There is a lot going on at Northamptonshire’s Country Parks this spring. Children from Brigstock Primary School were the first to enjoy a new outdoor classroom at Fermyn Woods Country Park, which opened at the end of March. The new classroom has been created for schools and groups visiting the park to take part in educational ranger-led sessions, including nature discovery activities such as bug hunting or making smelly cocktails with water and wild plant leaves. The outdoor classroom seats up to 50 children and will also be available for hire by groups and individuals for events and parties, thereby raising money to help pay for its upkeep.

The new classroom has been funded by a landfill community grant from WREN, a  not-for-profit business that helps benefit the lives of people who live close to landfill sites by awarding grants for community, conservation and heritage projects. It has also received funding from the Friends of Fermyn Woods Country Park who work tirelessly on a range of projects to improve the park. The new classroom is the latest in a number of improvements to Fermyn Woods Country Park over the last year, including the new toddler play area and a re-vamp of the fishing platforms on big pit pond, courtesy of funding from the Environment Agency.

Let’s Go Green!

Fermyn Woods Country Park will also host the first ‘Let’s Go Green!’ session on Sunday 5th May from 11am-4pm. The Master Composters will be coming, along with East Northants Council, who will be there to answer any queries about the Garden Waste Service (kerbside green waste collection) and Recycling Collections. This event is free but please note usual car parking charges will apply (£2.60/car) all of which goes towards the upkeep of the park.

On Sunday 12th May ‘Let’s Go Green!’ will be at Barnwell Country Park, near Oundle. Get the whole family involved with composting, recycling and other exciting activities. The Master Composters will be on hand to talk about how to get started with composting at home or can help trouble shoot a misbehaving bin. They will also be giving out free “bee friendly” seeds to sow at home. Courtesy of Material Change at Lowick, there will be a free compost giveaway - bags brought along will be filled with compost made from our very own Northamptonshire kerbside collections (limit 2-3 bags per person).

Thanks to the Oundle Transition Town Group, composting worms will be free to a good home to get bins going! Nick Penny from the Utterly Butterly Ukulele Project will be holding a Musical Junk Workshop in the Kingfishers Lodge between 12pm and 4pm. He will be showing people how to make music out of junk and children can make their very own ukulele (£5 charge applies, all materials provided).

The day will also launch Barnwell Park’s first family Geocaching course! A modern day treasure hunt where the challenge is to find the hidden caches around the park using GPS and collect treasure, but not forgetting to leave something behind for the next person to discover!

There will be Craft stalls to browse displaying wares ranging from beautiful wildlife photos to hand made jewellery and a chance to view Barnwell Park’s ‘Rubbish Art Exhibition’. Local children are being challenged to produce a piece of ‘Rubbish Art’ or should we say a piece of art made out of rubbish! All entries are to be handed into Barnwell Park Visitors Centre any day before 11am on Sunday 12th May and judging will
take place at 3pm by Simon and Gillian Dolby from The Dolby Art Gallery, Oundle. Prizes will be awarded by age group and winners will form part of an on-going exhibition. For further details please call 01832 273435 or go to www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/parks.

Belthane Festival

The Beltane Festival will take place at Irchester Country Park on Saturday 11th May from 11am- 5pm. Fun for all the family at this year’s Festival with live music hosted by Wildfire Sessions as well as Vikings, Morris Dancers, craft and food stalls, Master Composters, Fairy Grotto and a whole lot more! Call 01933 276866 for further details.

Father’s Day Kite Day

Go fly your kite at Fermyn Woods Country Park, near Brigstock, on Sunday 16th June 11-3pm. Bring your kite and enjoy Father’s Day with the family in the stunning park surroundings. Don’t worry if you don’t have a kite - Rangers will be on hand to help you make your very own simple kite in the new Outdoor Classroom (£2 charge applies to cover the cost of materials). Or, you can buy your very own kite from the Trek Kites stand.

Throughout the day The Great Ouse Kite Flyers will be demonstrating spectacular and unusual kites, in addition to kite flying techniques. For the daring, bring your favourite teddy bear and there will be an opportunity for him or her to do their very own parachute jump! Make the most of the day and bring your own picnic and enjoy watching the kites up on the plateau or, alternatively, you can get refreshments in the Skylark Café whilst the little ones play in the new children’s activity corner. Please note usual car parking charges apply (£2.60/car) all of which goes towards the upkeep of the park.

Nature Tot Sessions

Join a parents and tots group with a difference for pre-school children. A nature walk combined with arts and crafts activities. £3.50 per child includes refreshments, or £3 if paid in advance for a minimum of three months. Pre-booking is required for all sessions from Jo on 07703 160 878. All sessions start at 10am.

Wednesday 1st May & 5th June Irchester Country Park
Wednesday 8th May & 12th June Barnwell Country Park
Thursday 9th May & 13th June Fermyn Woods Country Park
Tuesday 21st May & 18th June Sywell Country Park
Wednesday 15th May & 19th June Brixworth Country Park

For more information on Northamptonshire County Council Country Parks visit
www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/parks

Country Park Events

Country Park Events

Country Park Events

Country Park Events