Parklife March – May 2022
Find out about... LOOK UP! NEW PARK PLANS PETERBOROUGH CELEBRATES FESTIVAL
Spring 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.
Welcome
Front cover image credit - Russell Coles
to the spring 2022 edition of Parklife!
The Park is already bursting into spring life. Everywhere you look, new buds are appearing and green shoots are poking through the earth. Daffodils are opening up and the promise of bluebells is everywhere in Bluebell Wood. The season has just started for Nene Outdoors Watersports & Activity Centre too and the Easter holidays in April will see the return of our passenger boat trips, camping, our farm shop and many of our watersports courses and other events. We have also been very busy on other projects and developments across the Park. Read about some of the wider Park plans on pages 4 & 5, ‘look up’ in Your Community Greenspace events on page 6 and find out more on page 11 about the very exciting Peterborough Celebrates Festival which will be taking place in the Park on the weekend of the 13-15 May. All our events in March, April and May are also listed at the back of Parklife in our What’s On guide. We look forward to seeing you in the Park soon.
The Nene Park Trust team
A New Way to Access the Park We now have two Mountain Trike all-terrain wheelchairs available to help visitors with access needs explore Ferry Meadows. These are in addition to our popular mobility scooter loan service already in existence in the Park. Visitors will be able to choose the all-terrain wheelchair that matches their needs: ● The Mountain Trike, lever drive all terrain wheelchair allows the user to independently propel, steer and apply the hydraulic brakes whilst maintaining clean, dry hands. ● The MT Push all terrain attendant wheelchair has a push handle located behind the rider where the steering and braking takes place by the rider’s buddy. This is suited for riders who aren’t able to selfpropel but still want to enjoy the outdoors with friends and family. We look forward to hearing how our visitors find them. For details about how to borrow a Mountain Trike – or a mobility scooter – please go to www.nenepark.org.uk/Pages/FAQs/Category/ accessibility-at-ferry-meadows
Photography Competition 2022 Following the success of our competitions in 2021, our monthly competition for 2022 has got off to an amazing start once again. This year, each month has a different theme with a £20 voucher on offer for the winner to spend in the Visitor Centre or Nene Outdoors Watersports & Activity Centre. January’s theme was winter wildlife and we received a whopping 332 photos from 132 entrants. The winner was Steve Dytham with this stunning photo of a cheeky otter – capturing what many of our Park visitors have been hoping to spot in our lakes and rivers. For more information on entering the competition throughout the year, please go to www.nenepark.org.uk/monthly-photography-competition-2022
Spring revamp of the Visitor Centre There are lots of changes afoot for the Visitor Centre – keep your eyes on our website and social media for updates. As a result, the Visitor Centre will be closed for two weeks from the 16 March.
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When it reopens, our visitors can expect to find a new refreshed space containing all our usual visitor information alongside an enticing selection of gifts as well as our wide range of farm shop produce, all in one enlarged space. Pop in and discover gifts and food for Easter and spring.
Park to Plate Local Lamb Boxes Available monthly
Order by:
Collect on:
17 April 15 May 12 June
30 April 28 May 25 June
Through our share farming partnership, our Park to Plate lamb box scheme has got off to a fantastic start. Customers can order online a small, medium or large lamb box containing different cuts from lamb born and reared on land managed for wildlife, including the Nene Park Rural Estate. Customers then come to Nene Park to collect their box on a particular date towards the end of the month. We already have many happy customers and are offering this ordering and collection service on an ongoing monthly basis. Find out more about the Park to Plate scheme and place your order at www.nenepark.org.uk/park-to-plate
Fox Play Winter Closure Since opening in October, the popularity of Fox Play area has exceeded even our own expectations! It has been fantastic to see so many children enjoying the new playground facilities on a daily basis. However, due to the weather in December and January, parts of the play area became inaccessible due to the muddy ground conditions, therefore we took the decision to close the playground until April for essential maintenance. We have been sowing hardy grass seed throughout the play area and now need to give it time to get established. We are hoping that the play area will be open again for Easter and we look forward to welcoming you back for plenty more Fox Play fun then.
Lost World Special Events As well as holding regular soft play and climbing wall sessions, the team has now introduced tailored sessions throughout the week for different groups – childminders, parents, toddlers, SEND children, after school specials and so on. Take a look at www.lost-world.co.uk/events for more information.
Spring Bird Spotting Ranger Terry talks about three birds to look out for this spring.
Cuckoo Where to see: Well done if you spot one! Cuckoos generally arrive in the UK around mid-April time. These elusive birds are quite hard to spot in the Park but due to their ‘cuckoo’ call are pretty much unmistakeable. It’s the male that makes the cuckoo sound. Cuckoos like to eat insects and are particularly fond of hairy caterpillars. The cuckoo will normally lay one egg in an unsuspecting nest, which will match the other eggs in the nest. The cuckoo chick can be so loud and demanding when wanting food that it can persuade birds other than its foster parents to feed it! Fun fact: The female cuckoo will lay up to 25 eggs in a summer!
Sand martin Where to see: Lynch Lake, Overton Lake, and Gunwade Lake Sand martins generally arrive in the UK around mid-March time. You will see them flying over the water to catch small invertebrates which consist of mainly gnats and other flies that begin life aquatically. They nest sociably in large groups and can be seen in our sand martin nest bank which is in the middle of Lynch Lake. They start to lay eggs mid-May. They normally have 2 broods a year and will lay 4-5 eggs each time. Fun fact: The scientific name of the sand martin is riparia. These birds are derived from the Latin word Ripa which means Riverbank and are also known as Bank swallows in some countries.
Chiffchaff Where to see: Can be seen in woodland and close to water. Although a number of chiffchaffs winter in the UK, most arrive in March for the summer. It is a dusky olive bird with pale edges on the wings and tail and it hovers above bushes and shrubs as if forages for insects. Its song is a lively “chiff-chaff chiff-chaff chiff-chaff” which gives the bird its name. Fun fact: The call of the chiffchaff is said to mark the first sign of spring! 3
NEW Café at Thorpe Meadows
We are currently in the process of gaining planning permission to install a café, small play area and toilet facilities on the area of land adjacent to the car park at the entrance to Thorpe Meadows.
EXCITING
Thorpe Meadows is home to Nene Park’s purpose-built rowing lake, riverside walks and many of the sculptures in Peterborough’s collection. With around 370,000 visits a year, it is a popular destination for walkers, cyclists, dog walkers and rowers. The Rowing Lake has been home to the Peterborough City Rowing Club since 1983 and is an active club, attracting participants of all ages and abilities. Despite the popular destination, there are currently no toilet, café or play facilities
PARK PLANS
for visitors, hence the reason for this proposed development. We want to enable visitors to extend their visit at Thorpe Meadows, providing them with a place to meet friends, pick up a post-workout coffee, or just relax and enjoy the stunning setting of the Rowing Lake. We are working with award winning, innovative company Iso Spaces that designs, manufactures and installs bespoke modular buildings from recycled shipping container units. Subject to receiving planning permission, appointment of a catering partner and final internal approvals, it is anticipated the new café will be operational in summer 2022.
For more information about the project, please visit www.nenepark.org.uk/new-cafe-for-thorpe-meadows
IMPROVING Sports Facilities at Woodlands Nene Park Trust took over the management of Woodlands Sport pitches in 2017 and for the last few years regular cricket and football matches have returned to the site. Now we are working on designs to ensure that sport can continue at Woodlands for future generations. Our plans include a new sports pavilion with dedicated changing facilities, community space and kitchen. We are also planning to provide a yearround Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) on site.
Trust’s only public building in the Rural Estate area and may act as the base from which other activities could be undertaken in the surrounding landscape. Planning permission for the pavilion will be submitted to PCC shortly and if successful we will hope the new facility will be open in 2023.
We are working with local architects BBA to design a space that will create a community sport facility, aspiring towards sustainable construction. The facilities will consist of a sustainable multi-use community sports hub and the design of the building will reflect these aspirations. This building will also be the For more information about the project, please visit www.nenepark.org.uk/woodlands-sports-facilities 4
SAFETY & WILDLIFE FIRST at Lakeside Road
We are currently developing a plan to improve the road between the main car park at Ferry Meadows and Lakeside. The road wasn’t designed for the volume of traffic it currently services; we want the improvements to aid the flow of traffic but also bring a sense of arrival to Lakeside, bring improvements for wildlife and have safety at the forefront.
NEW LOOK for Ferry Meadows Café and Toilets We’re pleased to announce that Ferry Meadows Café is about to undergo a full refurbishment, thanks to the significant investment of our current catering provider Meadow Brown Restaurants.
A firm favourite with visitors, Ferry Meadows Café, the original café in the Park, is beginning to show its age. The footfall over the last 7 years has taken its toll and the cafe is now in need of a transformation. The proposed refurbishment of Ferry Meadows Café, will see a revitalised café; clean and light-filled spaces with better accessibility for all. Meadow Brown has just signed a further 10 year lease with Nene Park Trust and so this very successful partnership is set to continue. The refurbishment of the café follows work carried out by Nene Park Trust to renovate the café toilets. The
new toilets will offer visitors refreshed and accessible facilities better suited to our visitors with a dedicated quiet/parent room, new toilet cubicles including some larger accessible cubicles, alongside a new accessible toilet. The café refurbishment work is due to start on 7th March with completion by the 1st April, in time for the Easter holidays. The café will be closed during this time but visitors to Ferry Meadows will be able to purchase refreshments at our other café - Lakeside Kitchen & Bar at the Lakeside end of the Park.
ALL CHANGE for the Lakeside Farm Shop
After a very successful first year in operation, the Lakeside Farm Shop has been closed since the start of January while we consider the next development steps for the shop. The decision has now been made to move its location to the Visitor Centre side of Ferry Meadows and convert the offices behind the Visitor Centre, thereby creating a larger single shop. Keep your eyes on our website and social media for updates on these changes and look forward to an exciting reopening over Easter.
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Nene Park: Your Community Greenspace project Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, this is an exciting project for Nene Park. It includes improvements to the infrastructure in the Park, new events and community projects - that will respond to the growth of the city and region. 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.
LOOK UP with YOUR COMMUNITY The Lottery funded project Your Community Greenspace springs into action this year with its first events. Starting with “Look up!” involving kite making and kite flying, in partnership with Bharat Hindu Samaj, Peterborough’s Hindu temple, which will be held during the Peterborough Celebrates Festival in May. In the lead up to the festival, we will be running kite making workshops with different community groups across the city. During Peterborough Celebrates Festival, visitors will be able to make and fly a kite as part of the festival.
GREENSPACE
Why Kites? by Ratilal Joshi
Makara Sankranti is a festival in the Hindu calendar dedicated to the deity Surya, which refers both to the sun and the sun God. The festival takes place each year in January and marks the end of the winter solstice and the start of longer days. Makara Sankranti is observed with social festivities such as colourful decorations, dances, kite flying and feasts. Kites are also easy and cheap to make and are a great way of enjoying greenspaces such as Nene Park.
Free Parking The Your Community Greenspace project is made possible by National Lottery players and to say thank you, visitors to the Park during The National Lottery Open Week, which takes place between the 19 and 27 March, can claim free parking in return for showing a lottery ticket. Just show your ticket at the Visitor Centre before you leave. If you would like to get involved in Your Community Greenspace or find out more about the project, email the Project Manager, Lindsey Holmes: Lindsey.holmes@neneparktrust.org.uk
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#NeneParkArt
Sculpture Spotlight In each issue of Parklife we ask a volunteer or staff member to talk about one of their favourite sculptures from the Peterborough Sculpture Collection. In this issue, we asked Sophie, Visitor Ranger, to choose a sculpture from the Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail:
NEW BOOKS & LEAFLETS Walking with Romans On 1 March we were pleased to be able to launch a new book Romans of the Nene Valley by Stephen Upex, as well as four new Walking in Time Heritage Trail leaflets, created in partnership with the Nene Valley Archaeological Trust and made possible with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund through the Nenescape Landscape Partnership Scheme. The Romans in the Nene Valley provides an overview of the development of the Lower Nene valley from the late Iron Age to the very end of Roman rule, all brought to life with the inclusion of many detailed photographs, illustrations and maps. Close to present day Peterborough, Durobrivae became a walled town with extensive industrial suburbs and recent geophysical surveys and excavations have expanded our knowledge of this town. Other topics covered in the book include the military presence and forts, villas and farmsteads, religion and burial. The book is available to purchase from the NVAT website: www.nenevalleyarchaeology.co.uk, the Nene Park Visitor Centre, as well as other selected heritage sites and booksellers.
My favourite sculpture at Thorpe Meadows is Peterborough Arch by Lee Grandjean. You can see the striking wooden figure from the road as you drive along Longthorpe Parkway towards the city centre. To me, the wooden figure is holding his arms up in the arch – welcoming people to the Park and Peterborough. The sculpture faces towards Peterborough Cathedral and when the Park was created, and before all the trees grew to full size, you could get a great view towards the city centre. Have you seen this sculpture? Share a photo of your favourite sculpture #NeneParkArt or email 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.
The four Walking in Time heritage trail leaflets follow different circular walks across Nene Park land, which highlight sites of significant historical importance along the way. The trails contain maps, detailed route instructions and interesting facts, photos and illustrations. These trail leaflets will be available from the Visitor Centre in Ferry Meadows and on the Nene Park website.
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HOW NENE PARK IS LOOKED AFTER One of our trustees, Christine de Ferrars Green, explains how Nene Park was created in the 1970s and how it has been maintained and looked after since – and will be long into the future. When we have something special, we want to look after it. Keeping that special thing looking good and working well means we have to spend time and money and sometimes we need the help of people with experience and special skills. If something is well designed and “fit for purpose” when it’s made, it will last longer, especially if it is well maintained. And with many special things, we want to keep them not just for now, but to pass them on to the next generation. And so it is with Nene Park. It’s such a special place and enjoyed by so many people. It’s been that way since it opened in 1978. With the right care and investment and a plan for the future, it’ll be here for generations of Peterborough residents and visitors for a long time to come. I have been looking at some documents from the 1970s and 1980s to see how the people who were responsible for creating the Park thought about looking after it for the long-term, in the same way we do our special things. 8
First of all, they had a plan to make the Park. Nene Park was part of the Peterborough Development Corporation (PDC)’s master plan for the rapid expansion of the city under the New Towns Act. The PDC wanted a place where a wide range of recreational activities could take place “for all the members of the family to enjoy a day out in a countryside setting.” Ferry Meadows was created when the gravel was dug for the new roads and buildings. Unusually, the plans for the gravel extraction set out precisely how the lakes were to be formed, which is why they work so well for the different uses that they have – for people and for nature. So, the lakes were made suitable for sailing and other water-based activities, for angling and for wildlife, as well. And the parkland was formed around them. Further afield, the golf courses were made and the rowing lake, too.
Ferry Meadows during its construction in the 1970s.
The next stage was to make sure that the first parts of the Park, at Ferry Meadows, were ready as soon as possible. PDC knew that having the country park open for everyone to enjoy would be attractive to people moving to live and work in Peterborough. This worked well with the need to have the gravel dug quickly for the new parkways, homes and offices that were being built.
a room they could use in the Visitor Centre. This community engagement extended to recognising the benefits of working closely with residents and visitors to create a sense of local ownership.
Then, and perhaps most importantly, PDC had a plan for how the Park was to be looked after. In the year before it opened, they wrote a management policy. One of the things they focused on was good design – noting that the Park would be easier to maintain if the paths kept away from lake edges, to keep people and nesting birds safe. Good designs make a beautiful place and they knew that if the Park looked good, people would want to look after it well when they visited.
The Trust has a management board of trustees. When it was first formed, these were people who In the long term, PDC wrote in their plan, were nominated by the Council, there would need to be an independent local organisations and professional management organisation, with the bodies. More recently, the trustees investment funding and the right expertise are chosen for their experience and to keep and grow the Park as a special place expertise in a range of skills, and for the future. Plans for creating a charitable for their passion for the Park. They trust for Nene Park were set out in the 1977 are responsible for overseeing the management plan, but it took another decade long-term management through for that to come to fruition. day-to-day work, replacement works and new facilities, safekeeping of the The Nene Park Trust was established and investment funds and guiding the took over responsibility for the Park in 1988. plans for future. They are guardians The Trust was set up to carry on the work of the Park for everyone who wants that PDC had started and has since then to visit, both now and in years to remained focused on the same objectives. It was provided with a “forever” fund and come, to keep it a special place.
They also recognized how important it was for there to be a role for volunteers. Originally this was a focus on local people with special interests telling visitors about the animals and plants, the archaeology and the history of the Park. The plan was to have
Then PDC set about recruiting a dedicated management team, for the day-to-day running and maintenance of the Park. They knew that they needed businesses to run the facilities and generate some rental income, so they let contracts for most of the activities and the cafes. This was for the short-term.
took over the income stream from the businesses operating in the Park, with the intention that there is always sufficient money to keep the Park open and well maintained. As an independent organization, it sets its masterplan for the future and works to make sure the Park is looked after and continues to provide a wide range of facilities and activities.
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FUNDRAISING UPDATE
Last month we opened the search for two members of the public to run the TCS London Marathon on 2 October in aid of Nene Park Trust. We can now introduce you to Amy and Anne who will be taking on the 26 mile challenge!
Amy and Anne take on the
London Marathon! Amy lives in Yaxley and has been a runner on and off since she was a teenager. Here she says why she wanted to run the Marathon for Nene Park Trust: “Having grown up in Peterborough I have always visited Ferry Meadows from an early age and now as a parent, a visit to the Park to watch the wildlife or let my daughter play in the playgrounds is paramount to my sanity! She even learnt to ride her bike at Ferry Meadows. We regularly visit the Park with friends to catch-up, have a walk and then a coffee and cake at one of the cafés. As a runner, I take advantage of the running routes around the Park and find it a peaceful place to exercise. I also love the Parkrun community who meet on a Saturday.” Anne has lived within walking distance of Ferry Meadows for over 25 years, for which she feels very lucky! Anne also shares why she is running the marathon for Nene Park Trust: “We are so lucky in Peterborough to have such a fantastic open space like Nene Park, which is so easily accessible to everyone in the city. It provides a welcome respite for myself and so many other people. There is so much on offer; taking a refreshing stroll, a family amble, a quick dog walk, a ride around the cycle ways or a paddle at Nene Outdoors, and for me in more
recent years, a jog around the lakes or a social Parkrun. We are all so used to having this on our doorstep, and taking it for granted, but many people aren’t aware that it’s all run by a Charitable Trust. So, I’m really excited to be able to do my bit, to help Nene Park Trust do so much for so many.” We are delighted to have these two wonderful women taking on this huge personal challenge in aid of Nene Park Trust! We will be regularly documenting Amy and Anne’s journey to the start line, so keep an eye out on our website and social media posts. Amy and Anne will not only be achieving personal goals but also making a difference to a charity they care about. Their donations will go directly to helping make sure Nene Park can be enjoyed by all for many years to come. Community fundraising is a powerful way to make a difference, bringing together members of the community to support a cause important to them.
If you would like to support Amy and Anne, as well as the Trust, you can donate online at www.nenepark.org.uk/Appeal/tcs-london-marathon
Thank you to Notcutts We would like to say a big thank you to Notcutts for donating fibre pots, compost pellets and seeds to the Trust. These are going to be used to make mini growing kits which will be prizes for our holiday trails we run in the Park each school holiday. Receiving support from local companies is always a huge help to the work we do for the benefit of the Peterborough community – thank you! 10 10 10
Thank you to ASDA for donating Easter eggs for our Easter egg hunt activity.
PETERBOROUGH CELEBRATES
Community Festival
for Peterborough
13-15 May
In collaboration with the City Council and community organisations across the city, we are developing Peterborough Celebrates, a freeto-attend family-orientated festival at Nene Park. Peterborough is a diverse City with community champions and residents that have gone the extra mile during the pandemic. Peterborough Celebrates will be a positive feel-good event, created with and for local communities to celebrate the diversity of the City, and creatively thank community champions and residents for their acts of kindness and support. The event will include live performances, music,
workshops, local food producers and community information stalls amongst other activities, all in a safe, inclusive and accessible outdoor environment. Look out for further announcements over the next few months about what you can expect to find at the festival and when. We will be publishing information about the event on the Nene Park website and on social media.
Visit www.peterboroughcelebratesfestival.co.uk to find out more.
Here are some of the groups involved with putting this event on: Anglia Ruskin University Athene Communications Cambridge Meridian Academies Trust Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust Cambridgeshire County Council City Culture Peterborough City Fibre Cross Key Homes Disability Peterborough Inspire Education Group Eastern Angles Theatre Jumped Up Theatre Living Sport Metal Peterborough Natural Cambridgeshire Nene Valley Railway Nenescape Landscape Partnership Scheme Norfolk & Norwich Festival Opportunity Peterborough Peterborough Asylum and Refugee Community Association Peterborough Cathedral Peterborough Citizens Peterborough City Council Peterborough College Peterborough Environment City Trust Peterborough United Football Club Railworld Wildlife Haven
We need your help! We want this event to be free to all who attend, providing experiences to bring the community together in celebration and thanks to those who have supported us through the pandemic. In order to do this we need your support. We are looking for sponsors and supporters to help make the event the best it can be. Any way you can give will make a difference, please get in touch with the Fundraising Team to discuss: fundraising@neneparktrust.org.uk
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Longthorpe Tower is the surviving part of a 14th century medieval Manor House. It contains the finest set of medieval wall paintings in a domestic setting in Western Europe. English Heritage cares for the Tower, with the day to day management of visits organised by Nene Park Trust.
Interested in History? Like meeting new people? Want to learn something new and share your knowledge? If the answer is YES, then read on to find out more about volunteering at Longthorpe Tower. We have opportunities available for both Guide Leaders and Conservation Housekeepers. Volunteer Guide Leaders lead tours of the Tower at weekends from April to October, bringing the Tower to life for small groups of visitors. We currently have a friendly group of 16 Volunteer Guide Leaders and we are looking for more people to join this role. If you enjoy history this is the role for you. You do not need to have any previous knowledge about Longthorpe Tower, or medieval history; we have resources, cue cards and experienced volunteers to learn from that will support you to become a Guide Leader. Guide Leaders usually volunteer for a morning or afternoon once or twice a month (or more often if they choose to), with two volunteers on duty for each session.
Volunteer at Longthorpe Tower
We also have opportunities for Volunteer Conservation Housekeepers at the Tower. This role involves protecting and cleaning the Tower, preserving the building and paintings for visitors. This role requires sensitivity to the site as it is a historic site that needs to be carefully maintained. Conservation Housekeepers receive relevant training and volunteer once a month on a weekday for a few hours.
Here is what one of our existing volunteers at Longthorpe Tower, Amanda Johnson, has to say about her experience:
What made you want to volunteer at Longthorpe Tower? I think it is a fascinating place and it is a great privilege to participate as a member of the team of volunteer guides.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering at the Tower? It is very rewarding to watch visitors engage with the stories told by the pictures as they are interpreted and explained by the volunteer guides.
Do you have a favourite painting in the Tower? That is a difficult one to answer as the paintings are so diverse, and obviously some are better preserved than others. I think probably I would go for King David on the ceiling playing his harp because the detail is so exquisite.
What have been the benefits to you of volunteering at the Tower? I have still so much to learn but it is the sort of place that inspires me to acquire more knowledge and understanding of the time period in history when the paintings were made. I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks and it’s nice to know my grey matter still functions. It is very satisfying to help visitors learn and appreciate what an amazing place our tower is. And, of course, I really enjoy being part of a team of like-minded enthusiastic people.
What would you say to anyone thinking of volunteering? Come and join us! The tower is an amazing place and it is wonderful to have the opportunity to share it with visitors, both locals and those from distant places who are all so interesting to meet.
If you are interested in applying for these volunteer roles, or would just like some more information, please email volunteer@neneparktrust.org.uk or call Clare Stamp (Volunteer Officer at Nene Park Trust) on 07554 745784. To find out more about the Tower please visit the page on our website www.nenepark.org.uk/longthorpe-tower 12 12 12
Perfect for schools or group bookings Both Lakeview and The Glade can be booked for a group booking - ideal for schools 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. 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
Spend a night or more under canvas
Our two campsites on the shores of Gunwade Lake are open for bookings for this year so take a look and make a booking to extend your day in the Park. Here’s what we offer:
Lakeview
Both sites provide:
8 pre-erected bell tents each sleeping 6 people.
Access to a covered weather shelter, benches, a campfire pit and washing up area.
Furnished with LED lighting and simple floor matting. Just bring your own sleeping mats and bedding! Bell tents can be booked individually or the campsite can be hired exclusively for group bookings.
Access to a fixed BBQ stand on the campsite, use of which is shared with other campers. Other fixed BBQ stands are also available throughout Ferry Meadows.
The Glade
Access to the toilet and shower facilities at Nene Outdoors Watersports and Activity Centre.
Pitch-only campsite.
Access to a cold water tap for drinking and cooking on the campsite.
Can acommodate up to eight small/medium sized tents. Available to hire exclusively for group bookings. Individual pitches will be available during May half term and the summer holidays.
NEW for this year: Campers can hire a fire pit for £5 per night and you can also buy wood and charcoal.
Car parking is available in the main visitor car park adjacent to Nene Outdoors Watersports and Activity Centre. Parking for one car is included within your campsite booking fee.
10% OFF activities at Nene Outdoors.
To find out more and to book, please go to www.nenepark.org.uk/camping
A new mobile device charging station in case you need to charge up your phones - £2 per use.
More than just a boat ride! Passenger Boat Trips Return Our regular weekend and holiday boat trips will be returning this spring, plus keep your eyes peeled for special wildlife cruises in our events calendar. 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!
Wyndham is also available for 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. To find out more and to book, please go to www.nenepark.org.uk/take-a-boat-trip
Or ... what about a school boat trip? 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 13 13
Spring
Events
From guided walks and nature talks to watersports courses and craft workshops, there is so much going on in the Park this spring! More details on all these events are provided on our website. Unless stated below, places on these events must to be booked in advance on our website: www.nenepark.org.uk/events
NATURE WALKS, TALKS AND ACTIVITIES
Guided walk with a Ranger 15 Mar and 11 May, 10am-1pm 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. Suitable for: 12 yrs+ Cost: £2.50 Meeting point: Outside the Visitor Centre
Social Walking Group 7 Mar, 30 Mar, 4 Apr, 3 May and 25 May and 11 May, 10.30am-12pm Join one of our Visitor Rangers for a social walk around Ferry Meadows and the wider Nene Park and meet like-minded people. The location and routes of the walks will be different each month with two opportunities each month to come along and walk that route. Suitable for: 12 yrs+ Cost: Free but donations welcome Meeting point: Varies - see website for details
Nature Tots 14 Mar, 28 Mar, 11 Apr, 9 May and 23 May, 10-11.30am A fun monthly outdoor parent and toddler group with a nature theme. Each session will include a messy craft, time to explore the outdoors, story and song time. Suitable for: 2 yrs+ with an adult Cost: £4 per child Meeting point: Outside the Discovery Den, Ferry Meadows
Wild Home Educator Sessions 14 Mar, 28 Mar, 11 Apr, 9 May and 23 May, 1.15-3.15pm We are running outdoor learning sessions every month for home schooled children. Each session has curriculum and nature focused activities, with each month having a different theme. Sessions run on the second and fourth Monday of the month. Please note, sessions on the fourth Monday are a repeat of the session on the first Monday. Please only book one session per month.
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Suitable for: 5-11 yrs+ Cost: £6 per child Meeting point: Outside the Discovery Den, Ferry Meadows
River to Rail Guided Walk Wed 18 May, 9am-3pm Join one of our rangers, Matt, to walk the Nene Way from Ferry Meadows to Wansford railway station. You will take in the key sites and sounds of Ferry Meadows before walking out to the Park’s peaceful Rural Estate, joining the Nene Way to Wansford NVR station with time to have lunch, look around the station before heading back to Ferry Meadows on the 2pm train. Please bring a packed lunch with you and enough drinks for the day. There is a cafe at Wansford station for any additional refreshments. The walk should take about 3.5 - 4 hours depending on the group. Well behaved dogs on leads welcome. Suitable for: 14 yrs+ Cost: £8 Meeting point: Visitor Centre, Ferry Meadows
WATERSPORTS & COURSES Pay and Play Watersports and Cycle Hire
Tue-Sun, 11am-4pm The season has started at Nene Outdoors which means that paddle sport and cycle hire is available once more. Why not come along and take out a row boat, swan pedalo, paddleboard, kayak, a canoe or even a sailing dinghy? Suitable for: All ages; check with Nene Outdoor’s team on any age restrictions or weather conditions Cost: From £10 Meeting point: Nene Outdoors
RYA Powerboat Level 2 Course Sat 26–Sun 27 Mar, 9am-5pm Attend this two-day course with us to achieve an RYA Level 2 Power Boat Certificate and learn how to operate a powerboat safely and appropriately. Suitable for: 16 yrs+ Cost: £274 Meeting point: Nene Outdoors
Adult RYA Start Sailing – Level 1 Sat 9–Sun 10 Apr, 9am-5pm & Sat 4–Sun 5 Jun, 9am-5pm This two-day course covers how to sail in all directions, including an awareness of launching and recovery. After the course, participants will be able to sail in light winds under supervision. All safety equipment including wetsuits and buoyancy aids are provided. Suitable for: 16 yrs+ Cost: £166 Meeting point: Nene Outdoors
Youth RYA Sailing – Stage 1 Mon 11 & Tue 12 Apr, 9am-5pm & Mon 30–Tue 31 May, 9am-5pm This two-day course covers basic sailing skills, rope work and collision avoidance. After the course, participants will be able to tack and control boat speed and understand basic principles. All safety equipment, including wetsuits and buoyancy aids are provided. Suitable for: 8-16 yrs Cost: £166 Meeting point: Nene Outdoors
Holiday Trail Daily Sat 2 Apr–Mon 18 Apr Complete a trail around Ferry Meadows and claim a prize at the end! Collect a trail sheet from the Visitor Centre and then hunt for questions as you walk around Ferry Meadows. Return to the Visitor Centre to claim your prize. Available every day during the Easter School Holidays from 10am–4pm. Suitable for: All ages Cost: £1 per sheet: no need to book; just pop into the Visitor Centre to find out more Meeting point: Visitor Centre, Ferry Meadows
Youth RYA Sailing – Stage 2 Wed 13–Thu 14 Apr, 9am-5pm & Wed 1–Thu 2 Jun, 9am-5pm This two-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 equipment, including wetsuits and buoyancy aids are provided. Suitable for: 8-15 yrs Cost: £166 Meeting point: Nene Outdoors
CRAFT WORKSHOPS
Glass making Workshops 19 Mar, 10am-12pm & 1-3pm If you have already attended a beginner’s workshop, you can take the next steps to create a beautiful dragonfly. June will teach you techniques to cut your own glass and use a mould to create the shape you are looking for. You will learn about the different types of glass and how they are used in-fused glass making. The dragonfly will take between 1.5 and 2 hours to make. The sessions are led by June Massey, Member of the Creative Glass Guild. No previous experience required. All ages are welcome but children must be accompanied by an adult. Your glass will be fired in June’s kiln and will be ready to collect from the Visitor Centre. Suitable for: 16 yrs+ Cost: £25 Meeting point: Discovery Den
Jewellery Workshop Sat 7 May, 10am-12pm & 1-3pm Make your own set of jewellery for yourself or as a gift, or just an excuse to try something new. In the morning class you will make a bracelet, necklace and earrings using a variety of jewellery making techniques. If you choose the afternoon class, you will make a macramé bracelet. All materials are included to make these items and Donna will guide you through the different skills needed to make or repair your own jewellery. Suitable for: 10 yrs+ Cost: £20 Meeting point: Discovery Den, Ferry Meadows
EASTER HOLIDAYS
Boat Trips
Daily Sat 2 Apr–Sun 17 Apr
Willow Weaving workshop Sun 3 Apr 10am-12pm & 1-3pm This is a beginner workshop to introduce you to the wonderful world of willow. Join Martin from Rutland Willow as he takes you through the techniques you need to create 3 pieces of work with an Easter theme. There are two sessions starting at 10am and 1pm. Suitable for: 16 yrs+ Cost: £20 Meeting point: Discovery Den
John Clare Contemplative Trail Mon 4 Apr–Fri 8 Apr, 10am-4pm Running from 4 to 8 April in the Ferry Meadows Wildlife Garden - includes John Clare poetry, music written by local folk musician Jon Boden & performed by local community choirs, and contemplative prompts to encourage people to be present in their surroundings for a few minutes. Suitable for: All ages Cost: Free Meeting point: The Wildlife Garden, Ferry Meadows
Social Walking Group Mon 4 Apr, 10.30am-12pm Not sure where to go for a walk, or not keen on walking on your own? Join one of our Visitor Rangers for a social walk around Ferry Meadows and the wider Nene Park and meet like minded people. This month the walk is the Two Woods Walk. Suitable for: 14 yrs+ Cost: £2.50 Meeting point: Milton Ferry Bridge
Archery Tue 5 Apr, 11am-3pm Archery sessions will run throughout the day. Why not come down and have a go and unleash your inner Robin Hood? Sessions are 45 minutes long and take place on Oak Meadow close to Nene Outdoors. Suitable for: 8 yrs+ Cost: £10 Meeting point: Oak Meadow
Bat Walk
Enjoy a tranquil trip around Overton Lake and onto the River Nene on our electrically-powered passenger boat. The 45 minute pre-bookable trips will depart during the Easter school holidays from the Visitor Centre Jetty at 11am, 12noon, 1.30pm, and 2.30pm.
Tue 5 Apr, 6-8pm
Suitable for: All ages Cost: £8 per person, under 3 yrs go free Meeting point: The Boat Jetty, opposite the Visitor Centre
Suitable for: 10 yrs+ Cost: £8 Meeting point: Discovery Den
Join our Park rangers for an informative presentation on bats followed by a walk in the Park using bat detectors try to spot and identify the bats that call Ferry Meadows home.
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Charming Worms
Wildlife Eco Boat Trip
6 Apr, 10.30am-12pm & 1.30-3pm
Sat 30 Apr, 9.30-11am
Come along to find out more about these amazing wriggly creatures and have a go at charming them to the surface. We’ll see who can find the shortest and longest worm and then make a wormery to take home with you.
Wyndham’s near silent-motor means that she is the ideal craft for wildlife watching. Join us on a trip around Overton Lake and 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! Trips last approximately 1 hour 30 minutes and a member of our knowledgeable team will join you on the cruise to make sure you don’t miss anything and help you learn more about the wildlife you observe.
Suitable for: 2 yrs+ Cost: £2.50 Meeting point: Discovery Den
Climbing Wall Thur 14 Apr, 11am-3pm The team from Nene Outdoors will be getting our climbing wall out during the school holidays for all visitors to have a go. We will be outside Nene Outdoors. Are you brave enough to reach the top?
Suitable for: 8 yrs+, children must be able to sit quietly and patiently Cost: £14 Meeting point: Boat Jetty, opposite the Otter Play Area
Suitable for: Adults and children over 4 yrs Cost: £10 Meeting point: Nene Outdoors
Ferry Meadows Easter Egg Hunt
Thank you to ASDA Fri 15 Apr, 10.30am-2.30pm Can you help the Easter Bunny to find all the hidden Easter eggs? You will explore the park looking for pictures that will lead you to your Easter egg prize at the end. Suitable for: any age (distance may be challenging for some younger children) Cost: £10 per timeslot (Two eggs) Meeting point: Discovery Den
Poetry Activities – H is for Heron Sat 23 Apr, 10.30am-12pm Join Poet Mark Grist for a fun and interactive outdoor poetry workshop. Could H be for Heron, horses, honey-bees or hedgehogs? Mark will share some of his new animal poems and help you create your own short poems about the wildlife in the Park. Suitable for: 8-15 yrs, but all welcome Cost: Free, spaces are limited and places need to be booked Meeting point: Lynch Lake Community Hub
Z to A of Animals – Poetry Performances and Activities Sat 23 Apr, 1-3.15pm Poet Mark Grist will be performing extracts from a new poetry performance based on brave animals, with a poem for each letter of the alphabet. Join us to hear about some of the brave animals that inhabit the Park and take part in poetry activities. Suitable for: 8 yrs+, but all welcome Cost: No need to book. Drop in activities Meeting point: Lynch Lake Community Hub 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.
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Fri 13–Sun 15 May Come along and have fun at this free three-day festival for Peterborough with music, arts, community participation, food, activities and much more. Suitable for: All ages Cost: Free entry, some activities may charge Meeting point: Coney Meadow, Ferry Meadows
Sculpture Walk and Talk Fri 27 May, 10am-12pm Join Project Officer Louise for a walk around Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail. We will explore some of the 13 contemporary sculptures, the history of the collection and the beautiful setting of Thorpe Meadows. The walk is approximately 2hrs/ 2.8km over a mix of pathways. Please note some pathways may be wet and muddy and include some short inclines. Please wear suitable clothing. Suitable for: 12 yrs+ Cost: £2.50 Meeting point: Thorpe Meadows car park
Looking ahead to May half term… Holiday Trail: From 28 May Family Wildlife Boat Trip: Mon 30 May Archery: Tue 31 May Climbing Wall: Thur 2 June 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.