Wildlife Trust unveils its fi rst visitor centre at Rushden Lakes

In 2016 the Wildlife Trust in Northamptonshire
is set to open the doors of its fi rst visitor
centre. This will form part of the planned
retail complex at Rushden Lakes which was
given planning permission earlier this year.

The multi-million pound retail complex will
be in the centre of a globally-important area
for overwintering birds, located within the
Nene Valley Gravel Pits Special Protection
Area (SPA) and it has been designed to
be sympathetic to this important wildlife
area. A large part of the development site
has been set aside as a major new nature
reserve that will be managed by the Wildlife
Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire
and Northamptonshire, to safeguard a vital
space which will link together four of our
existing nature reserves at Irthlingborough,
Ditchford, Higham Ferrers Pits and Wilson’s
Pits. These precious fragments of wildlife
habitat will then form one large area for
nature, managed by the Trust, and bring
benefi ts to people and wildlife along this
sensitive part of the Nene Valley.

The visitor centre - built by the developer,
LXB - will be managed by the Wildlife Trust
and will act as a gateway for people to
access and enjoy the wildlife of the Nene
Valley. The eco building will be zero energy
and also features a green roof which will
absorb rainwater, provide insulation and
create wildlife habitat.

Local company Canoe2 - corporate partners
of the Wildlife Trust - will provide canoe
hire, and new cycle greenways will be built
so visitors can explore the area without
disturbing wildlife. A restored bridge and
footpath to Irthlingborough will also enable
visitors to explore further afi eld.

The developer, LBX, has seen nature as
an asset rather than a nuisance in this
ground-breaking scheme, and Oliver Burke,
Director of Living Landscapes at the Wildlife
Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and
Northamptonshire, is very excited about the
new visitor centre. It will be the fi rst that
this Wildlife Trust has managed, which will
include a shop, a café and visitor information
and has been designed to take advantage
of the stunning views of the nature reserve.
If everything goes to plan, the Wildlife Trust
will be welcoming the fi rst visitors to the new
site in 2016.

For more information please contact
Claire Wylde, Nene Valley Campaigns
Offi cer by phone, 01604 405285 or by
email, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Rushden Lakes

Rushden Lakes