provide parkland and facilities for the recreation, education and leisure for our many visitors, but also to take excess water from the River Nene to help flood protection for the people and property of Peterborough.
footpaths used for access for our Park visitors; and hedges and bushes which mark out boundaries between land, fields and footpaths. Flooding in Ferry Meadows and across Nene Park seems to be more frequent and widespread this year than in any I can recall in my many years working
Flooding in Ferry Meadows and across Nene Park seems to be more frequent and widespread this year than in any I can recall in my many years working at Nene Park. The winter months this year were challenging for the Park Management team due to the wet ground conditions and flooding. The water levels of the River Nene and both Gunwade and Overton lakes rose over their banks a few times between December 2020 and February 2021. This resulted in the submerging of the floodplain meadows (comprising of Heron, Short and Long Meadow);
at Nene Park. Our climate is changing and the long-term climate forecast for wetter winters will mean we will see more flooding at Nene Park. The consequences of flooding are both negative and positive. Obviously extensive flood water means that the Park is less accessible to visitors during this time but the main negative is the flood debris left behind, consisting
of different materials such as bottles, wood and paper waste. Removing this debris was an important task for the Park management team once the flood water receded so that it did not have a negative effect on the environment, nature, and Park visitors’ health. But flood water also plays an important role in maintaining the ecosystem functions and biodiversity. They link the river with the land surrounding it, like the three floodplains Heron, Short and Long Meadow. The flood waters also add nutrients to the soil to encourage growth of grass in the spring and as the flood waters subside wetland birds will return to feed. We expect the Park to flood and we plan for it and design any new structures in the Park to withstand it. Being a flood plain is an integral part of what Nene Park is and adds to the unique nature of its habitats and landscapes. 5
Replacing
PONTOON BRIDGE Pontoon Bridge is one of the early parts of the Park’s infrastructure built in 1986 and constructed of timber, steel and concrete. The bridge has required increasing levels of maintenance over recent years as it approaches the end of its serviceable life.
Park Manager Greg Higby with bridge designer Chris Brammall.
The original opening mechanism, which allowed the two halves of the bridge to open separately, has long been fixed closed to minimise further movement and limit the damage this causes.
Exciting
PARK IMPROVEMENTS
The Nene Park: Your Community Greenspace project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund is an exciting project for Nene Park that includes improvements to the infrastructure in the Park, new events and community projects to respond to the growth of the city and region. We have just submitted our 2nd stage application and will find out if we have been successful in securing the funding in summer 2021. The project has three key themes: •
Empower and engage our communities to help conserve the natural heritage of Nene Park.
•
Build bridges with the multi-cultural communities of Peterborough to make Ferry Meadows an inclusive community hub.
•
Improve physical and mental health and wellbeing through nurturing connections with nature and the outdoors.
You can find out more about the whole project here: www.nenepark.org.uk/your-community-greenspace As part of the project we are proposing the replacement and improvement of some of the key structures and buildings in the park. The information on these pages gives a brief insight into where these proposals have reached. We have now submitted these plans to Peterborough City Council planning department but will be continuing to adapt our designs following feedback from the public.
6
The new design has been created to be both robust and resilient in construction whilst establishing a new icon in the park using skilled craftspeople and a nature-inspired design. The proposals create a wider walkway to enable users to pass each other comfortably and to stop to look over the water without blocking the way for others passing. The bridge construction is proposed to be lacquered steel, giving a high quality solid finish, ensuring it will last for many years to come. The railings of the bridge evolve into gateways of trees at either end of the bridge. The design uses metal rather than wood as given the large amounts of use and proximity to water, this will give a more resilient structure with a much longer lifespan.
Although the floating quality of the current bridge is a beloved feature for many, others find this uncomfortable and disorientating to cross. The nature of floating pontoons also creates a maintenance issue with movement of other components of the bridge and the life of the pontoons themselves. We have considered other ways to keep an opening bridge, however the costs of this outweigh the benefits when other solutions are available.
Improving LYNCH LAKE COMMUNITY HUB Following initial conversion work, with support from EU funder LEADER, completed in 2020, we are now proposing to build upon this by expanding the outdoor usable space to create a flexible community space for workshops, teaching and performance. The design proposes a functional indoor/ outdoor space and includes habitat walls, large decking area and a flexible canopy with retractable rain/shade covers. This design predominately uses timber with intelligent engineered timbers for the framework.
Creating
A REAL WELCOME
The main arrival area at Ferry Meadows is a visitor’s first impression of the Park and where people gather for activities, events, to use facilities and to plan their next steps into the Park. These proposals plan to re-landscape this area and improve the toilets with the provision of enhanced and upgraded facilities alongside a new extension which will include a Changing Places facility. We will secure additional funding for the Changing Places facility which is a larger accessible changing and toilet facility including a hoist, height adjustable changing bench as well as space for carers. This will be a vital facility for many disabled people enabling them and their families to enjoy the Park. These improvements will also be accompanied by improvements to the toilets at Ferry Meadow’s Café planned soon. A new canopy area will also be created gathering together the car park machines, information displays and creating a focal point connecting to the toilets. The landscaping in the area will be further improved ensuring a clear arrival point for visitors with a realigned footpath, taking visitors from the welcome area more directly to the Visitor Centre. A new central feature tree and increased seating both in the centre and around the edge of the area will create a greater sense of place. The new landscaping will include a new water garden fed by rainwater from the surrounding buildings, increased biodiversity rich planting and sculptural features such as hand crafted timber seating, habitat features and arch covered walkway. The proposals also include resurfacing, removing the patch work of different paving and tarmacs to give a more consistent appearance and feel to the area. We will also include additional cycle parking within this area. These designs are centred around the use of timber in both its raw and engineered formats making the most of its versatility, embedded carbon and natural aesthetic.
We would welcome your feedback on these proposals by submitting comments via our survey: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SYZLYSW
UPDATES ON OTHER DEVELOPMENTS
REOPENING LOST WORLD In autumn 2020, Nene Park Trust took over managing Lost World, the rainforest themed soft play centre, located in Serpentine Green Shopping Centre. It has been closed during lockdown but we are hopeful we will be able to reopen and relaunch the centre soon. If you haven’t seen it yet, just pop along to the south side of the shopping centre and look out for the huge erupting volcano! Once open again, there are multiple activities for all ages to try. Slide down our volcano slide or have a go on our interactive climbing wall. We also have 5 metre high climbing walls suitable for ages 4 and up, with five different walls to tackle. Each wall has a timer so if you are feeling competitive come and beat our top score! We also offer a cosy café serving hot drinks and a range of sandwiches and light snacks – so here at Lost world there is something for everyone. We can’t wait to see you!
FOX PLAY The site of the new play area is undergoing some archaeological investigations during March and further construction will follow soon after that.
LAKESIDE ACTIVITY CENTRE At the point of writing, we are hoping that the planning committee will meet to determine the outcome for the proposed activity centre on the 23 March. When you read this edition of Parklife a decision may have already been made. Please check our website and social media channels for updates about this. 7
Phil Rolfe, our Director of Business Services, is retiring at the end of May. He reflects on his eight years at the Trust and highlights some of the trends in the Trust’s finances over this period.
DOING MO
Phil Rolfe
Nene Park is a vital resource for the health and wellbeing of the people of Peterborough. Recently, the Park has played a crucial role in giving people an outlet to walk and exercise during the Covid pandemic. I have had the privilege of working in a setting where people come to enjoy themselves and have fun!
overseen the development of the retail space occupied by Rutland Cycling and Nene Golf at Orton Meadows. The introduction of all day every day parking charges and a modern parking system has brought much-needed revenue to help fund the increasing costs of managing and maintaining the Park.
One of the things I value most about the way the Trust works is that we believe in doing things well. Whether that’s the construction of the Otter and Badger play areas or the Bluebell boardwalk or making improvements to the habitat for wildlife on Heron Meadow, everything is done with great enthusiasm and high quality. We have a fantastic team of hardworking and committed staff and volunteers who share a real passion for the Park and it was particularly pleasing to see the Trust team awarded the coveted Investors in People Gold award in the autumn.
The creation of the first ever Master Plan for Nene Park has undoubtedly been a highlight of my time at the Trust. The Master Plan sets out our ambitions for the next 30 years, and combined with the organisational strategy and business plan, sets out a clear direction of travel for the Trust.
A major satisfaction has been working with our tenants and licensees and being able to see a project through from the drawing board to completion. I have seen the construction of the Lakeside watersports centre and 8
As the financial tables which follow demonstrate, the Trust is a much larger, active and more diverse organisation than when I started, with our staff team more than doubling in that time and the number of projects and activities growing too. I have thoroughly enjoyed my 8 years working for a charity that is really going places with a great team of people, set in a beautiful landscape and, despite the impact of Covid 19, is financially strong as well. What more could I have asked for?”
Whether that’s the construction of the Otter and Badger play areas or the Bluebell boardwalk or making improvements to the habitat for wildlife on Heron Meadow, everything is done with great enthusiasm and high quality.
ORE WITH MORE Our income, having just about kept pace with inflation for the first 25 years of the Trust, has more than doubled in the past few years.
£000s
income – most notably the successful Where the money came from in 2013/14 introduction of parking charges, which Total income £1,608,000 now account for one sixth of our income.
Income from tenants, 31%
Total income 2010/11 to 2021/22
Investment income, 60%
4,000 3,500
Parking charges, 5%
The growth in our income has enabled us to spend more money on our visitors. Ten years ago we were spending 95p per visit but that has increased by over 60% to £1.53 per visit last year. This is in spite of the fact that the number of visitors has also increased by 25% over the same period, reaching 2 million for the first time in 2019. Trust expenditure per visitor 2010/11 to 2019/20
3,000 2,500
£1.80
2,000
£1.60 £1.40
1,500 1,000 500 0
Total income Growth in RPI
Grants and donations, 0%
£1.20
Education, activities, £1.00 events and visitor centre, 4% £0.80
Where the money is coming from in 2021/22 Where the money came from in 2013/14 Total income £3,316,000 Total income £1,608,000
£0.40 £0.20
Total income 2010/11 to 2021/22
We have spread the risk by diversifying our sources of funding, so that we don’t have “all our eggs in one basket”. We have become less reliant on our stock market investments. Our fundraising and marketing team did not exist 8 years ago but fundraising has been a real success in more recent years. Our partnerships with funders, individuals and organisations is helping us increase our charitable impact as a key part of delivering our strategy – ‘Doing More with More’ - and deliver on many of the projects in our Master Plan. Our commercial ventures play an increasingly important role in generating
£0.60
Investment income, 31%
Grants and dona ons, 21%
£0.00
Income from tenants, 24% Parking charges, 15%
Educa on, ac vi es, events and visitor centre, 9%
Where the money is coming from in 2021/22 Total income £3,316,000
Trust expenditure per visitor 2010/11 to 2019/20
The Trust is on a strong financial footing and, leaving aside the short term impact of the coronavirus pandemic, we are now operating on a sustainable breakeven basis rather than making the annual losses of previous years.
To find out more detail on Nene Park Trust’s finances and strategic plans, visit our Strategies and policies page at www.nenepark.org.uk/strategy-and-policies
9
Please get in touch with the Nene Outdoors team to find out more about hiring our campsite or bell tents. Nene.outdoors@neneparktrust.org.uk
WYNDHAM
ON THE WATER More than just a boat ride… LOOKING AHEAD TO A
M ME R U S
Staycation
Did you know that we have our very own private campsite available to hire at Nene Outdoors on the shores of Gunwade Lake? The campsite can accommodate up to 10 pitches and is complete with a shelter, BBQ stand, fire pit and picnic benches and is just a few minutes’ walk from the showers and toilet facilities in the watersports and activity centre. New for this year, we will also have a small number of bell tents set up in an area next to the campsite for those who want to come and stay but don’t have their own tents. Simply furnished with sleeping mats, all you need to bring is a sleeping bag, pillow and any cooking items you may wish to use.
Following Wyndham’s maiden voyage back in October last year, we are excited to be able to relaunch our eco-electric boat as soon as restrictions are eased later this spring. We will be operating a regular service of 15-minute sightseeing cruises around Overton Lake departing from the Visitor Centre jetty in Ferry Meadows. We are also busy planning a number of special trips you can book on the boat as follows:
Cream Tea cruises What could be more relaxing that gliding along the River Nene enjoying a delicious cream tea? A great way to celebrate a special birthday or anniversary, or just an opportunity for good friends to get together.
Wildlife cruises With a near-silent motor, Wyndham is the ideal craft for wildlife spotting. Join us on a cruise along the River Nene where swans, geese and other water fowl will glide alongside the boat with you. Wildlife highlights may also include herons, kingfishers and the elusive otter!
Private Hire For those wanting a more personal experience, Wyndham is available for private hire. We provide the captain to drive the boat so that you and your family or friends can relax and enjoy the experience of having your own private cruiser for anything from one hour to a full day. Ideal for celebrating special occasions or as a thank you to colleagues or friends. This set up is ideal for school or youth groups who want to add an overnight stay onto their activity day at Nene Outdoors. After a day of watersports, archery or climbing, groups can enjoy the evening views over Gunwade Lake or an evening walk in the Park before settling down for the night in their tents.
Schools Whether your topic is transport, rivers or wildlife, a class trip on Wyndham can complement your learning and give your students an unforgettable experience. If you want to make a full day of your visit to the Park, our education team will be happy to tailor a programme of outdoor learning activities to meet your learning objectives. For more information on our outdoor learning programme visit www.nenepark.org. uk/education. Keep an eye on our website and social media for announcements of when these events can be booked.
10 10
Celebration Leaves Looking for a unique gift to remember a moment or a special person?
Whether there is someone you want to give a unique gift to, an experience you want to remember forever or an achievement to celebrate, Celebration Leaves let you capture a personal message of your choice on a copper oak leaf, which will be displayed in the Wildlife Garden at Ferry Meadows. What’s more, when you buy a Celebration Leaf, you are also supporting Nene Park Trust with a generous donation which will help the Park you love thrive for years to come. All information can be found on our website, at our Visitor Centre (when Covid-19 restrictions allow) or you can email the fundraising team at fundraising@neneparktrust.org.uk
Finding Balance
All feet are welcome! Join this mindful and feel good project. In May 2021, Nene Park and Peterborough Presents will host Sandra Keating (artist & ecotherapist), who is inviting people to take their shoes off and feel the earth between their toes! Sandra led popular barefoot walking workshops in the Park in 2019, which explored the physical, mental & emotional effects of ‘grounding’ through the practice of barefoot walking. It inspired visitors to mindfully connect with the Park and nature in new ways, which have a direct benefit to the person. “Finding Balance’’ is Sandra’s next project in the Park which has been commissioned and supported by Peterborough Presents. It will
take place during Mental Health week which is from the 10-16 May. It’s primarily aimed at adults and hopes to support people’s mental health after a yearlong period of lockdown. The barefoot walks will be fun, accessible and easy to do too. Sandra will be in residence in the Park during this week, where she hopes to work with groups or individuals, using short grounding techniques and barefoot exercises. Following that, Sandra will capture their voices and experiences, which will be included in an exhibition later in the summer.
Catch Sandra at the Lynch Lake Community Hub, a new venue for arts and community in the Park, during MENTAL HEALTH WEEK
10-16 May
To find out more visit: peterboroughpresents.org If you want to get involved email Keely Mills (Community Producer) at keely.mills@neneparktrust.org.uk 1111
From 20 March to 20 April, we challenge you to Step into Spring by walking or running 100 miles, - the equivalent of the length of the River Nene! Join Nene Park Trust in exploring the outdoors as trees begin to come into leaf and the colours of spring start to take over. We also hope you will take this challenge as an opportunity to reap the benefits of fresh air and exercise. This challenge is also your chance to support your Park and raise money for Nene Park Trust, supporting all the work we do to maintain our greenspaces in Peterborough, and develop our many areas of work, such as; education, outdoor activities, volunteering, wildlife conservation and more. Through our website, you can easily create a fundraising page which you can personalise and collect donations through; these then come straight to us – simple! You can complete this challenge in any way you would like, either by getting to 100 miles on your own, by adding up miles together as a family or between a group of friends. It also doesn’t matter where you complete your miles; get creative, maybe give yourself another challenge of never repeating the same route twice, or try to draw a picture with the routes you take when they are mapped! We will share all sorts of tips and additional activities during Step into Spring, so follow along on social media (#StepIntoSpring) and check in on our website www.nenepark.org.uk/appeal/stepintospring We can’t wait to see how well you all do, if you are ready to take on this challenge please let us know by emailing the fundraising team: fundraising@neneparktrust.org.uk
Discover
Ferry Meadows
Nene Outdoors will be open again for Pay and play watersports activities from the 29 March and we hope to restart open water swimming sessions in May.
With ongoing restrictions for large numbers at events we are planning a virtual ‘Discover Ferry Meadows’ event this year during the first week of May. Keep your eye on our website and social media for news of videos and activities from our Nene Park events team and our partners. With all our events uncertain at the time of publication, please keep checking our events pages on our website and our social media for details of what is on when. www.nenepark.org.uk/events facebook-square /@neneparkpboro TWITTER-SQUARE /@neneparkpboro instagram /@neneparkpboro
12 12
12