Parklife spring 2017

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PARKLiFE

! d l i h c Wild PARKLiFE

News and updates from Nene Park Trust.

You’ll find lots in Ferry Meadows this spring – help us find ten of them in this wordsearch.

Colour me in

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Bunny Wellingtons Umbrella Daffodils Rain

Bluebells Sunshine Butterfly Puddle Leaves

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Spot the difference

Oh no, those bunnies have been hiding train parts again! Help Dave find eight parts that have fallen off, so he can attach them back on in time before the children arrive. Circle them on the picture to the right. Don’t forget to go and visit the miniature railway this spring and help Dave keep his eye on those rabbits!

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Spring 2017


PARKLiFE

Our Park, your memories... Each edition of Parklife will feature a gallery of your special memories captured

Email visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk Telephone 01733 234193

Chief Executive’s view With spring finally here, everything is growing – including the Park! You’ll notice in this Parklife edition, we’ve provided just a flavour of some of the improvements that will take place in 2017 – a refit for the Visitor Centre, corporate and group offers at Nene Outdoors, extensive work at Thorpe Meadows and new barbecue shelves to name a few.

If you would like to be added to our mailing list or if you require a braille, audio or large format copy please contact visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk

We appreciate that aesthetically, the Park is not as colourful over winter, but it is the season to undertake much of our maintenance work without disturbing the wildlife and our visitors. With that being said, the trees will start to look greener now and flowers will start to bloom as we move into the spring months – hopefully with plenty of sunshine to help them on their way!

Why not visit Bluebell Wood by foot or bicycle this spring? The flowers will be out in full bloom, providing a beautiful blanket of colour across the ground.

Speaking of change, we’ve been working on a review of our organisational structure here at the Trust. A number of staff members will take on new roles to help make the running of the Park even more effective. This has all been carefully planned to ensure that every element of park management is covered by those with the appropriate skillsets. For those visitors who are currently in touch with staff members, you may be given a new point of contact over the coming months as some of the team make themselves at home in their new roles.

www.neneparktrust.org.uk Ham Farm House, Ham Lane, Peterborough PE2 5UU

whilst at Nene Park. We’ve tracked these down from social media and have had great fun seeing what you all get up to.

Thanks to Alan Howe, who shar ed this beautiful sunset ‘Swan on the lake’ phot o on Instagram.

ll with is squirre found th ups! ll e v e R ll pu pher Christo l doing h is daily tee abs of s

family walk around the Louise Day had a lovely ns, Evie and Daisy. twi little two lake with her to wrap up and get day Looks like the perfect chocolate! hot with e plet com rs, outdoo

e’s a ma Fisher. Sh ure from Em k th is ct al pi w ly a ve d lo ye A jo Park and en e th of n fa s! huge us shoe most fabulo winter in the

We will also be welcoming some brand new staff members over the coming months including a Project Officer for our HLF funded Moments with Trees project, a new Visitor Services Manager, a Business Services Administrator and an Accounts Assistant. We have also recruited a Chief Instructor, a Seasonal Instructor and Beach Assistants at Nene Outdoors. We look forward to welcoming them all to the Trust.

Did you know..? …That we have a Nene Park Group Flickr page? You can request to become a member and upload your photos to the site for everyone to view. There are over 6,000 images of stunning wildlife, landscape views and more, with the chance to add your name – credit where it’s due! You can find the link from the neneparktrust.org.uk homepage.

I’d like to say a special thank you to Greenwoods Solicitors for making us part of their Charity of the Year. We appreciate support from local businesses and are very grateful in advance for any money raised throughout the coming year. My final thank you is to our visitors who, come rain or shine, have and will continue to visit the Park. We have been overwhelmed by your support following the recent vandalism attacks and I would personally like to thank everyone who has made a generous donation towards restoration of the damage. There is more information about this on page five. We’re very much looking forward to seeing what spring has in store. We have some fantastic events coming up and hope you are able to attend.

Liam had a lovely time out with his son who brought his bike to the Park. It’s the perfect place to cycle an d we love th is fa ncy helmet – safety first!

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A mother and son activity in the woods - digging for worms! We wonder who saw one first? Susan took this lovely photo of her two boys enjoying the Park over half-term. We hope you had fun!

Matthew Bradbury Chief Executive, Nene Park Trust

Record breaking visitor numbers

o of her wonderful phot d shared th is pher who ra Sarah Youthe og ot ph a ughter. She’s rk. mother and da ments in the Pa ecial family mo sp ap sn to loves to bloom! for the flowers We can’t wait

- 2016 saw the highest number of visits to the Park since records began - Ferry Meadows – up over 77,000 visits - Ferry Meadows – total of 1.2m visits - Nene Park – up over 169,000 visits - Nene Park – total over 1.8m visits

o on beautiful phot lp but like th is he t her n’ d pe uld ap co e sn W r, who om Carly Mille walk at ng Instagram fr lo a ng yi ky, Ice, enjo Siberian Hus ws. do ea M y Ferr

Jackson is wrapped up to brave the cold weather at Lakeside in this very stylish outfit!

Follow us on social media To see more photos like this and to find out what’s going on in the Park, please follow us on:

for winter wrapped up re a up ro essories, yg ating acc Th is happ us coordin o ul b fa e in thes cute dog! with very complete

This pair were getting stuck in the sand this half-term at Otter play. We saw photos of them making the most of being outdoors with a visit to Badger play too!

@neneparktrust @neneparktrust

@ferrymeadows

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Demystifying tree felling

Support sees us through

Why are they cutting down that tree? There’s nothing wrong with it! We want to debunk the myth that felling is a negative practice. Our resident expert, Ashley Wheal, has provided a few different factors that result in tree felling and the reasons why. • First and foremost, safety is our priority. We must ensure that visitors walking around the Park are kept safe from any potential falling branches, as well as cars in car parks. Some tree branches, when reaching a certain age, begin to fragment such as poplars around 40 years. Because of this, it’s our responsibility to manage these areas and be proactive to make sure it doesn’t get to that point.

• We also manage land close to houses, so anything from leaves in the gutters to subsidence has to be considered, as well as the Caravan Site and other buildings we are responsible for. • Removal of natural regeneration is often required. These are smaller trees produced by seeds from larger trees nearby. They are not planted by us but can grow as big as the tree they came from. They often need to be removed because they are too close to others…

• …which leads nicely onto the next reason - thinning. Thinning is performed to create bigger and better trees. Trees require distance as our Ranger, Gary, here kindly demonstrates!

• There is often a change of plan, where trees have been planted no longer fit in later down the line. This can also be a hindrance for wildlife as they act as predator cover. For example, we found on the Bringing Nature Closer project on Heron Meadows, that it’s better for breeding birds when the trees aren’t there. So when the trees have been felled, do we replant? Absolutely. Once trees have reached a certain age, they are simply replaced with better ones that last longer and are better for wildlife. Our staff and Nene Park Volunteers do the hard work and often when the trees are removed, a bigger quantity are planted to replace them. You’ll see safety posters around the Park when tree work is taking place, with reasons why the work is being carried out – so keep your eyes peeled!

Tree transformations One great example of recent tree felling is in the Thorpe Meadows car park area. Aesthetically, the area was very overgrown with self-seeding trees that were encroaching on the car park. The

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Ranger team has felled a number of trees to leave 3-4m of clear open space, using grass to act as a buffer for the car park. By opening this area up, it’s now provided more visibility into the woodland area. This was also prompted following a near miss with a car and a tree branch, as well as the constant struggle with litter in this area. Sadly, this change will probably not discourage litter altogether, but it will be easier to pick up and we hope the exposed area will act as a litter deterrent. Felled tree branches from the wooded area were chipped and used as natural mulch. Large pieces of wood will be safely organised into eco piles for insects to live under. You may have also noticed the clearing as you drive into Ferry Meadows, just before the main car park. This entrance bed previously featured one species of dogwood, with very little

visibility due to its height. We’ve removed this and Gareth, our Ranger and wildflower expert, has big plans for its new design! Native species of deciduous trees will alternate with lines of flower beds, containing an herbaceous mix. These include verbena that’s ideal for bees and butterflies and achillea that produces nectar, which will improve diversity for wildlife. Grass will fill the remaining spaces which makes it easier to maintain by mowing. This design will significantly improve visibility as opposing traffic can be seen from the entrance / exit, through the gaps in the flower beds. We’re really looking forward to seeing this area in full bloom when work is complete.

The Trust and local community were deeply saddened by the amount of graffiti and vandalism that has taken place in the Park since last November. Vandalism was taken to another level where trees had been snapped, backs of memorial benches and fences sawn apart, the play area at Lakeside was deemed unsafe due to damage to the equipment and much more. Despite feeling very emotional about what had happened, our staff pulled together and worked tirelessly to fix as much of the damage as they could the following day. There were even members of the team out on the freezing cold lake to retrieve everything that had been thrown in the water after being sawn off. The memorial benches were fixed, fences rebuilt, signs put back together, throwlines replaced and the lake was emptied of timber.

Your generosity means the world to us and can help us improve the security of the Park in the future. We would like to make a plea to the already generous public through our JustGiving appeal for donations towards the cost of repairs, which were in their thousands. Anyone wishing to do so can make a donation at the Visitor Centre, Nene Outdoors or online via www.justgiving.com/nene-park. Thank you very much for your support.

The level of support we have received from the community and local media has been incredible. We appreciate all of the supportive comments we received via our social media channels - there are so many people to thank that we simply couldn’t fit them all on a page. For all of the people who have donated, helped with the reward money, offered their time, companies who have donated CCTV equipment and other skills, groups who have fundraised – we thank you so much!

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sing nts online u e v e ll a k o o wb nless You can no g system. U in k o o b w e , our brand n in advance t be booked s u m ts n e v or all stated, all e time slots. F le ip lt u m e ich hav ce, please some of wh ok your pla o b to d n a vents visit upcoming e r Centre or o it is V e th t call in a .uk arktrust.org www.nenep

Moments with Trees: HLF success! We are extremely pleased to have been awarded a grant from

trees’, tree gateways around the Park and the return of the

the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) in support of a two-year

Park photography exhibition. A significant element of the

project called Moments with Trees, which will commence this

project activities will also be focused on sharing knowledge

April. This project is all about getting people involved with the

about trees and their heritage. These will include workshops,

trees of Nene Park - increasing understanding and offering

research projects, guided walks, self-led trails and digital

opportunities to participate in a large range of tree themed

content including project videos.

activities and events. The success of the project relies on the involvement of the local Trees are a significant feature of Nene Park

community so if this sounds of interest to you, please look out

and have a real story to tell about the history

for more information in the next edition of Parklife, on our

of the landscape. The good management of

website and social media, as well as around the Park and

trees is also key to the future of Nene Park.

Visitor Centre.

This project aims to address both the past and future of trees in the Park, by connecting with local schools, our Volunteers, visitors and a range of partners. This work will help to reveal the past, celebrate the present and shape the future of Nene Park trees. We have created a dedicated Project Officer role to manage this project, who will be highly visible out in the Park and local community by hosting a range of tree related activities. These will include physical activities such as volunteering opportunities for tree planting and management, ‘tricks with

A new visitor experience Those visitors who regularly pop into our Visitor Centre will

on our website and social media.

have seen a few changes recently with some new products

Whether you’re a regular to Ferry

from carefully selected suppliers. You’ll find anything from

Meadows or one of our seasonal

edible gifts such as flavoured oils and jams, to beautiful

visitors, make sure you call in to the

dishes and platters to display them in. There are greetings

Visitor Centre to see what’s on offer

cards, games and books for the kids, wooden ducks and

and to find out what’s happening in

much more including a range of popular brands and

and around Nene Park.

designers. But there’s more to come… Over the spring months we will be completely refreshing the Visitor Centre. The retail area will be very slightly smaller to allow us to build an office space behind it. In the retail area itself you will see new display cabinets and stands, as well as a smart new floor and a fresh coat of paint to blend with the new interior.

March

Wednesday 8 March and Saturday 11 March Nene Park Blanket Workshop 10am – 12pm and 1pm - 3pm Help our Artist-in-Residence create a stunning felted, embroidered and beaded blanket for the Park, which will be displayed in the Lakeside café in summer. Please book through Charron Pugsley-Hill's Facebook page, @CharronPugsleyHillArt. Drop-in on the day may be possible depending on numbers. Suitable for: 5yrs+ Easy access: Yes Meeting point: Discovery Den Cost: Free – donations are welcome Thursday 16 March Guided walk with a Ranger 1pm – 4.15pm Join Ranger, Ian Lowe, for a guided walk around Ferry Meadows and surrounding area, who will point out areas of interest along the six mile route. Bring water and suitable footwear. Dogs are welcome under close control. Suitable for: 10yrs+ Easy access: Not suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Meeting point: Visitor Centre Cost: Free – suggested donation £2 Saturday 18 March Float A Boat 10.30am – 12pm and 1.30pm – 3pm Come along and use recycled materials to create your own floating object. Test it out on Lynch Lake before recovering it to take home for the bath! Suitable for: 5yrs+ Easy access: Yes Meeting point: Discovery Den Cost: Free – suggested donation £2

Sunday 19 March Family Volunteering 10am – 12pm Make a difference by helping the Rangers out in the Park. Children, couples, grandparents, friends – everybody welcome. All tools and training provided, all you need to bring is lots of enthusiasm. Free car parking for all participants. Suitable for: 5yrs+ (younger children welcome however full participation may not be possible) Easy access: Yes - dress for the outdoors including sturdy footwear. Meeting point: Discovery Den Cost: Free – suggested donation £2 Tuesday 28 March Walk in the Woods 10am – 12.30pm Join a Ranger for a walk through Bluebell Wood and the surrounding area. Learn about the projects carried out by the Ranger team. Please wear suitable footwear such as walking boots. Suitable for: 10yrs+ Easy access: Phone for details Meeting point: Visitor Centre Cost: Free – suggested donation £2 Thursday 30 March Discovering Trees 1.30pm – 4pm Join Ranger, Ashley Wheal, for an illustrated talk in the Visitor Centre for the first hour. Follow this with a walk in the Park to identify some of our native trees. Suitable for: 18yrs+ Easy access: Yes Meeting point: TBC Cost: Free – suggested donation £2

April

Friday 7 April Kids’ Tree Climbing 10am – 3pm Children can come and have a go at tree climbing using a rope and harness. Instructions and guidance will be provided by our Rangers. Suitable for: 3yrs+ Easy access: Yes Meeting point: Visitor Centre Cost: £2 per child

Saturday 1 – Wednesday 26 April Easter Trail Collect a rabbit themed trail sheet from the Visitor Centre and then hunt for clues as you walk around Ferry Meadows. Return to the Visitor Centre with the correct answers to claim your prize. Suitable for: All ages Easy access: Yes Meeting point: Visitor Centre Cost: 50p per sheet No booking required. Wednesday 12 April Wild Wednesday 10am – 2pm Children and adults are welcome to drop in and join in with some seasonal and wild crafts. No booking required. Suitable for: All ages Easy access: Yes Meeting point: Discovery Den Cost: Free – donations are welcome

At this time we’re not able to give the exact dates for closure whilst this work is taking place, so please look out for updates

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PARKLiFE Wednesday 19 April Wild Wednesday 10am – 2pm Children and adults are welcome to drop in and join in with some seasonal wild crafts. No booking required. Suitable for: All ages Easy access: Yes Meeting point: Discovery Den Cost: Free – donations are welcome

Thursday 13 April We're Going on a Bear Hunt 10.30am – 12pm and 1.30pm – 3pm Bring your own teddy bear and join us on a bear hunt. There will be a craft session followed by story time, then a walk around Ferry Meadows to find Barney the Bear. Suitable for: 3yrs+ Easy access: Walk will partly be in wooded areas, which may not be suitable for all types of wheelchairs and pushchairs. Meeting point: Discovery Den Cost: £4 per person Friday 14 April and Monday 17 April Easter Egg Hunt 10.30am – 12pm and 1.30pm – 3pm Oh no, the Easter Bunny has misplaced all of his Easter eggs, can you and your family help him find them in time for Easter? Follow the clues around the Park to retrace his last hops and hopefully find where he left them. Suitable for: All ages Easy access: Yes Meeting point: Discovery Den Cost: £3 per person Tuesday 18 April Happily Ever After 10.30am – 12pm and 1.30pm – 3pm Join us for crafts, activities and stories based around the classic children’s tales of Winnie the Pooh. Suitable for: 3yrs+ Easy access: Yes Meeting point: Discovery Den Cost: £2.50 per person

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Friday 21 April Easter Egg Hunt 10.30am – 12pm and 1.30pm – 3pm Oh no, the Easter Bunny left some Easter eggs behind last weekend! Follow the clues around the Park to retrace his last hops and hopefully find where he left them. Suitable for: All ages Easy access: Yes Meeting point: Discovery Den Cost: £3 per person Saturday 22 April Bug Hunt 10.30am – 12pm and 1.30pm – 3pm Join our Education Team to have a look in the woods for minibeasts in their own habitat. Suitable for: 5yrs+ Easy access: Yes Meeting point: Discovery Den Cost: Free – suggested donation £2

Tuesday 25 April Through the Eyes of an Artist A Walk with a Difference 10am – 12.30pm Join Artist-in-Residence, Charron Pugsley-Hill, on a seasonal walk in the Park. Finish at Lakeside Kitchen & Bar for a drink, cake and a short creative session. This is not about being able to draw but about confidence with colour and exploring your creative side. Suitable for: All ages Easy access: Yes Meeting point: Visitor Centre Cost: £5 per person

Sunday 30 April Persephone's Bed - Spring 10am – 4pm Artist-in-Residence, Charron PugsleyHill, will be presenting the third in a series of four seasonally themed beds in the Park. Visitors are welcome to lie in the bed and enjoy the surroundings. Suitable for: All ages Meeting point: Details at the Visitor Centre Cost: Free – donations are welcome

May

Wednesday 3 May Ramble from River to Rail 9.30am – 3pm Enjoy a gentle stroll with Ranger, Steve, along the River Nene to Wansford where there will be time to look around the Nene Valley Railway station, before returning to the Ferry Meadows by train. Suitable for: 8yrs+ Easy access: Must be able to walk six miles over uneven terrain and stiles. Wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Please bring a drink and light packed lunch for a stop on the way. Not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs. Meeting point: Visitor Centre Cost: £4 per person to cover train fare Sunday 7 May Dawn Chorus Walk 4am – 6am Celebrate International Dawn Chorus Day and experience the amazing chorus of birdsong on this walk with Conservation Officer, Chris Park. Suitable for: 10yrs+ Easy access: Dogs are not permitted at this event. It will be cold so appropriate dress required. Bring binoculars and a torch as it will be dark when we start. Meeting point: Visitor Centre Cost: Free – donations are welcome

Sunday 7 May Family Volunteering 10am – 12pm Make a difference by helping the Rangers out in the Park. Children, couples, grandparents, friends everybody welcome. All tools and training provided, all you need to bring is lots of enthusiasm. Free car parking for all participants. Suitable for: 5yrs+ (younger children welcome however full participation may not be possible) Easy access: Dress for the outdoors including sturdy footwear. Meeting point: Discovery Den Cost: Free – donations are welcome Tuesday 9 May Guided walk with a Ranger 1pm – 3.15pm Join Ranger, Ian Lowe, for a guided walk of about four miles around some of Ferry Meadows, pointing out areas of interest along the way. Bring water and suitable footwear. Dogs are welcome under close control. Suitable for: 10yrs+ Easy access: Yes Meeting point: Visitor Centre Cost: Free – suggested donation £2 Tuesday 9 May and Wednesday 10 May Badger Watch 7.30pm – 10.30pm Join Ranger, Chris Rollason, for a talk on the life of a badger followed by a silent vigil at a Badger sett, to try and catch a glimpse of these shy creatures. Suitable for: 12yrs+ Easy access: No dogs or cameras. Please only book if you can sit still for very long periods in the dark. Ground conditions can be uneven and slippy when wet. Camping chairs will be provided. Please wear dark clothing and bring insect repellent, walking footwear, a small torch and binoculars if you own some. Meeting point: John Horrell room next to the Visitor Centre Cost: £10 per person

Wednesday 17 May Nene Park Trust – Past, present and future 7pm – 8.30pm Enjoy a gentle stroll around Ferry Meadows in the company of Ranger, Steve, who will tell you something of the Park’s history, current projects and potential forthcoming plans. Suitable for: All ages Easy access: Phone for details Meeting point: Visitor Centre Cost: Free - suggested donation £2

Saturday 20 – Sunday 21 May Discover Ferry Meadows 11am – 4pm Drop in and discover the delights of Ferry Meadows! This is a celebration of everything that the Park has to offer, with walking groups and other health and fitness activities, watersports and their relevant clubs, helicopter pleasure rides, miniature railway and many other offers for visitors of all ages. Easy access: Yes Meeting point: Visitor Centre Cost: Free entry but some activities will incur a charge. Car parking charges apply.

Saturday 27 May – Sunday 4 June May Half-Term Trail Collect a trail sheet from the Visitor Centre and then hunt for clues as you walk around Ferry Meadows. Return to the Visitor Centre with the correct answers to claim your prize. Easy access: Yes Meeting point: Visitor Centre Cost: 50p per sheet No booking required. Saturday 27 May Pond Dipping 10.30am – 12pm and 1.30pm – 3pm What lies beneath the still waters of our lakes at Ferry Meadows? Come along and spend some time pond dipping and identifying the creatures you find. Suitable for: 5yrs+ Easy access: Yes Meeting point: Discovery Den Cost: Free - suggested donation £2 Monday 29 May Bug Homes and Bug Hunt 10.30am – 12pm and 1.30pm – 3pm Search for minibeasts in the woods at Ferry Meadows then build a bug home for the bugs in your garden. Suitable for: 5yrs+ Easy access: Yes Meeting point: Discovery Den Cost: Free – donations are welcome Wednesday 31 May Wild Wednesday 10am – 2pm Children and adults are welcome to drop in and join in with some seasonal and wild crafts. No booking required. Suitable for: All ages Easy access: Yes Meeting point: Discovery Den Cost: Free – donations are welcome

Events Information · Event details are correct 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, please let us know. · Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult, up to a maximum of three children per adult. · Most 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 welcomed. · If you have any special requirements or queries please get in touch or visit neneparktrust.org.uk/ferrymeadows/accessibility · Easy access events are either indoor events or on hard surfaced, level terrain which are suitable for wheelchairs and buggies. · Some events involve uneven surfaces and climbing, so please phone for more details.

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Our very own ‘chaperdrone’

A year of Ferry Meadows

Last autumn we started working with a

UAV’s (unmanned aerial vehicle) are becoming

company called Remote Perspectives to

quite commonplace, or seem to be to us, and

Our parking system has been in place for

As an independent Charitable Trust, we

We hope you will continue with your

a year now, so for those of you who

receive no funding from the taxpayer so

membership or consider joining us for the

purchased a Ferry Meadows Parking

rely on income we generate ourselves,

forthcoming year. Application forms and

Membership when it was first installed,

such as parking. Your contribution forms

further details can be found

it’s time for renewal!

an important part of our future plans to

online or in the Visitor Centre.

capture aerial imagery of the Park. I’m sure

there is always interest from people in the Park

you’ll agree that the results are spectacular.

when we are filming. If you do see us, please

Read on to find out more from Simon Buttress

come over and ask questions, we'll be more

of Remote Perspectives about the project.

than happy to chat when we can.

Remote Perspectives started in late 2014,

Aside from aerial imagery and data, we also

bringing together our loves of photography,

offer 360° pictures, videos and virtual tours to

flying and technology. Just over a year ago we

businesses and individuals alike.

became proud holders of our CAA (Civil

Thank you so much to those who did

continue to develop the Park and provide

purchase a membership last year. Money

great facilities for you to enjoy.

raised over 2016 contributed to the delivery of a number of projects

For just £60 per year (or £30 for Members

including…

of Peterborough and District Angling

3 3 3

Aviation Authority) permissions, meaning we could finally start offering our services. The learning curve and workload has been steep throughout, it never really flattens. It's so much more than turning up and zooming

Over 100 exciting events for all ages Around a whopping 5,000 hours of dedicated Ranger time for visitors Nearly 50 Snipe spotted since developing Ham Mere

Whether you’re renewing your

around the sky but we love the challenge and

Association) you’ll receive…

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just £1.15 per week 10% discount on retail purchases from the Visitor Centre parking machine at the end of

To get in contact with Simon you can use the

professional and helpful in our

following methods:

working relationship. We still have some more projects in the pipeline

Phone: 01733 306292 or 07936 357169

with them and hope to complete

Email: info@remoteperspectives.co.uk

them over the next month or so, to

Website: remoteperspectives.co.uk

provide them with the visual data

Facebook: @RemotePerspectives

that they wanted.

contribute to the delivery of…

3 3 3

A refreshed Visitor Centre Expansion of our successful volunteer programme Tree and wildflower planting across

BRAND NEW for 2017…

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10% discount on retail purchases 10% discount on Pay and Play activities at Nene Outdoors

may take a few seconds for it

the Park

A day at Nene Outdoors

activities – with two new swan pedalos joining the party! Despite not being open to the public, we’ve had a very productive time finalising our corporate and group offers. The team are now able to provide organised days out for schools, corporate groups for teambuilding and staff fun days, birthday parties, adult adventure activities and more. We

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Further reasons for this decision include the health and safety of our staff and visitors,

have created a range of packages for half and full days, some

We would therefore very much appreciate it if you would respect this decision and leave your drones at home when visiting the Park. We have plenty more of these aerial photos from Simon, please let us know if you'd like to see them.

Park. A quick and easy way to make a card payment,

open Tuesday to Sunday for a wide range of Pay and Play

respect for other park users and protection of our wildlife. For details on all activities that are not permitted at the Park, please visit our website.

parking payment machines in the

but please be patient as it

families and more from the beginning of March. We will be

We are aware that drones are becoming increasingly popular and that owners in the Peterborough area will be looking for places to fly them. Sadly, due to a number of recent incidents where drones have been misused in Ferry Meadows involving staff, visitors and dogs, we have made the decision not to allow them at Nene Park.

Don’t forget…

from Nene Outdoors

we can’t wait to welcome watersports enthusiasts, beginners,

Drones in the Park

A whole host of benefits are included, please see the website, pop into the Visitor Centre or call 01733 234193 for more details.

method up and running at all of our

Nene Outdoors has been closed over the winter months so

This fantastic photo sees part of our Rural Estate, the villages of Castor and Ailsworth, in the distance.

If you know someone who loves the Park, then the gift of Parking Membership may be the perfect present that keeps giving all year round!

We now have a contactless payment

purchasing one for the first time, you will

Nene Park Trust has been very

Why not treat someone to a year of Ferry Meadows?

Convenience – no need to use the your stay

membership for another year or

continual learning.

A year of parking that equates to

P

Ferry Meadows Parking Gift Membership

of which include an opportunity to take part in some volunteering in the Park. We are also more than happy to tailor make a package to suit you. A wide range of water and land based activities are available including sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, raft building,

to register. offering a number of sailing and windsurfing courses for a range of skill levels including beginners. Why not join our trained Instructors to learn a new sport? For further details, download a Group Activities Guide from the Nene Outdoors page on our website or call 01733 203291 to speak to a member of the team. For up to date information on what’s happening over on Gunwade Lake including dates and details for our courses, please follow our Facebook page, @NeneOutdoors.

Coming this year… Traverse wall Rather than climbing up using ropes and a harness, the challenge is to climb across the wall from one end to the other. Children are only a few feet off the floor which makes it a safe and fun activity.

campfire cooking, cycling and a climbing wall to name a few. Throughout the spring and summer months, we will also be

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PARKLiFE

PARKLiFE

Preparing for summer sizzle

Gold at the end of the rainbow What better way to finish a wonderful

• The Granary is located just a short walk away from both Ferry Meadows

You may remember from the previous edition of Parklife that

All Park users have been considered whilst working on the

walk, run or cycle ride than with a

we included a feature about litter and fire damage to our

design. Wheelchair users will still be able to access one end of

delicious meal and drink at one of the

and Orton Mere. This Beefeater

benches, including the amount of Ranger time it takes to fix

the bench, as well as providing space for pushchairs etc.

fantastic eateries around Nene Park? In

restaurant is ideally located next to the

these issues. During winter, the Ranger team led by Arthur

Painted in red heat-resistant paint, they are designed to be

addition to our on-site cafés (which are

golf course and Notcutts Garden Centre,

Smallman, have come up with a fantastic solution to the bench

visible to prevent injuries to those visitors whose heads stand

great and do the best Cherry Bakewells

providing you with even more to do on

burning problems.

around the same height! The shelf is retractable so it’s in

ever), there are an abundance of

your day out.

keeping with the Park landscape, also featuring screws that can

restaurants within walking distance from

be tightened for added security.

Nene Park.

As well as replacing a lot of the

• A little further down the road just past Orton Mere are another couple of

damaged wood, Arthur has produced a BBQ shelf that we believe ticks all

We are in the process of producing plaques that will be added

Here are a just a handful of the eateries

options on Oundle Road. There, you have

the boxes. Made from a strong and

to the tables with instructions on how to use the shelves. They

on offer, some with a suggested walk to

a choice of the lovely restaurant at Orton

accompany either pre or post meal:

Hall Hotel, The Ramblewood Inn or the

secure metal, these shelves have

are simple in design – all you need to do is pull out the tray,

been installed on one end of some of

tighten the screws then place your BBQ on top. We would also

the picnic benches found around

appreciate it if people could retract them when finished for

• Head over to Thorpe Meadows and

Ferry Meadows. We’ve tested these

safety reasons, being cautious of the heat too.

take a walk around the Rowing Lake. You

meticulously – it can even hold the

As we come into the warmer weather, we hope you will be able

weight of a Ranger. This was done in

Gordon Arms. Combine this with a walk

Barnaby the Bee Have you seen this bee-autiful piece of art mounted on the wall of the Visitor Centre? Named ‘Barnaby’ by his creator, Ranger Tom Davison, this is a space for other wildlife as well as bees including small insects and spiders. The four hexagons have been carefully crafted to include empty spaces for spiders to spin their webs, sand for bees and crevices

around Orton Mere and feed the ducks.

for the insects to hide.

can either park in the Thorpe Meadows

• The Cuckoo in Alwalton can be

Tom has cleverly formed two areas with

to start enjoying BBQs in the Park in a safe way. We have one

car park or head over from Ferry

accessed by a number of different routes.

the presence of our Health and

final plea that everyone takes their rubbish home with them

Meadows by foot or bike. When you

Take a stroll through our Rural Estate from

Safety Officer – do NOT try this

when they leave, or use one of the many bins provided in the

reach the car park area, you will find a

Castor and cross Alwalton Lock, or head

yourselves!

Park. Bring on the barbeques!

newly refurbished restaurant, The

out of Ferry Meadows over Lynch Farm

Boathouse. Chef & Brewer offer an

Bridge and walk through Lynch Woods to

extensive lunch and dinner menu, with a

reach Alwalton. You will see this on our

beautiful outdoor seating area

Ferry Meadows map (don’t forget to pick

overlooking the river.

one up at the Visitor Centre).

events coming up which are great fun!

You can get your bearings and see where

Thrilled by the success of this and other

Coppicing in Bluebell Wood What is coppicing?

We have recycled the cut coppiced material for a range of other

Coppicing involves the cutting of multi-

projects including posts as part of

stemmed trees and shrubs to the

hedge laying and hazel hurdles. The

woodland floor. Throughout the month of

leftover material has been

January, the Ranger team along with

used to build a ‘dead

some of the Nene Park Volunteers, have

hedge’ around the edge of

been coppicing and dead hedging a

the coppiced area. This is

section of Bluebell Wood. In this case, the

done to help deter deer

majority of cutting has been from Hazel.

from browsing the new

they are located by visiting our website’s interactive map on www.neneparktrust.org.uk/map

a food source. You can learn more about the type of animals that live inside, then even borrow a pack from the Visitor Centre and go on the hunt for some yourselves. We also have bug themed

hibernaculum, Tom is working on his next project – an artificial bee bank. Formed from two stainless steel metal sheets with hundreds of small holes, he layers of compressed soil and sand. This will create the perfect habitat for different types of bees who prefer both layers.

coppice as it regrows.

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mulch that will decompose and provide

will fill the space between with alternate

The reason for this work is that it allows light to reach the woodland floor, which

In the future new planting, along with a

Artist-in-Residence, Charron

creates ideal conditions for woodland

coppice rotation system, will create a

Pugsley-Hill, joined some of the

flora and fauna to grow. As the light

rich more diverse woodland habitat for

Volunteers to build this art

stimulates the coppice, it regrows

both wildlife and Park visitors to enjoy,

installation - the first in a series

creating the ideal nesting condition for

as they walk through Bluebell Wood.

of three willow bird nests near

Nightingales. Thinning of species such

We’d like to say a special thank you to

to Bluebell Wood. Keep an eye

as Oak and Ash will encourage more

all of the Volunteers who have been

out for the blackbird nest coming

vegetation to grow. By planting more

involved in this project. A lot of hard

next, and don't forget to come

tree species, it will increase biodiversity

work was involved but we’ve had fun

and see them when you are next

the Milton Ferry bridge entrance

some woodland bird species such as

pieces of Hazel wood and another with

and make it more resilient to diseases

with them as always and are sure we’ll

in the Park for the perfect photo

such as Ash Dieback.

see some great results.

opportunity!

The top will be planted with bee friendly wallflowers to hang down and break up the metal. It’s an experimental project but Tom knows his stuff! He hopes that bees will use the holes to burrow and create tunnels to nest and lay larvae. This will hopefully increase solitary bee population around the Park, which should lay their eggs at the end of summer time. Look out for reports from Tom on their progress.

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PARKLiFE Visions of the future The Brighton Belle made its last journey,

had three lakes - each with a distinct

Spurs won the first-ever UEFA Cup, Liam

purpose, was fully landscaped, and at

Gallagher was born, and the first episode

last was ready for opening.

Thanks to Peterborough Images,

as if Peterborough was to get a ‘winter

That was in 1978, and Ferry Meadows

new images from Peterborough and

playground’ alongside Longthorpe

quickly became one of the region’s main

surrounds, for this great photo.

s

who have a whole host of old and

of Emmerdale was aired – and it looked

Parkway. The year was 1972, and the

attractions. But in the intervening

Nene Park Steering Group had been

period, various ideas had been put

formed to turn the country park from a

forward about features that could, or

dream into a reality.

should, be added to the natural

In fact, it would be a number of years for

Treasure Island for kids, through to a

what would become Thorpe Meadows to

sizeable marina, to a managed deer

landscape. These ranged from a

take shape – minus the tobogganing

park – all of which were rejected,

slope – and in the meantime, the

along with many others.

Steering Group had yet to figure out how to make the best use of Milton Bowl. This

In the next issue of Parklife, we will

was a 400 acre spit of land in a sharp

look at some of the suggestions in more

northern curve of the River Nene.

detail but meanwhile look at the map

An aerial shot of Nene Park in

below. It was doing the rounds in 1973 –

the 1970s.

see if you can spot the differences

renamed Ferry Meadows) had been

between this early vision of Ferry

shared among several prominent citizens

Meadows and the present layout.

s

Ownership of Milton Bowl (quickly

s

Image copyright of Homes & Communities Agency

- Earl Fitzwilliam, dairyman John Horrell, Frank Perkins and others. They jointly sold their land to the Peterborough Development Corporation who duly licensed it to ARC, whose diggers, graders and bulldozers would make the dream come true. Unsurprisingly, the plans went through several iterations. First, there were to be five lakes (or lagoons as they were called in some documents) joined together with channels, then just one, then five separate lakes. Paths and tracks were drawn and re-drawn, and features came and went. In the end, when the dust settled, almost literally, Ferry Meadows

Accessibility at Ferry Meadows Ferry Meadows has been designed to welcome all visitors and

Adapted Cycling Scheme. For more details,

has a number of key features that makes it the perfect

we have a new leaflet that can be found in

location for everyone. There are a number of organised

locations around the Park, including the

initiatives including Peterborough Sailability and the Vivacity

Visitor Centre, with further details.

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