PARK DEVELOPMENTS UPDATES

You may have noticed that we’ve been busy in the garden behind the Visitor Centre at Ferry Meadows.

We were fortunate to receive some funding as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations and part of this was allocated to make the garden a peaceful and reflective space for visitors, and provide more flowers and plants for pollinating insects.

The first stage was to decide what we wanted to keep and what we wanted to replace. Some of the plants had grown too big for the location and weren’t offering much value aesthetically or for wildlife. The beautiful birch trees have been retained but given a trim to ensure they thrive in a compact space. An old fence has been removed and the large windpipes located to a different area.

An attractive Amelanchier Lamarckii tree has been planted as a focal point on entering the garden. This tree is more commonly known as June Berry or Snowy Mespilus with its snow like flowers in April or May. The honour of planting the tree went to our work experience rangers who had successfully completed their course.

To increase the variety and longevity of the new plants in the garden, we have raised the bed level using a brick edging and back filled this with lots of nutritious mushroom compost mixed into the soil. Hundreds of bulbs have been planted in the beds with a purple and white colour scheme which we hope will make a beautiful display and is also a nod to the colours used for the Queen’s celebrations in the summer. We also have lots of plants on order that will add interest and colour during the summer months and into the autumn. They will also provide essential pollen for the butterflies and bees.

Peterborough’s Poet Laureate Kat Beeton has written a poem to welcome visitors into the garden and look out for our bespoke bird boxes designed by our young artist group. We hope these will not only provide homes for birds but also add interest in the garden, particularly in the winter months when much of the colour has disappeared. New seating will also be included, with secluded spots and dappled shade to help with those hotter summer days.

We would like to say a massive thank you to the National Lottery for the funding of this project but also to our amazing conservation volunteers who helped clear the garden, barrowed a huge amount of compost and planted all the bulbs. Fingers crossed for a stunning display this spring!

Our micro-nursery is coming on! In February the volunteer team were back in full force building a curved roof canopy which will be used for shelter, seating and a cooking area.

We have also been fitting raised beds in the poly tunnel, fitting the polythene onto the poly tunnel frame, constructing the interior of the potting shed and installing the cold frames, compost heaps and we even have a compost toilet being fitted in April.

Once these main constructions have been completed, the surfacing will be installed by contractors, which consists of a self-binding granite topping, allowing us to achieve a smooth accessible surface for all users. This work will be followed by the fencing to separate the car park area from the nursery to create an intimate, safe and calm environment for our users.

Once this is all completed the nursery will be lavished with all the equipment a nursery needs to function, from potting benches and hose pipes to tables and gardening tools.

This project would not be possible without our fabulous Nene Park Volunteers. Thank you so much to them all for their commitment, hard work and keeping us all laughing along the way.

Park visitors will have seen that the new car par on the edge of Oak Meadow is approaching completion and we’re hoping it will be operational by the Easter holidays.

SDC Contractors have been doing an amazing job creating the new landscaped car parking; creating more spaces and upgrading the facilities for all our visitors. The well-designed modern car parking facilities will include improved accessible parking, plentiful EV charging points, sustainable drainage and lots of integrated tree and shrub planting.

We are working hard on getting the infrastructure in place so that we can install our new café next to the car park at Thorpe Meadows.

It will be a great addition to this part of the Park and with facilities for loos and brews, you’ll be able to start or end your explorations of the Sculpture Trail here. We are hoping the café will be installed later this year. Keep an eye on our website and social media for updates on this.

In January we successfully completed our first renewable energy project, with 305 solar panels installed on three buildings in the Park, to provide electricity for the services they provide.

These include the Visitor Centre, Gift & Farm Shop, Ferry Meadows Café, Nene Outdoors Watersports and Activity Centre, Lakeside Kitchen & Bar and our workshop building on Ham Lane, to help power our electric tools and vehicles. We intend to use most of the energy generated onsite, but any not used here will be exported to the national grid for use elsewhere. The overall installation will generate around 108,400kWh of electricity per year – enough to meet the needs of 37 average UK homes. We anticipate this will save over 20,740 Kg/CO2e per year helping us to reach our Nene Park Trust target of becoming net zero by 2030.

We are very excited to be hosting a Kite Celebration in the Park in partnership with Bharat Hindu Samaj. It’s on Saturday 22 April, 11am-4pm on the grass on Coney Meadow, just behind the Visitor Centre in Ferry Meadows.

Drop in any time throughout the day 11am to 3pm. There will be kite making going on between 11am and 2pm with kite flying workshops on 11am–3pm. Why not bring your own kite along to try? There are a number of kite competitions throughout the day. To enter a decorated kite into the competition it will need to be displayed by 1.50pm.

Prize categories include:

 Best flying kite, with prizes available throughout the event

 Best individual Child’s decorated kite, with prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd

 Best individual Adult’s decorated Kite, with prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd

Outline of the day:

 Event starts: 11am

 Kite making: 11am–2pm

 Kite flying workshops: 11–3pm

 Judging: 2–2.30pm

 Prize giving: 2.30pm

 Event ends: 3pm

If the weather is bad, we may not be able to fly the kites but you will still be able to make a kite and join the prize giving activities. The event is FREE and everyone is very welcome.

PLEASE NOTE: Car parking charges still apply in the usual way in the Park. We look forward to seeing you there. If you would like any more information please email visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk

 Best Group Prize. These entries will be made in advance and photos of the kites will be displayed in the prize marquee. Please note timings may change on the day.

Thursday 13 and Friday 14 April at Ferry Meadows

We are holding two work experience taster days for 14-17 year olds and we would love to hear from young people who like being outside, would like to gain new skills and are interested in finding out more about working in tourism, parks, events and management of greenspace. Over two days, participants can find out about different jobs at Nene Park Trust such as Rangers, Events, Education and Project development officers and take part in conservation tasks, activities and find out how the Park is run.

Find out more by emailing volunteer@neneparktrust.org.uk Places are free but booking is essential via our website: www.nenepark.org.uk/events

Our fun monthly art workshops are a great opportunity to get creative, enjoy the outdoors and work with local artists. Art Club is for young people aged 14-17, no experience is necessary and all materials are provided.

Sign up for our summer four session block: Saturdays 10am–12pm, 22 April, 13 May, 10 June & 8 July at the Discover Den, Ferry Meadows. It’s £20 per person for four workshops.

Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund some free places are available – if this will help you access this event. Please contact art@neneparktrust.org.uk

You may have noticed the Pride progressive flag flying high in the Park. We are working closely with Peterborough Pride and want to show all our visitors that the Park is a safe place for all.

Your Community Greenspace is supporting Q Productions with an exciting interactive art installation in the Park that will celebrate local identities. Look out for more information on this over the next few months and come and see it during Pride month in June.

Q Productions is Peterborough’s only inclusively Queer LGBTQIA+ owned and led production company, priding themselves on representing all minority groups.

We’re taking part in National Lottery Open Week, to say a huge thank you to National Lottery players for their support in funding good causes across the UK, including Nene Park! Between 18-26 March 2023, anyone who presents a National Lottery ticket or scratchcard (digital or physical) to a member of the Visitor Centre, Gift & Farm Shop team in Ferry Meadows, will be entered into a prize draw to win a private lake and river cruise on our eco-passenger boat for up to 12 people.

We’ll announce the winner on 27 March. Good Luck!

Immerse yourself in Medieval History at our special costumed events for 2023.

We’re excited to announce that the doors of Longthorpe Tower will open again to the public on the 1st April and as well as our usual 1-hour weekend tours of the Tower, run by our enthusiastic volunteers, we’re excited to be offering some additional immersive history events this year, thanks to the expertise of The Medieval Sokemen Living History Group.

Our fascinating Living History tours return for two weekend dates this year in April and again at the end of November, when The Medieval Sokemen will bring their costumes, props and expert knowledge of the Tower, to delight and inspire our visitors throughout a 1.5 hour tour. The experienced costumed interpreters will share the remarkable story of the Tower, its famous paintings and explain about daily life in the 1400s. You’ll be able to find out about the food, costume, medicine, arms and armour. At our event at the end of November there will also be the opportunity to find out more about how Christmas was celebrated 500 years ago. We are also holding two slightly longer immersive history events. Over a two hour tour, in a smaller group, visitors will be able to discover in more detail about medieval costume and even try a few items of clothing on if they wish! Our Dressing for Battle day will focus on medieval armour and arms while our Dressing for Court day will reveal the many layers of medieval ladies’ dress from the hose to the hennin. These events will also include detailed interpretation of the famous painted chamber of Longthorpe Tower and wider information on daily medieval life including food, medicine and occupations.

As the groups for these events will be smaller there will be ample time for discussion and questions with our expert guides.

On all other weekends between 1 April and the end of October, visitors can book for a 1-hour tour of the Tower with our team of enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers.

To find out more and book a place on any of these events, please visit www.nenepark.org.uk/longthorpe-tower

Volunteer Eleanor Allenby talks about her experience of volunteering at Longthorpe Tower.

After taking early retirement from my Nursing career in 2020 I was looking for a new challenge. I knew I wanted to use my love of history and art together with my skills as a trainer to both help others and raise the profile of our city. So, I was really excited when, while flicking through Facebook, I came across an advert asking for volunteers to act as guides at Longthorpe Tower.

As a Volunteer Guide at the tower, I have met many interesting and like-minded people. The team are really friendly and supportive. They allowed me the time I needed to learn the role before I became a lead Volunteer. All the information I need to be successful has been easy to access. I never feel ill prepared and have even been able to complete education courses funded by the Trust. There are regular meetings before the season begins and after it ends when any concerns can be discussed and ironed out. We are also in regular contact with the Trust via email. I also took the opportunity to join the Volunteer Focus Group which has been really interesting. I have learned so much more about the Trust and conservation in general, while helping to raise the profile of the Tower.

Volunteers are really respected by the Trust. There is free car parking, discounts while using the Park and the regular events, such as the Christmas Hog Roast, show how highly valued we are.

I am so glad I took the opportunity to join this great group of people. It has been challenging and interesting. I have learned a lot about my favourite subjects, met lots of new people and helped to

If you would like to find out about volunteering at Longthorpe Tower please go to: www.nenepark.org.uk/volunteer support Peterborough. I recommend this role to anyone who is looking to develop their skills, while making new friends in a nurturing environment.