e f i l k r Pa
AUTUMN/WINTER 2015
DES
INCLU
On s ’ t a Wh Dec Oct- s 7-9 Page
Chief Executive’s View contents 3
Ahoy there Lakeside
4
Volunteers Leave Their Mark Being a Volunteer Ranger
5
Woodland Grant Scheme Update Bringing the Park Alive
6
Beat the Crowds Sand Martin Success
7-9 What’s On at Nene Park Autumn/Winter 10
Forest Schools New Face at the Trust
11
Magic Meadows Dog Agility
12
Orton Meadows
13
Car Parking Changes
14
Managing the Park New Faces on the Board
16
Wild Child
We hope you enjoy reading this edition of Parklife. Sign up for Parklife You can subscribe for the online version of Parklife through our website. If you would like to be added to our mailing list or if you require Parklife in a braille, audio or large text format please contact us on the details below. Telephone: 01733 234193 Address: Nene Park Trust, Ham Farm House, Ham Lane, Peterborough, PE2 5UU Email: visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk Website: www.neneparktrust.org.uk Parklife is published by Nene Park Trust and produced by Connaught Media Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations – www.connaught-media.co.uk. The paper used for this publication has been produced using wood sourced from sustainably managed forests and is fully recyclable. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material published in Parklife. Nene Park Trust and the Publishers cannot accept responsibility for claims made by advertisers or contributors and any rights reserved. No part of Parklife may be reproduced, stored in any form of retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any other means, electronic, photographic, mechanical or otherwise without the prior written permission of the Publishers. Copyright Nene Park Trust 2015. Cover image courtesy of Chris Porsz.
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AUTUMN WINTER
Welcome to my first editorial for Parklife.
H
aving started as Chief Executive of Nene Park Trust at the beginning of July, I am quickly realising how fortunate I am to be a custodian and manager of such a wonderful and valuable part of Peterborough - and of course, to be leading such an experienced and committed team. I am really enjoying getting to know the Park, the people and the wildlife and as you will see from the exciting and informative articles within Parklife, the opportunities for people and wildlife continue to be developed. It’s been a busy summer, and as you will read, the team continue to improve the Park’s infrastructure. I hope you will agree that the completion of the renewal of much of our signage has been a significant and welcome improvement. The replacement of steps and a bridge has also been completed, thanks to funding from the Woodland Grant Scheme. And with help from our generous donors, we have introduced our tour guide hearing system for those visitors with hearing impairments. As you will see, we have been busy improving conditions for our increasingly diverse range of wildlife, whether by mowing less grass - less often, welcoming visitors to our Sand Martin hotel or working with Buglife to establish fabulous and buzzing wildflower meadows. Regular visitors to Ferry Meadows will have enjoyed (I hope) the new facilities operated by our partners at Lakeside. We are so pleased to see that these facilities are hugely benefiting members of the various clubs and community organisations using the lake. You may have noticed that there has been something growing at Orton Meadows! We are delighted with our investment in the new building that will house both the new reception for Orton Meadows Golf Course and a “cutting edge” new Rutland Cycling Superstore – a very exciting new addition to the Park. Less exciting perhaps, but crucial in sustaining the high standards of management and infrastructure, is the forthcoming (early 2016) introduction of car parking charges, seven days a week. I am confident that we are looking at all of the sensible options and will arrive at a parking system and charging policy which is fair, good value for money and easy to use. Although she started before me, I would like to welcome Rebecca Pasqualino to the team. I would also like to thank everyone I have met since arriving at Nene Park for the wonderful welcome I have received. I feel at home already. Matthew Bradbury Chief Executive, Nene Park Trust
Ahoy there Lakeside
I
t’s been a scorcher of a summer and the new water sports centre and café complex, Lakeside @ Ferry Meadows, has been busy.
At Lakeside you can hire anything from a pedalo, a canoe or sailing boat to a bicycle to explore Ferry Meadows and beyond. After all that activity you can then stop off for a refreshing drink and meal at the Lakeside Kitchen & Bar overlooking the beautiful Gunwade Lake.
F
rom a portakabin on the edge of Gunwade Lake at ‘Ferry Meadows’ in the late 1970s, a group of sailing enthusiasts took to the water - both beginners and experienced sailors, sharing their enjoyment of the sport. The site soon became their favourite playground and over 30 years later the same enthusiasm and friendship is at the heart of Lakeside Sailing Club and is extended to any individual or organisation with a passion for the water. Sailing is a great sport for anyone, any age, at any time of the year and is extremely rewarding. Racing gives an amazing adrenalin-fuelled thrill, while leisure sailing is one of the most relaxing and tranquil pleasures there can be. Being situated on Gunwade Lake means that Lakeside Sailing Club is in the perfect location for both racing and leisure sailing. The lake is the perfect size to offer enough challenges to make an exciting race course yet at the same time is a beautiful place to sail and enjoy nature. Great facilities include spacious changing rooms with hot showers and a large racing/meeting hut. Lakeside Café & Bar are invaluable to the hungry sailor and Nene Outdoors offer boat and kit hire, tuition and taster sessions. At 11am on most Saturdays we hold friendly races for any class of boat from Sailability trimarans to single-sailor Picos. Come and sail with us or maybe offer to crew. Join us on Facebook, look for - Lakeside Sailing Club or telephone Tony on 01733 752126 to find out more about the club. Lakeside Sailing Club
the RNLI 24hr race for ten We are proud to have hosted part of the 2016 event. years, raising over £37,000. Be
As well as tenants, Nene Outdoors, Rutland Cycling and Green & Pleasant, a number of clubs also operate from Lakeside. For more information about the facilities based at Lakeside here are all the contact details you’ll need: Nene Outdoors info@neneoutdoors.co.uk www.neneoutdoors.co.uk Rutland Cycling www.rutlandcycling.com Lakeside Kitchen & Bar hello@greenandpleasantpartnerships.com www.lakesidekitchenandbar.com Lakeside Sailing Club anthonylines@ntlworld.com Peterborough Sailability p.sail@hotmail.co.uk www.peterboroughsailability.org.uk Nene Bowmen w.elmore243@btinternet.com www.nenebowmen.co.uk Peterborough Adapted Cycling Scheme matt.taylor@vivacity-peterborough.com www.vivacity-peterborough.com/disabilitysports Packers Canoe Club robert.hustwayte@icloud.com www.packers.org.uk To find out more about what’s on offer just visit our website www.neneparktrust.org.uk or call 01733 234193. Teresa Wood Head of Visitor Services
AUTUMN WINTER
3
Volunteers Leave their Mark
N
ene Park Volunteers have been carrying out some important work in the Park over the last couple of months with the regular Wednesday groups concentrating their efforts in Ham Mere in Ferry Meadows. The areas in front of the nature hides have been affected by succession. In the case of Ham Mere this succession takes the form of willow gradually encroaching on to the Mere which results in other habitats and the amount of open water steadily diminishing. In order to reverse this trend the Volunteers have been busy cutting back the willow while the Ranger Team and Conservation Officer, Chris Park, have been cutting other vegetation to open up the area. With the help of the volunteers it has been possible to make a real impact. Their efforts will not only provide increased habitat and feeding areas for wading birds and wild fowl but will also benefit all the visitors who use the hides. By opening up the area the birds will be easier to see and the Mere should retain water for longer. If you would like to volunteer with us please do get in contact as we have a variety of opportunities available. These include assisting in the Visitor Centre, helping deliver our education and events programmes or being a Volunteer Ranger. David Radley Visitor Services Officer
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AUTUMN WINTER
Being a Volunteer Ranger
I
n July we began a trial Volunteer Ranger programme. The idea being that Volunteer Rangers would assist the Duty Ranger by providing an additional point of contact for visitors as well as being an extra pair of eyes out and about in the Park. This would help us improve the visitor experience and also enable us to keep on top of park maintenance. Volunteer Rangers are easily identifiable by their blue fleeces, blue polo shirts and blue hi-vis jackets. If you have a question or would just like to bring something to their attention they will be more than willing to help. Being a Volunteer Ranger provides the opportunity to get involved in the Park and also gain experience in dealing with the public and the varied challenges of keeping things running smoothly. Currently running as a trial until the end of September the programme will then be reviewed in anticipation of making Volunteer Rangers a permanent feature of the Park. Andrew MacDermott Deputy Head Ranger To find out more about any of our volunteering opportunities please give us a call on 01733 234193 or just go to our website and have a look at the “Get Involved” section.
Bringing the Park Alive
V
isitors to Ferry Meadows with hearing impairments will have their experience of the Park’s facilities improved following two kind donations.
The Rotary Club of Peterborough has made a donation of £500 and the Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation has made a donation of £600 towards hearing support equipment at Ferry Meadows. The money has enabled us to go beyond providing hearing loops inside the main visitor buildings. These additional donations meant we could invest in a tour guide system which will allow Park staff to be heard directly by hearing aid users or those who are hard of hearing when on guided walks, on educational trips or taking part in other Nene Park Trust organised activities.
Woodland Grant Scheme Update
We are delighted that these two local organisations have chosen to support our work in making Ferry Meadows more accessible to the community. With the statistics on hearing loss currently standing at more than 10 million people in the UK or one in six of the population, we believe the hearing support equipment really will make a difference to our visitors’ experience of the Park. This investment towards improving accessibility at Ferry Meadows comes shortly after the Trust published large print and braille maps of the Park for the visually impaired. To find out more about the accessibility of Ferry Meadows please visit www.neneparktrust.org.uk/ferry-meadows/ accessibility or contact Nene Park Trust directly on 01733 234193 or visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk
I
n the March edition of Parklife extra we explained how we had received funding from the Woodland Grant Scheme (WGS) for woodland improvement projects. We are very pleased with how the work has been progressing, and two of the projects undertaken as part of this scheme have now been completed.
Susan Evans Senior Projects and Development Officer
Work to install a replacement bridge at Woodston Reach has been successfully completed and new steps have been installed in Lynch Wood; these steps will greatly improve access to the riverside and Alwalton Walk. The woodland grant major improvements work will continue from October with tree thinning and tree safety work around the Caravan Site on Ham Lane. Greg Higby Head Ranger
AUTUMN WINTER
5
Beat the Crowds
D
og walking, cycling, running, rambling, angling, barbequing, picnicking, canoeing, sailing and horse riding are just a few of the activities which take place in Ferry Meadows and the wider Nene Park during the course of a day. It is a challenge to think of any other public places where so many activities take place. Understandably certain areas of the Park can get busy particularly at weekends and during school holidays. However, one of the great things about Ferry Meadows and the wider Nene Park is the variety of landscapes and habitats.
For example there are lovely routes through Lynch Plantation, Lynch Wood, Bluebell Wood and Ham Mere. To find out more about discovering these less travelled paths just head to the Visitor Centre or pick up a Ferry Meadows leaflet. We also have mini OS maps for sale in the Visitor Centre called Dinky Maps which show all the footpaths and bridleways in and around the Park to allow you to explore even further afield. David Radley Visitor Services Officer
Sand Martin Success
A
s you read this our summer migrant birds will be winging their way to Africa for the winter. This includes 30 or so pairs of Sand Martins that nested in the Park for the first time in over 40 years. We know Sand Martins had a successful breeding season because in June we visited the nest box on Lynch Lake Island with Lloyd Park, project officer and a licenced bird ringer from Rutland Water Nature Reserve, and ringed 60 youngsters. Of the 36 nest chambers in the box, 30 had been used. We couldn’t ring all of the nestlings as some were too small and many others had already flown so the actual number of young Martins may have been double this figure, especially considering many pairs would have raised two broods! Hopefully some of these young birds will survive the rigours of migration and return to breed again next year.
6
One of those lovely winter jobs we save for a cold frosty day is emptying all of our 93 nest boxes including our Sand Martin box. Old nests become a refuge for a wide variety of parasites especially fleas, ticks and lice. These are inactive during the winter lying dormant waiting until the box is visited next spring. Removing old nests helps to reduce the number of parasites birds suffer and helps improve the survival chances of next year’s youngsters. We also record if a box has been used to give an indication of how successful a breeding season it has been.
nest box then put one up, they are great to watch and now you can buy them with integral cameras giving a great insight into the lives of wild birds.
If you have a nest box at home then please put a note on your calendar to empty it this winter. If you don’t have a
Chris Park Conservation Officer
AUTUMN WINTER
n o s ’ t a h W n o s ’ t Wha ene Park in N
Sca n the QR code Scan code to go the to ourQR website to go to our website
SUMMER/AUTUMN 20
AUTUMN/WINTER 2015
Events Information For bookings and enquiries: 01733 234193 visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk Event details correct at the time of going to press. Please check our website for up to date information. Events are free and take place at Ferry Meadows unless otherwise stated. If you book onto an event and are unable to come please let us know
Children’s Events All children aged under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. One adult may accompany a maximum of three children.
October Friday 2 October
Dog Workshop
10am – 12noon Difficulty getting your dog to come back? This course is run by experienced BIPDT qualified dog trainer and behaviourist Karen Wild. Suitable for: 18yrs+ Easy access: Phone for details Booking required: Yes Cost: £15
Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November
Autumn Festival
A whole week of events celebrating autumn. Activities will include guided walks, children’s crafts, a wild food and fire event, tree climbing and wild art. See our website for details of individual events.
Thursday 8 October
Discover Wild Food
1.30pm – 3pm Get tips on collecting and identifying wild food with David Radley. Suitable for: Adults & 10yrs+ Easy access: Phone for details Booking required: Yes Friday 9 October
Accessibility Nene Park Trust aims to make our events enjoyable and welcoming to the widest possible public. We provide a range of services that could help you attend an event such as hearing assistance equipment, accessible maps, mobility scooters and assistance dogs are welcomed.
Dog Workshop
10am – 12noon Trick training is a great way to bond with your dog and teach obedience. This course is run by experienced BIPDT qualified dog trainer and behaviourist Karen Wild. Suitable for: 18yrs+ Easy access: Phone for details Booking required: Yes Cost: £15
If you would like to attend one of our events and have any special requirements or queries about the accessibility please get in touch so that we can provide more detail and do our best to accommodate your needs. Information about the accessibility of Ferry Meadows can be found at www.neneparktrust.org.uk/ ferry-meadows/accessibility
Easy Access Events These are indoor events in accessible venues or outdoor events on hard surfaced or level terrain which are also likely to be suitable for wheelchairs and buggies. Some of our events involve crossing uneven or steep ground or crossing stiles or climbing steps. These events may not be suitable for all so please call for more details.
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AUTUMN WINTER
Tuesday 27 October
Spooky Cupcakes
11am – 2pm Decorate a Halloween themed cupcake or two with professional cake decorator Anna Martin. All materials are supplied and the cake is yours to take away and eat. Suitable for: 5yrs+ Easy access: Yes Booking required: No (drop-in anytime) Location: Discovery Den Price: £2.50 per cake
Sunday 18 October
Bird Watching for Families
10.30am – 12noon An event for children new to bird watching. Suitable for: 5yrs+ Easy access: Yes Booking required: Yes Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November
Fantastic Fungi Trail
10am – 3pm Collect a trail sheet from the Visitor Centre then return to claim your prize. Suitable for: All ages Easy access: Yes Booking required: No (drop-in anytime)
www.neneparktrust.org.uk
Wednesday 28 October
Wild Wednesday
10am – 2pm Hedgehog themed crafts Suitable for: All ages Easy access: Yes Booking required: No (drop-in anytime) Location: Discovery Den
November Wednesday 4 November (start date)
Forest School Level 3 Leadership Training Course The NOCN Certificate of Leading Forest School Level 3 qualification is the professional standard needed to lead and create your own Forest School Project. For further details see www.wild-learning.com Contact: sarah@wild-learning.com 07807 620976
December Saturday 12 December
Christmas Fair
11am – 3pm Get in the festive spirit at our Christmas Fair in the beautiful surroundings of Ferry Meadows. Suitable for: All ages Easy access: Phone for details Booking required: No (drop-in anytime)
Nature Tots
10am-11.30am A monthly parent and toddler group on the second and fourth Monday of the month. Each session has a nature theme and includes a craft activity, outdoor session, story and song time. Suitable for: 2yrs+ Easy access: Yes Booking required: Yes Cost: £2.50
Saturday 19 December
Christmas Trail
10am – 3pm Collect a trail sheet from the Visitor Centre then return to claim your prize. Suitable for: All ages Easy access: Yes Booking required: No (drop-in anytime) Wednesday 4 November (start date)
Forest School Level 2 Assistant Training Course
The NOCN Award in Assisting Forest School Level 2 qualification is for people wishing to assist with Forest School sessions and for those already assisting and wishing to gain an accredited qualification. For further details see www.wild-learning.com Contact: sarah@wild-learning.com 07807 620976 Thursday 19 November
Walk with a Ranger
1.30pm – 4pm Join Ranger Ian Lowe for a 4 mile guided walk around Ferry Meadows taking in iconic features of the Park. Suitable for: Adults & 10yrs+ Easy access: Yes Booking required: Yes Saturday 28 November
Willow Christmas Decorations
10am – 4pm Join Sandra Barker to make a range of decorations. Participants will receive full tuition and all materials. Suitable for: 18yrs+ Easy access: Yes Booking required: Yes Cost: £20
Monday 21 December
Christmas Tree Decorations 10am – 12noon Join Rangers to make a Christmas Tree decoration from clay to hang on your tree. Suitable for: 3yrs+ Easy access: Yes Booking required: No (drop-in anytime) Location: Discovery Den Wednesday 23 December
Wildlife Explorer/ Watch Events The group encourages an interest in nature via fun activities. There is a charge of £1 for members and £2 for non-members, adults go free. Non-members are welcome but will be encouraged to join the group after two sessions. Sessions run on Saturday mornings once a month. For more information about the group contact Chris Park at chris.park@neneparktrust.org.uk or see www.wildlifewatch.org.uk
Wild Wednesday
10am – 2pm Make some seasonal and wild crafts Suitable for: All ages Easy access: Yes Booking required: No (drop-in anytime) Location: Discovery Den
Support our work Every year over £50,000 is spent delivering guided walks and other public events. Most of the events led by Nene Park Trust staff are offered free of charge or on a cost recovery basis. As an independent charitable trust, Nene Park Trust receives no money from central or local government and is totally reliant on income we generate ourselves. Following an event our staff will invite you to make a voluntary donation to the Trust. If you have enjoyed an event and would like to make a donation this will go towards the cost of continuing to offer events and facilities to the public. For free events the suggested donation is £2.
T h a n k y ou AUTUMN WINTER
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Forest Schools
M
any teachers and those who work with young people will already be familiar with Forest Schools, an internationally recognised movement which aims to encourage and inspire children through a long term, educational approach to outdoor play and learning. While all children can benefit from the Forest Schools approach, many teachers find that it is the students who struggle with the traditional classroom environment who gain the most. As one student put it “I don’t have ADHD when I’m out in the woods”. With these benefits it is not surprising that many teachers are turning to Forest Schools to enhance the experience of their learners. Some schools are lucky enough to have a small copse or wild area in their grounds, for others this is simply not possible and this is why we are excited to have developed a Forest Schools site at Ferry Meadows. From this base our education team will be delivering Forest School courses to schools groups including activities such as den building, camp fire cooking and bush craft, and just in case your child is not lucky enough to visit with their school, you can also expect to see some of these activities featuring on our future events programme. To find out more about Forest Schools at Ferry Meadows give us a call on 01733 234193 or email visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk Anna Thompson Education and Events Officer
New Face at the Trust Rebecca Pasqualino Administrative Assistant I joined Nene Park Trust in April as Administrative Assistant and have thoroughly enjoyed learning about all the different aspects of the Trust’s work. In my role I am lucky enough to come into contact with a wide cross section of people on a daily basis. I love how varied my role is and the opportunities to shadow colleagues has really helped me to settle in. Having been bought up in Peterborough I have many fond memories of Nene Park and Ferry Meadows in particular, from biking round the lakes, night hikes with the Guides and family barbeques. I feel really privileged to be able to contribute to the Trust’s work and love coming to work in such a beautiful setting every day. 10
AUTUMN WINTER
Magic Meadows
L
ast winter we worked in partnership with Buglife, the insect conservation charity based in the city, on the Heritage Lottery funded “Peterborough’s Buzzing” project. We have converted 10,336 square metres (1.03ha) of previously intensively mown amenity grassland in the Park into beautiful wildflower meadows. Despite a poor early germination period due to very dry spring conditions most of these areas eventually showed a good coverage of flowers by the summer and were buzzing with insects. We also worked on a similar project on Long Meadow in Ferry Meadows which was funded by Natural England under their higher level stewardship scheme. Last winter the Nene Park Volunteers sowed 20,647 square metres (2.06ha) with a wildflower meadow mix. Again germination was affected by dry conditions but there was a particularly good show of Yellow rattle. This is a very useful plant in meadow creation as it is partially parasitic on courser grasses so it reduces their competitiveness allowing other more delicate meadow flowers to establish. These schemes not only added a splash of colour to the Park but also greatly benefited butterflies and many other insects by providing nectar rich flowers. We are now planning to seed more areas this winter to make the Park an even better place for people and for nature. Chris Park Conservation Officer
Dog Agility
A
ugust saw the opening of the Ferry Meadows Dog Agility Course which was designed, made and installed by Nene Park Trust staff with assistance from professional dog trainer and behaviourist, Karen Wild. Obstacles include weaves, a balance beam, stepping logs, a series of jumps and a tunnel. The course is located along the tree belt between Oak Meadow and Coney Meadow (the meadow behind the Visitor Centre next to the main car park). This location was chosen as it was already an area popular with dog walkers. The materials used in the construction were sourced from the Park wherever possible. Timber from trees was used for the balance beam and log jumps while recycled posts were used to build several obstacles. The course has already proved very popular and has made a great addition to the Park. Donations received at last year’s Bark in the Park partly funded the project and donations from this year’s event will go towards maintaining the course. David Radley Visitor Services Officer AUTUMN WINTER
11
Orton Meadows
T
he brand new Orton Meadows golf reception and cycle store opened its doors at the beginning of September.
The old building was very dated and parts of it had been unused for some time. Seeing an opportunity, we invested in this new combined golf reception and cycle store. Simon Fitton, Director of Nene Golf Ltd, said: “Orton Meadows Golf Course and Pitch & Putt now has a great new building to operate from that fulfils our customers’ needs and creates a perfect partnership of cycling and golf. We look forward to seeing new and old faces enjoying what the new-look Orton Meadows has to offer.” The new cycle store will complement the Rutland Cycling hire shop which opened earlier this year at Lakeside in Ferry Meadows. Paul Archer, Chief Executive of Rutland Cycling said: “We are delighted to open our new store and welcome all cyclists, from beginners to performance athletes. We have over 250 bikes on display, a full workshop, custom build centre and bike fit studio. We also have a regular calendar of free rides and classes and we even have a cyclists’ pit stop, where you can take a breather, grab a coffee and speak to one of our cycling experts.” To celebrate, Rutland Cycling is offering free puncture repair*, exclusively to Parklife readers. Just take your bike and this magazine down to the store and the expert team will get you back on the road. Rutland Cycling also offers a free bike safety check, and free bike maintenance classes. Places are limited – visit www. rutlandcycling.com/rides to reserve your place. Save up to 70% on cycle gear and bikes Rutland also has great offers on adults’ and kids’ bikes, cycle clothing and accessories from top brands. While stocks last, you can save up to 70%, exclusively at their Peterborough store. Christmas Club Pop down to the Rutland store to reserve a bike, and the Rutland Elves will keep it safe and out of sight until you’re ready to collect it – right up until Christmas Eve. They can even gift wrap kids’ bikes for you. Rutland Cycling Peterborough is open 7 days a week (next to Notcutts on Ham Lane). www.rutlandcycling.com *Free puncture repair includes labour but not parts. This offer is subject to demand and Rutland Cycling reserves the right to withdraw the offer at any time. Offer ends 28.2.16. Teresa Wood Head of Visitor Services
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AUTUMN WINTER
NEW CYCLE SUPERSTORE AT PETERBOROUGH
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
BY NOTCUTTS, HAM LANE, P’BORO PE2 5UU
Car Parking Changes
A
s a charity, with no funding from taxpayers, the Trust needs to secure additional income to continue to invest in the Park, at a time when income has fallen and demand for our services continues to rise. The Trust has invested heavily in the facilities on offer at Ferry Meadows. In many ways, the Trust is a “victim of its own success” as this investment has helped to attract yet more visitors which in turn places further demands on our resources. Given the expected growth in the city’s population the demand for the Park’s facilities is likely to continue to grow in the future. More investment is underway to further enhance the visitor experience, such as the Badger play area, the new golf and cycle retail centre at Orton Meadows and the replacement of some ageing park infrastructure.
The Trust is now incurring operating deficits which are not sustainable in the longer term. As a result, the charity’s Board of Trustees has approved the extension of car park charging to all day every day throughout the year to generate much-needed additional revenue. The new charges will apply in the car parks at Ferry Meadows and Orton Meadows from the beginning of 2016 and will help pay for all the services provided by the Trust, including the Duty Rangers who operate in the Park at all hours the Park is open. We appreciate that new charges will mean that weekday visitors will now have to pay when previously they have parked for free. However, we are confident that our new fee structure, based on length of stay, will be fairer for all and will result in reduced parking charges for many weekend visitors. For regular visitors a season ticket / membership option will also be available which will give great value parking as well as other exciting benefits. Look on our website for further details later this year. Ferry Meadows remains one of the few country parks in the UK without a daily parking charge and so this will bring us more into line with other parks and open spaces in the region. The car park tariffs have not yet been finalised but will be competitive compared with neighbouring attractions and country parks. The Trust will monitor visitor comments in respect of the new charging policy and will undertake a formal review during the autumn/winter of 2017 to assess the impact on visitor numbers and tenants’ businesses. Phil Rolfe Finance Director
AUTUMN WINTER
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Managing the Park
T
he area of land, either directly or indirectly, managed by Nene Park Trust spans six miles along the River Nene Valley. While celebrating the variety of landscapes and habitats it is important the Park is managed consistently. When projects are implemented we make every effort to ensure they are planned and delivered to a consistently high standard. Read on to find out about some of the recent work which has been carried out. Park Signage Whereas in the past a variety of different signs were visible around the Park, new signs are of the same style and are constructed from natural materials. These have mostly been installed by park staff. Mowing More areas have been left uncut to improve both habitat diversity and to give the Park a wilder feel. In areas that contain both cut and uncut grass wavy mowing lines are used to present a more natural effect. To manage these areas of longer grass an attachment called a flail deck was purchased for our ride-on mower which allows us to cut longer grass. Clearance of Lake Edge Trees To allow our trees to grow to maturity we thin sections where appropriate to reduce competition for light and nutrients. At lake edges this gives us the opportunity to create vistas across the water. In some of these openings benches have been placed so visitors can rest, relax and enjoy the views. Next time you visit, see if you can spot some of these features and please do let us know about your visit. Comment cards are available at the Visitor Centre or you can fill in a Visitor Survey through our website.
Steve Wickens Ranger
New Faces on the board Martin Chillcott Having lived in the area as a family for over 20 years, I am a big ‘fan’ of what Nene Park Trust has to offer and in particular Ferry Meadows. As a Trustee I want to provide support and challenge on the Board, to ensure we make the right decisions to secure the long term future of the Trust. My whole career has been about marketing, communications and the customer experience and I want to help ensure that the Trust communicates effectively. I also think it is very important that I support the Trust in building closer links with local communities and encouraging more local involvement, volunteering and fundraising.
Cllr June Stokes I am very pleased to have been invited to be on the board of Nene Park Trust, as it is very dear to my heart. I live close to Ferry Meadows and have spent many happy hours there with my children, nieces and nephews and now my grandchildren. I have watched it mature over the years and I am looking forward to being part of the Trust to continue to improve the Park for the people of Peterborough and beyond.
Janice Allister I love the outdoors and have been enjoying regular visits to Ferry Meadows and Thorpe Meadows since I arrived in Peterborough five years ago. I recognise Nene Park as an important place for people from all walks of life. As a city GP I am all too aware of the need for motivation and opportunities to improve fitness and well-being for people of different ages and circumstances. It is in this area that I would like to contribute. I believe that the governance of charities as well as their ideals are really important and I hope to contribute to the good governance of Nene Park.
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AUTUMN WINTER
Play Golf!
Inspir Inspiration ation for r localfor Visit you tre your garden your gar enden arden C h G
Two Great Courses- Two Great Choices ORTON MEADOWS Golf Course
Orton Waterville, Peterborough PE2 5UU Tel: 01733 237478 www.neneparkgolf.com
THORPE WOOD Golf Course
Thorpe Wood, Peterborough PE3 6SE Tel: 01733 267701 www.neneparkgolf.com
Love the
small things
that run the planet?
• Pay as you play
Join today from ÂŁ2 a month to make a difference for future generations
• Large well-stocked Golf Shops
Visit buglife.org.uk/joinus or call 01733 201210
• Club and Trolley Hire
• 12-hole Pitch & Putt Course at Orton Meadows • Golf Societies welcome
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Visit us Oundle Road, Orton Waterville, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE2 5UU Tel: 01733 234600
Buglife The Invertebrate Conservation Trust. Registered Charity No:1092293, Scottish Charity No:SC040004, Company No:4132695. Š J. Bailey.
notcutts.co.uk
www.lynchfarmriding.co.uk
Ferry Meadows Railway
Horse riding for all ages and abilities
Nene Park, Peterborough
Lynch Farm Riding Ltd.
Lead rein sessions for 3 to 6 year olds
Adult sessions from complete beginners to advanced levels Surprise a loved one with a gift voucher Lynch Farm Riding Ltd. $%"' ) * #%"! $%"' * % # "#"& * * % (%
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TEL: 01733 233 218
• A train ride for children of all ages from 1 to 91 ! • Take a ride across the park from Ham Lane to the Lakeside centre • See website for timetable.
Tel: 01933 398889 www.ferrymeadowsrailway.co.uk
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Captains Folly t Trip Boa
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Based at Overton Lake Ferry Meadows
We will be operating every day until winter Saturdays, Sundays & Bank Holidays from 10am Cruises last approximately 30 mins Private trips also available
07513 193977 / 07757 740387 www.thecaptainsfolly.co.uk
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SPRING SUMMER 15 AUTUMN WINTER 15
W I LD C H I LD
Welc ome to W ILD CH ILD St op he re if yo u love natu re , m ak ing th ings or com ing to Fe rr y Meado ws . Don’t forget to turn to our What’s On pages to find out about our childrens’ events we are planning.
Wild Wordsearch
Can you find all of the words? They might be for wards, backwards, up, down, or diagonal. Good luck!
Make a Family Frame. You will need: Twigs, leaves, string, paper, pens, scissors, glue.
Step 1: Walk around Ferry Meadows and collect some twigs and leaves. Step 2: Tie your twigs and string together to make a frame. Step 3: Have a very close look at your family and draw your family on to the paper Step 4: Glue the paper to the twig frame. Step 5: Decorate your frame with leaves and put it up in your house. Safety: Remember not to put anything in your mouth and wash your hands after. Always get permission from your adult before any craft activity. Step 1
Step 3
Steps 4&5
There are 10 words to find: CONKERS, GLOVES, HEDGEHOG, LEAF, MUSHROOM, RABBIT, SCARF, SQUIRREL, SNOW, WORM.
Step 2