Parklife
September – November 2021
Discover & Explore...
FOX PLAY
YOUR COMMUNITY
GREENSPACE
10 YEARS OF
VOLUNTEERING
Autumn
WHAT’S ON
GUIDE
Welcome
to the autumn edition of Parklife!
It’s been another busy summer in the Park with the sunshine
and lifting restrictions bringing huge numbers of visitors
to explore the many Park areas and activities on offer. The
team at Nene Outdoors have been very busy hiring out
paddlesports and booking in campers to the new campsites
there and they are now getting ready to welcome more
schools and groups back.
We are looking ahead to the next few months which will see
the opening of our new play area, Fox Play; the start of our
Heritage Lottery funded project Your Community Greenspace;
the celebration of 10 years of volunteering and of course all
the stunning autumn colours across the Park. You can read
more about all these things in Parklife and don’t forget to take
a look at our What’s on guide to find out about all the events
happening over the next few months, including our Autumn
Festival over October half term.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Park soon!
The Nene Park Trust team
Front cover image credit
- Tony Martin
Ham Farm House, Ham Lane,
Peterborough PE2 5UU
E: visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk
T: 01733 234193 www.nenepark.org.uk
If you would like to be added to our mailing
list or require this magazine in another
format, please get in touch.
Green gifting
We’re committed to reducing our
environmental footprint at Nene Park and
this extends to the gift shop where there’s
a move towards toys made of more
sustainable materials such as wood,
cardboard, and recycled plastics. Other
eco-conscious products include the
range of stainless-steel drinks bottles
from One Green Bottle. These longlasting
bottles are designed to last a
lifetime. Included in the range are
insulated bottles to keep drinks
hot or cold for longer, with many
of them featuring a built-in
straw. Pop in and take a look!
DISCOVER
Station Master’s garden
Over the last few years, as part of the Nenescape Landscape
Partnership scheme, staff and volunteers have been busy
restoring Station Master’s Garden at Castor. It is now a lovely
place to stop and have a quiet moment, sitting on one of the
handmade benches and enjoying the planting, fruit trees and
abundant wildlife there. Go and take a visit when you’re next
out for a walk in the Rural Estate and enjoy some moments of
quiet reflection.
You can find out more about the garden’s restoration
and history on our new interpretation board there.
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#NeneParkArt
Sculpture spotlight!
Each Parklife issue we will be asking a volunteer or staff
member to talk about one of their favourite sculptures
from the Peterborough Sculpture Collection.
For our first spotlight, we asked Louise, Project
Development Officer (Arts) to choose a sculpture.
‘One of my favourite sculptures within the Thorpe
Meadows Sculpture Trail is Untitled, 1989 by the Artist
Miles Davies. The artwork is made of interlocking iron
pieces and can be discovered on the north path. To me,
the sculpture acts like a series of doorways that frame
different views. The rectangular shapes echo the shape
of the rowing lake and the grid of roadways that pass
nearby, but the deliberate aging and rusting of the
sculpture’s surface also remind me of the rich history of
the site with a constant movement of people through
the area that can be traced back over 2000 years to the
Bronze Age.’
Have you seen this sculpture? Maybe you have
walked through the doors and seen the framed views
yourself? Share a photo of you exploring the sculpture
#NeneParkArt or tell us about your own favourite artwork
by emailing louise.thirlwall@neneparktrust.org.uk
You can find out more information about the
Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail and the
Peterborough Sculpture Collection on our website at
www.nenepark.org.uk/peterborough-sculpture-collection
Fundraising update
Just tap to give!
We are very excited and pleased to say we now have
contactless giving at Nene Park; a brand new way to
donate and support the work of Nene Park Trust and the
Park you love.
Find our Nene Park heart at Ferry Meadows in the Visitor
Centre window. It is very simple to use…
Take a payment card of your choice; hold it up against the
window in front of the card reader for a few seconds. You
will see a ‘thank you’ once the donation has processed and
that is it!
Each donation is £3 and goes directly to support the Trust
in maintaining our greenspaces for for the benefit of
wildlife and our visitors.
A big thank you for prizes donated to our
Big Summer Hunt challenge this year:
Your feedback matters!
In the Park we’re always keen to hear positive and constructive
feedback which will help us continue to improve the Park for all.
Next time you visit the Park, how about filling in a comment card in the
Visitor Centre OR going onto our website to leave us your feedback at
www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SQPX9SJ
We also really appreciate feedback on
Trip Advisor, Google and Facebook.
Thank you for taking the time to do this.
Parklife survey
We’re keen to know what you think of
Parklife magazine.
What do you like and what would you
like to see more of? How can we make sure it is full
of the Park news and features that you would like
to read or listen to?
Please let us know by completing our Parklife
survey here: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/XTST9J3
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WELCOME
TO OUR NEW CHAIR
Jackie Bland
This summer, our new Chair
of Trustees, Jackie Bland
officially took up the role
and here she reflects on
this role and how important
Nene Park is to her.
I can’t think of a role
that I would rather
have than Chair of
Nene Park Trust.
I can’t think of a role that I would rather
have than Chair of Nene Park Trust.
This unique and beautiful Park has been
an integral part of my life since 1994,
when I moved to Peterborough to take
up a new role. Since then I’ve walked,
cycled, camped, canoed and run
charity events, using all areas of the
Park and its lovely Rural Estate.
I’ve guided visually impaired
people, and pushed my friends
and family who are wheelchair
users along its unusually
accessible lakeside paths.
I’ve brought my four
children and then eight
grandchildren to enjoy
the playgrounds and
open spaces; I’ve even
moored my boat
overnight on Nene
Park Trust’s moorings,
waking up in the
early morning to the
peace and quiet with
just waterfowl and
fish for company.
Perhaps best of all
I have enjoyed the
wildlife; flocks of
geese noisily arriving
first thing, tiny frogs emerging from
the lakes in spring, nesting swans, and
seagulls sitting about on the ice on
those sharp frosty and snowy days that
bring a stark frozen beauty to the Park.
I know that everyone at Nene Park
Trust, from our staff and dedicated
volunteer teams to my fellow Trustees,
take enormous pride in creating an
organisation, and a community of
people who make all these experiences,
and many more, possible for every
visitor we welcome here.
As we look to the future we already
have plans to invest even more in
caring for our natural environment and
providing more exciting opportunities
for leisure, recreation, education,
culture and sport.
We are also excited about offering
the Park, and the organisational skills
and resources we have developed, to
support individual and community
health and wellbeing.
For me, it will be a tremendous honour
and pleasure, (and no doubt sometimes
a challenge!) to support this incredible
Nene Park Trust community as we strive
to further improve, develop and thrive.
As Jackie takes on her new role, we also said goodbye
to longstanding Chair Jon Marsden and trustees Colin
Prosser and Allan Simpson. Thank you to them all for
their hard work and dedication over the years.
Reopening Longthorpe Tower
Longthorpe Tower opened its doors to the public
again on 10 July, after day to day management
changed hands from Vivacity to Nene Park Trust.
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Since then, there has been a steady
stream of visitors, coming to see the
fascinating medieval wall paintings with
our team of dedicated and enthusiastic
volunteers sharing their knowledge, bringing
the remarkable paintings to life.
Longthorpe Tower will remain open to visitors
on Saturdays and Sundays 10am-4.30pm until the
end of October and will then close for the winter,
reopening again next spring.
Find out more about visiting the tower and
book your 1-hour visit at
www.nenepark.org.uk/longthorpe-tower
INTRODUCING OUR NEW PLAY AREA AT LAKESIDE
FOX PLAY
Throughout the summer, construction of our new play area, Fox Play has been continuing
apace and we’re excited that it’s on track to be completed and open at the end of September.
At the point of writing, the play area is
starting to take shape with many of the
play features visible on site including
the forest fountains, the zip wire, the
play tunnel, stone climbing stack and
swing frames. We can already see how
exciting the play area will be for all our
visitors and are looking forward to its
completion.
Please keep an eye on our website and
social media for news of an opening
date.
Key facts about the play area:
Inclusivity features:
Inclusivity has been important
to the play area design from the
beginning. We wanted to create an
adventurous play space which offers
play opportunities for a wide range of
ages and abilities. Some key accessible
features of the play area include:
● A wheelchair accessible
wobbly bridge
● A hand pump in the ‘water forest’
operated at child / seated height and
on a concrete surface
● A wide slide that an adult
can assist a child to slide down
● A 4-seater seesaw so an
adult can sit with a child
● A range of swings including
an upright seat
● Natural sensory material such as
water, sand, stone and wood used
throughout the playground
● 230m of new, level, surfaced paths
between equipment and to the wider
park allowing better access
● A range of seating in and around the
play area, including in a quieter
shaded area
● Close proximity to the car park
and toilets, including the accessible
changing facility at Nene Outdoors.
Environmental features:
Right from the start of the Fox Play
project we have been keen to ensure
that the design and construction are as
environmentally-friendly as possible.
Fox Play has a nature-inspired aesthetic
and uses natural materials, landscaping
and planting. We have also discussed
Issues such as water consumption
as part of the project concept, and
carried out independent archaeological,
arboriculture and ecological surveys
to inform the design and construction.
Some key features are as follows:
● Trees - 22 trees of 5 different
species will be planted
● Plants - 1574 new plants of 17 different
species, including nectar rich and
fruiting plants, which are good for
wildlife will be planted
● Turf - purchased from a provider
who does not use peat
● Water play - water is activated
via pumps and sprays, chosen to
lower the amount of water
used. All spent water will drain
into adjacent planting, which will
help with their growth
● Timber - play equipment has
been accredited by the PEFC
(Programme for the
Endorsement of Forest
Certification). Construction
timber is sustainably sourced
● Concrete and aggregates -
sourced as locally as possible
● Old play bark - the play bark
from the old Lakeside Play area
was collected by the Trust for
reuse as mulch around the Park.
Thank you to our generous
funders, FCC Communities
Foundation and Viridor Credits
Environmental Company, who
have made it possible for us to
construct this exciting play area.
Drawing competition!
Throughout the summer we have been running a drawing competition for 3-12 year olds where they have been invited to send
in a drawing or painting of themselves ‘enjoying Fox Play’. We are hoping that the winning entries will be on display in the Park
at the time of the play area opening. Keep your eyes on our website and social media for news of the winners!
We hope you enjoy visiting Fox Play. Let us know what you think!
5
A decade of
volunteering
at Nene Park
Trust
It is hard to believe that we have been welcoming
volunteers to Nene Park Trust for the last ten
years. Where has the time gone?
Over the last decade, volunteers have
become integral to the day-to-day
running of Nene Park Trust. We can
do more for our visitors and wildlife
because of their dedicated support
and we can’t thank them enough!
Let’s go back to the beginning...
Just over ten years’ ago, Nene
Park Trust started to think
about working with and
alongside volunteers and
conservation volunteering
seemed a good place to start.
The very first session took
place on 5 October 2011.
The day of the first session
arrived and we were a bit
nervous. Would the volunteers
turn up? What would they be
like? Would they like it? Within
five minutes, the volunteers’
enthusiasm, hard work and
banter was plain to see and
we haven’t looked back
since. We were up and running with a team
of 5 volunteers.
Due to its popularity, conservation
volunteering expanded rapidly from one
session a month to now three session a
week. We now have over 60 conservation
volunteers and this is by far our most popular
volunteer role at the Trust. These volunteers
support the Park Management Team with
the day to day upkeep and maintenance of
the Park. Over the years they have helped
replace the Boardwalk in Bluebell Wood,
coppiced hazel and willow, felled and planted
trees, and cut, raked and burned reeds on
Ham Mere, to name but a few tasks. Perhaps
you have seen our volunteers in their blue
polo shirts and fleeces working hard in and
around Nene Park.
New volunteer roles have followed over
the years and we now have 150 volunteers
supporting us across 17 roles. We are very
proud that we still have a good number of
our original volunteers as well as making new
volunteers very welcome.
Here is what some of our volunteers say about their
volunteering experience at Nene Park Trust:
Rachel Hill said “I am a
conservation volunteer. We meet
every two weeks for conservation
projects throughout the Park. I’ve
been part of the team since last
summer and I really enjoy it. You don’t
always know what you’re going to be
doing till you get there (sometimes it’s
weather dependent!) but I really love getting
stuck in and seeing the difference a small group
of us can make to an area in just a few hours. It’s
great to meet people from all walks of life and I’d
recommend getting involved to anyone.”
Lilian Paine said “We are
fortunate to have such a
beautiful park, so to give
something back makes me
feel happy. A friend asked
about becoming a volunteer
and what it was like and
my reply was that it’s great
camaraderie and banter
and also a great sense of
achievement. I look forward
to the variety of roles and
have met some lovely
people.”
6
Thank you
so much
to all our
volunteers,
past and
present –
you bring
so much to
the Park.
Education volunteers support our
youngest visitors in Nature Tots sessions.
Volunteer Rangers patrol across the Nene
Park estate; they are our eyes and ears in
the Park, reporting any issues to the Duty
Rangers.
Wildlife Survey volunteers go out on their
weekly walks looking for birds, butterflies,
moths and wildflowers. This is vital work
in understanding the biodiversity within
Nene Park and helps us plan for the Park’s
future.
Visitor Centre and Deli/Farm shop
volunteers play an important role, as they
are very much the face of Nene Park Trust
helping our visitors with enquires and
selling merchandise and products.
Audio volunteers record readings of
our written publications to make them
accessible for those who would prefer to
listen to our news rather than read it!
Our Hit Squad work with our Park
Management Team on more specialist
Park maintenance tasks.
Other volunteer roles include
Photography, Firewood, Woodcrafts,
Events, Administration, Longthorpe
Tower Guide Leaders and
Housekeepers, Nene Outdoors and
Woodlands site support. And the
opportunities will continue to grow!
Over the years, we have tried hard to
create a sense of community among
Nene Park Volunteers. We do not take
our volunteers for granted and are
extremely grateful for their time, energy
and expertise; we offer volunteers
training courses to upskill within their
volunteer roles. It is great to be
able to offer our volunteers a
chance to meet other volunteers
from different roles and so over
the years we have been on visits to
National Trust sites, looked behind
the scenes at other Country Parks,
held quizzes and curry nights,
offered dawn chorus and bat walks
and more recently held a picnic
and rounders match on Coney
Meadow. A firm favourite with our
volunteers is the annual summer
BBQ and Christmas meal.
We look forward to the next 10 years
and the growth of volunteering
opportunities in the Park, through the
Your Community Greenspace project.
Carol Rosbrook
said “It’s lovely
to hear people
around the Park
say ‘thank you’
for what you
are doing to
keep the Park
clean and tidy. I
often get asked
what it is like
volunteering at
Nene Park Trust.”
In 2019 we were proud to be awarded the
Investing in Volunteers quality standard
mark where our work in volunteer
management was assessed and recognised.
7
COMING SOON...
We are very pleased to announce that we have been
awarded £1,965,000 from the National Lottery Heritage
Fund towards the delivery of our ambitious £3 million,
5 year project Nene Park: Your CommunityGreenspace.
This is wonderful news as we have been developing
this project for almost 4 years - the last 18 months
supported by Heritage Fund funding - and finally
we can now deliver this transformative project
for the Park and the Trust. Look out for lots
of exciting activities, opportunities and
infrastructure improvements in the coming
months and years.
Your Community Greenspace has been developed from
consultation with current and potential visitors, an
understanding of activities and infrastructure within in the Park
where we have reached capacity, and a genuine desire to follow
through on the Trust’s charitable objective to help improve
people’s health and wellbeing.
With funding made
possible by players of
the National Lottery, Your
Community Greenspace has
three key themes:
● Empowering and engaging
our communities to help
conserve the natural heritage of
Nene Park.
● Building bridges with
the multi-cultural
communities of
Peterborough to make
Ferry Meadows an
inclusive community hub.
● Improving physical
and mental health and
wellbeing through nurturing
connections with nature and
the outdoors.
These themes will be delivered
through building our capacity
in two key areas. Firstly, we will
develop our volunteering offer
to provide more opportunities
to engage with the Park, and
secondly, we will implement an
expanded events and activities
programme co-created with
local communities that truly
reflects the culture of modern
Peterborough.
We will undertake a suite of
much-need infrastructure
improvement works to ensure the
park is resilient and welcoming
to increasing numbers of visitors.
This includes the replacement
of Pontoon Bridge, an iconic
landmark of the Park that is
8
eaching its end-of-life, and
refreshing the welcome area
and toilets close to the
Visitor Centre.
But that is not all. The project
will allow us to offer training
and vital work experience to
three apprentices who will
work closely with our Rangers
to learn essential landscape /
habitat management skills. We
will form a volunteer Project
Support Group to help steer
the direction of the project.
And we will develop sustainable
transport opportunities to
support groups getting to and
around Nene Park.
KEY MILESTONES DURING THE PROJECT INCLUDE:
● Project start – October 2021
● Project staff recruited - March 2022
● Companion walks started – April 2022
● Youth panel set up – October 2022
● Pontoon Bridge replaced and
Welcome area refreshed – March 2023
● Community World Garden planted – April 2023
● Sustainable transport initiatives begun –
April 2023
● Guided cycling started – June 2023
● Volunteer space extended – October 2023
● Ham Mere improved - March 2025
Your Community Greenspace
will be far reaching; improving
and transforming Nene Park
to meet the needs of the many
communities of Peterborough
and helping improve physical
and mental health and
wellbeing for all as we recover
from Covid-19. We are really
looking forward to delivering
this exciting project. Look out
for project updates in future
editions of Parklife.
New meeting room and event space -
Lynch Lake Community Hub
Situated in the heart of Ferry
Meadows, our new Lynch Lake
Community Hub provides a flexible
indoor-outdoor meeting venue in a
great central location. The Hub is now
available to book for meetings, public
facing events, or as a creative studio
space. Situated half way between the
Visitor Centre and Nene Outdoors it
also provides a great base for family
get-togethers. For more information
visit the venue hire page on our
website or email visitor.services@
neneparktrust.org.uk
9
10
this autumn
Corporate experiences & team building days
Nene Outdoors can provide an exciting selection of group activities and team building
opportunities that can help your team rebuild relationships that may have suffered during
the months of remote working.
Get your school out!
Do get in touch to discuss whether you
would like us to lead a curriculumfocused
session for your group
or whether taking part in some
adventurous activities to encourage
year group bonding is more what you’re
after. From studying the river or using
map skills to having a go at climbing or
paddlesports, there is something to suit
everyone at Nene Outdoors.
Our staff will work with you to discuss
the desired outcomes from the activities
you choose. For example, if you were
hoping to encourage communication
within your team we might suggest
orienteering or problem solving. If you
were hoping to build determination
skills, we might suggest kayaking
or mountain biking. We can also
recommend activities based on the
physicality of your team.
For those wanting a more tailored
team building experience, our staff can
provide a half or full day programme of
land and water-based activities which
will facilitate learning and team bonding
through challenges and competition.
We’re looking forward to welcoming more school
groups back to the Park throughout the autumn too.
Hire a room with a view!
Did you know that we have a stunning meeting room overlooking
Gunwade Lake which can be booked for work meetings or family
gatherings? Lakeside meeting room is the perfect venue for getting
people face to face again after a long time apart this year.
Over a year of working at home has had
a significant impact on staff wellbeing
and team morale in most organisations,
with employees feeling isolated, stressed
and missing the usual office camaraderie.
Whilst video meetings have offered a great
substitution, there is no question that remote
working has challenged us all. With restrictions on
social contact now lifted, businesses, organisations
and family groups can start getting back together
again for some much over-due face-to-face meetings
and social events.
Lakeside Meeting Room is a unique venue for meetings
and events, situated within Nene Outdoors at the heart of
Nene Park in Peterborough, and can be utilised in a number
of different ways; from team meetings, talks and seminars to a
venue for staff or family parties.
The room can accommodate a number of meeting styles and
complimentary use of our IT equipment, projector and screen is
provided. A range of food and beverage options are available through
Meadow Brown, our onsite catering partner, and all room hire packages
include free self-service tea and coffee. You’ll also benefit from stunning views
over Gunwade Lake, and access to a private decked veranda overlooking the water.
Room hire rates vary from just £40
per hour to £180 for a full day. To find
out more, just email the team at nene.
outdoors@neneparktrust.org.uk
Three birds
to spot in
the Park
Our ranger Terry
shares his knowledge
of birds and gives you
three birds to look
out for this autumn.
Hobby
Look to the sky to spot this
fast agile raptor. The Hobby is
a kestrel-sized falcon and has
slightly longer wings to help with
its dashing flight. It sometimes
resembles a giant swift from a
distance. It hunts large insects
like dragonflies and small birds
like house martins and sand
martins.
They can sometimes be spotted
hunting sand martins around
Lynch Lake, where we have the
sand martin nesting banks - but
keep your eyes peeled as they
are fast!
Jay
Around this time of year Jays
are busy collecting acorns and
will be stashing them away for
winter, sometimes caching away
up to 5000 acorns!
They do this by burying them
in the ground and returning to
them when food is scarce in
the winter. Obviously they don’t
find them all and that’s good
for the oak tree, as the acorns
will be in the ground ready for
germinating the following year.
Jays are normally very elusive
but you sometimes catch a
glimpse of the back of them as
they fly away with their white
rump clearly visible. In autumn
they become easier to spot as
they look for acorns.
Swallow
The swallow will be migrating
back to Africa in the autumn,
most leaving around the end
of September. It takes up to
six weeks to get there but you
should still be able to see them
up until early October in
the Park.
They can be seen on both Coney
& Oak Meadow and on all three
of our lakes flying acrobatically
and quite low to the ground
hunting for flying insects.
Fun Facts
● The scientific name for a Hobby
is “Falco Subbuteo” and it
was borrowed by the table top
football game creator after the
trademark office declined his
application to call it ‘Hobby’.
● Hobbies do not make their own
nests. They purposely arrive in
the UK a little later than other
migrants so they can use crow
nests when the crow chicks have
already left the nest.
● Hobbies catch their prey on the
wing and sometimes eat while
flying too!
A good place to see them here
in the Park is on Oak Meadow
beneath the oak trees.
Fun Facts
● Jays will sit on ant nests
and let the ants crawl all over
their body! This is to help clear
parasites that may be on
the bird.
● Jays will sometimes mimic the
sounds of other birds if they feel
threatened. They can imitate
Tawny Owls, Sparrow hawks and
sometimes even cats!
● In the 19th century the bright
blue wing feathers were a
common fashion accessory and
sometimes whole dresses were
made with them!
Although they resemble swifts
they are not even distantly
related to them.
Fun Facts
● It takes a swallow up to 1500
visits to build a nest and only the
female lines the nest.
● Swallows always drink on the
wing, flying low to sip water.
● Swallows belong to the
Hirundininae species which
include sand & house martins.
11 11
Share Farming update
Craig and Ryan Baxter, our farmers on the
Nene Park Rural Estate, give us an update
on what’s been happening on the farm.
The lambs born in the spring are
thriving. The rain throughout the
season has seen the grass grow well,
giving the lambs and their mums
plenty to eat. Of course, mild and
humid weather does pose another
challenge for sheep – maggots. This
is where blow flies lay eggs in the
fleeces of sheep, which then hatch
into maggot larvae that feed on
the skin of the sheep. Being out
and around the sheep every
day allows us to identify any
cases at an early stage, at
which point the best thing
to do is often to shear
the sheep, removing any
maggots from the skin
and reducing the risk of
a repeat as there is no
wool into which eggs
could be laid.
The newly established
herd of Ruby Red
Devon cattle are out
grazing on Tumuli
field alongside the
river. Ruby Red Devons
are a native breed
originating from
the West Country.
They have a docile
temperament, are
renowned for their
foraging ability and the
premium Ruby Red Beef
12 12
You can see the video that we made at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY57Eb7yNZM
they produce. This breed is therefore
well suited to our extensive, grassbased
system. The offspring will
be slow grown at grass, and we
hope will provide local produce
of fantastic quality which will be
available through The Lakeside Farm
shop in due course. The cattle have
been sourced from pedigree farms in
Huntingdon, Worcester and Devon
and the addition of Admiral, the Ruby
Red Bull, should see calves being
born on the Rural Estate from mid-
April 2022.
Hay making took place in July, an
important part of environmental land
management. This land provides food
and shelter for wildlife during the
spring and early summer, and when
the hay is made it returns wildflower
seed to the meadows to maintain
bio-diversity. Working with Nene
Park Trust, we are planning for hay
from ground richer in wildflowers to
be transported to other sites before
being manually re-spread to give
greater wildflower reach and cover.
Finally, we were delighted to take
part in #Farm24 on 5 August. This
campaign celebrated British farming
and offered a valuable insight into
where and how food is produced
and the huge variety of roles and
responsibilities taken on by farmers
as food producers and custodians of
the countryside.
From Park to Plate
Park to Plate is an initiative that brings
you the produce of the share farming
partnership between Nene Park Trust
and first-generation farming brothers,
Craig and Ryan Baxter.
This unique partnership has
sustainability at its core, producing meat
responsibly and in harmony with nature.
This is red meat you can trust, based on a
simple three-part promise:
1. Sustainably farmed on your doorstep
We farm in harmony with nature, and
our livestock roam extensively on land
that is managed for the long-term
benefit of the environment, all of which
falls within a 15 mile radius of Lakeside
Farm Shop.
The land is voluntarily registered under
environmental stewardship schemes.
We restrict the use of artificial sprays
and fertilisers, incorporate wildflower
rich pastures to build bio-diversity and
create and maintain habitats for wildlife.
2. Welfare without compromise
The welfare of our animals is of
paramount importance. We are kind
to our animals which are healthy,
happy and are farmed under
the Red Tractor farm assurance
scheme.
This guarantees that our produce
is traceable, safe and farmed with
care.
3. Full of flavour, naturally
Our farming system is entirely
forage based – this means our
livestock enjoy their favourite food;
grass, throughout their lives.
Our pastures incorporate wild
grasses, flowers and herbs, and our
animals are slow grown ensuring
our meat is full of flavour, naturally.
All of this means that the meat
sold to you is of the highest quality,
with low environmental impact,
travelling small distances, as it
makes its way from Park to Plate.
For more information on Park to Plate, the products available and the story
of this unique partnership go to www.nenepark.org.uk/park-to-plate.
Buy our fantastic range of lamb and beef at the Lakeside Farm Shop or find it
on the menu seasonally at Lakeside Kitchen and Bar.
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Events
SEPTEMBER
Pond Dipping
Suitable for: All ages
Meeting point: Lynch Lake
pond dipping platform
Cost: Free – donations
welcome
Open Water Swimming
Suitable for: 8 yrs+
Meeting point: Nene
Outdoors, Ferry Meadows
Cost: £5.50
Pay and Play Watersports
Suitable for: All ages
Meeting point: Nene
Outdoors, Ferry Meadows
Cost: Varies
Musical Summer Sunday
Suitable for: All ages
Meeting point: Outside
the Visitor Centre, Ferry
Meadows
Cost: Free – donations
welcome
Social Walking Group
Suitable for: 12 yrs+
Meeting point: Splash
Lane Car Park, Castor
Cost: Free to attend but
places must be booked
Nature Tots
Suitable for: 2 yrs+
Meeting point: Discovery
Den, Ferry Meadows
Cost: £3.50 per child
Autumn
Wed 1 Sept 12–3pm
Come along to our drop-in
session and spend some
time pond dipping and
identifying the fascinating
creatures you find.
Thurs 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Sept
5.30–7pm
Come along for our weekly open
water swimming session. 5.30-
7pm at Nene Outdoors
Daily from 11am–6pm
Choose from a pedalo, rowing
boat, kayak, canoe, stand up
paddleboard or a sailing dinghy.
You can also hire a bike to
explore the wider Park.
Sun 5 Sept 2–4pm
Pull up a chair and enjoy some
summer live music.
Mon 6, Wed 22 Sept
10.30am–12.30pm
Join one of our Visitor Rangers for a
social walk around Ferry Meadows
and the wider Nene Park and meet
like-minded people.
The September location and routes
of the walks will be the Normangate
and Waternewton Loop.
Mon 13, 27 Sept 10–11.30am
A fun monthly outdoor parent
and toddler group. Each session
has a nature theme and the
whole session will take place
outside so please dress for the
weather.
Wild Home Educators
Suitable for: Ages 5–11
Meeting point: Discovery
Den, Ferry Meadows
Cost: £5.50 per child
Guided Walk with a Ranger
Suitable for: 8 yrs+
Meeting point: Visitor
Centre, Ferry Meadows
Cost: £2.50
RYA Powerboat Level 2 Course
Suitable for: 16 yrs+
Meeting point: Nene
Outdoors, Ferry Meadows
Cost: £255
Wildlife Cruise
Suitable for: 10 yrs+
Meeting point: Boat Jetty,
opposite Otter Play area
Cost: £12 per person
Mon 13, 27 Sept
1.15–3.15pm
Here at Ferry Meadows we will
be running 2-hour sessions
every month for home schooled
children. Each session will have
curriculum and nature-focused
activities, with each month
having a different theme.
Tue 14 Sept 9am–12.30pm
Join Ian Lowe for a guided walk
starting in Ferry Meadows and
going out to some of the Rural
Estate on a 6 mile looped walk.
He will be highlightng points
of interest along the way and
answering any questions you
may have.
Sat 18 – Sun 19 Sept 9am-5pm
Power boat training is essential
for operating a powered craft
safely and appropriately.
To do this you can attend a
course with us to achieve
an RYA Level 2 Power Boat
Certificate. During this 2-day
course at Nene Outdoors, you
will be trained to drive and
manoeuvre the craft in a safe
and controlled way.
Sun 19 Sept 9–10.30am
Paul Topham
Wyndham’s near silent-motor
means that she is the ideal craft
for wildlife watching. Join us on
a cruise along the River Nene
where swans, geese and other
water fowl will glide alongside
the boat with you. We cannot
guarantee what you will see but
wildlife highlights may include
Herons, Kingfishers and the
elusive Otter!
OCTOBER
Social Walking Group
Suitable for: 12 yrs+
Meeting point: Thorpe
Meadows Car Park
Cost: Free to attend but
places must be booked
Nature Tots
Suitable for: 2 yrs+
Meeting point: Discovery
Den, Ferry Meadows
Cost: £3.50 per child
Wild Home Educators
Suitable for: Ages 5–11
Meeting point: Discovery
Den, Ferry Meadows
Cost: £5.50 per child
Wildlife Cruise
Suitable for: 10 yrs+
Meeting point: Boat Jetty,
opposite Otter Play area
Cost: £12 per person
Mon 4, Wed 20 October
10.30am–12.30pm
Join one of our Visitor Rangers
for a social walk around Ferry
Meadows and the wider Nene
Park and meet like-minded
people.
The October location is Thorpe
Meadows.
Mon 11, 25 Oct 1.15–3.15pm
Here at Ferry Meadows we will
be running 2-hour sessions
every month for home schooled
children. Each session will have
curriculum and nature-focused
activities, with each month
having a different theme.
Youth RYA Sailing Course – Stage 2
Suitable for: Ages 8–15
Meeting point: Nene
Outdoors, Ferry Meadows
Mon 11, 25 Oct 10-11.30am
A fun monthly outdoor parent
and toddler group. Each session
has a nature theme and the
whole session will take place
outside so please dress for the
weather.
Wed 13 Oct 10-11.30am
Wyndham’s near silent-motor
means that she is the ideal craft
for wildlife watching. Join us on
a cruise along the River Nene
where swans, geese and other
water fowl will glide alongside
the boat with you. We cannot
guarantee what you will see but
wildlife highlights may include
Herons, Kingfishers and the
elusive Otter!
Sat 16 – Sun 17 Oct 10am–4pm
This 2-day course covers
launching and recovery,
steering, parts of the boat and
basic sailing. After the course
participants will be able to steer
and understand basic principles.
All safety equipments including
wetsuits and buoyancy aids are
provided.
RYA Powerboat Level 2 Course
Suitable for: 16 yrs+
Meeting point: Nene
Outdoors, Ferry Meadows
Cost: £255.00 per person
October Half Term Holiday Trail
Suitable for: All ages
Meeting point: Visitor
Centre, Ferry Meadows
Cost: £1
Fungi Foray
Suitable for: 16 yrs+
Wildlife Cruise
Suitable for: 10 yrs+
Meeting point: Boat Jetty,
opposite Otter Play area
Cost: £12 per person
Sat 16 – Sun 17 Oct 9am–5pm
Power boat training is essential
for operating a powered craft
safely and appropriately. To do
this you can attend a course
with us to achieve an RYA
Level 2 Power Boat Certificate.
During this 2 day course at Nene
Outdoors, you will be trained to
drive and manoeuvre the craft
in a safe and controlled way.
Sat 23 – Sun Oct 10am–3pm
Collect a trail sheet and hunt for
clues around Ferry Meadows.
Collect a prize at the end.
Sat 23 Oct 10am–12.30pm
Check website for updates.
Sat 23 Oct 9.30–11am
Wyndham’s near silent-motor
means that she is the ideal craft
for wildlife watching. Join us on
a cruise along the River Nene
where swans, geese and other
water fowl will glide alongside
the boat with you. We cannot
guarantee what you will see but
wildlife highlights may include
Herons, Kingfishers and the
elusive Otter!
Autumn Festival
23–31 October
9 days of autumnal activities
and events to coincide with
October half term, including:
• Hedgehog hospital – get to
know your local hedgehogs
and how to care for them this autumn
• Nene Park fundraising – find out
different ways you can support the Park
• Broomsticks and tree hunt event
• Fungi Foray • Bushcraft skills
• Scarecrow making
• Guided walk
Cost: £155
15
Herbology Workshop
Suitable for: 18 yrs+
Meeting point:
Discovery Den
Cost: £20 per person
Guided Walk with a Ranger
Stacey Homewood
Sat 13 Nov 10.30am–12.30pm
Coughs and colds, flu and the
winter blues can easily get us at
this time of year. In this workshop
join Nicola, a medical herbalist,
who’ll introduce you to the
plants and foods that can get
you through winter in tip top
condition!
You’ll discover how to keep your
immune system in peak condition,
taste herbal tinctures, teas and
powders and discover the natural
remedies that can help you if the
bugs do get a hold of you!
NOVEMBER
Nature Tots
Suitable for: 2 yrs+
Meeting point: Discovery
Den, Ferry Meadows
Cost: £3.50 per child
Wild Home Educators
Suitable for: Ages 5–11
Meeting point: Discovery
Den, Ferry Meadows
Cost: £5.50 per child
Kate Nightingale
Mon 8, 22 Nov 10-11.30am
A fun monthly outdoor parent
and toddler group. Each session
has a nature theme and the
whole session will take place
outside so please dress for the
weather.
Mon 8, 22 Nov 1.15-3.15pm
Here at Ferry Meadows we will
be running 2-hour sessions
every month for home schooled
children. Each session will have
curriculum and nature-focused
activities, with each month
having a different theme.
Suitable for: 8 yrs+
Meeting point: Visitor
Centre, Ferry Meadows
Cost: £2.50
DECEMBER
Glass Making Workshop
Suitable for: 16 yrs+
Meeting point: Discovery
Den, Ferry Meadows
Cost: £20
Suitable for: 16 yrs+
Meeting point: Discovery
Den, Ferry Meadows
Cost: £15
Tue 16 Nov 1–3.45pm
Join one of our Rangers; Ian for a 6
mile walk around Ferry Meadows
and the surrounding area. Ian will
highlight various points of interest
along the way and you can ask any
questions about the Park and its
history. Gain confidence walking in
the rural estate and find new routes
you may not have explored before.
Sat 11 Dec
Join June from Semperart to
create your very own unique
fused glass. June will take you
through the steps to design your
beautiful decorations or choose
something with a purpose.
Christmas Willow Weaving Workshop
Sun 12 Dec
10am–12pm and 1.30–3.30pm
Join Martin from Rutland
Willow as he takes you through
the techniques you need to
create 3 pieces of work. You will
make 3 items from dragonfly,
butterfly, fish or snail.
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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.
Event details are correct here at the time of going
to press. Please check the website for up to
date information.
If you book onto an event and are unable to come, let
us know.
Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an
adult, up to a maximum of three children per adult.
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
We offer a range of services at events such as hearing
assistance equipment, accessible maps, mobility
scooters and assistance dogs are welcome.
If you have any special requirements or queries, please get
in touch or visit the accessibility page on our website.
Please call us to find out more information about the
accessibility of individual events.
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