Nene Park, Peterborough
Encyclopedia
Nene Park is a country park in the city of Peterborough
, Cambridgeshire
in the United Kingdom
. Opened in 1978, it occupies a site approximately three and a half miles long, from slightly west of Castor
to the centre of Peterborough. The Park has three lakes, one of which houses a watersports centre which provides sailing, kayaking and windsurfing classes. Another lake houses a pedaloe and rowing boat hire attraction while the third lake contains moorings for boats and has access to the River Nene
. Nene Park also has three children's play areas, located in different points of the Park and a small miniature railway. The main entrance to the Park is served by the Nene Valley Railway
station at Ferry Meadows, from which all the Park's main attractions can be accessed. The eastern end of the Park is also served by Orton Mere and Peterborough Nene Valley stations.
The Park was conceived as part of the town’s 1968 expansion masterplan. Originally within the control of the Peterborough Development Corporation
, the management of the Park was transferred to the Nene Park Trust, a company limited by guarantee with charitable status in 1988 under the auspices of the New Town Community Related Assets transfer arrangements. An endowment of properties provides sufficient income to cover running costs, along with that generated by the Park's tenancies and operations.
The Nene Park Trust is tasked, "to provide for the recreation of the public by the provision of a park for the benefit of the inhabitants of Peterborough and visitors with the object of improving the conditions of life for such persons." The Park combines a balance of commercial attractions and informal and formal recreational pursuits appropriate to the quiet enjoyment of the countryside in addition to farmed land and nature areas.
From a total of 2,535 acres (1,026 ha) within the Trust's management control, 658 acres (267 ha) are dedicated to Ferry Meadows country park, 259 acres (105 ha) for two 18 hole golf courses and 82 acres (33 ha) for organised recreation such as horse riding, rowing, watersports and trout fishing; the remaining 1,535 acres (621 ha) are in private ownership with managed pathways and informal areas. The landscape of the Park is varied, providing a range of natural habitats, informal areas and visitor attractions, including woodland, flood plain meadow and arable fields. In addition local schools make extensive use of the Park for educational field study, students also can gain hands on landscape management experience. Within this area there is also a visitor centre, public house, two hotels, sculpture collection, plant nursery and garden centre which add to the broad appeal of the Park and its inclusion in the life of the city. There is also a major steam railway run by enthusiasts that is some eight miles (13 km) long.
and recreation area that occupies a large portion of the Nene Park, which stretches for six miles (10 km) along the banks of the River Nene
. It is managed by the Nene Park Trust.
The area is often used by people for activities such as pleasant walks, picnics and barbecues, coarse fishing
, bird watching and at the watersports centre, dinghy and board sailing are available. Additionally it has a miniature railway, occasional pony rides, sculptures and cafés. It also includes a group camping site (tents) and a year-round touring caravan Caravan Club
site.
Ferry Meadows is one of the major destinations and attractions signposted on the Green Wheel
cycle route.
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
, Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Opened in 1978, it occupies a site approximately three and a half miles long, from slightly west of Castor
Castor, Cambridgeshire
Castor is a village and civil parish in the City of Peterborough unitary authority, about west of the city centre. The parish is part of the former Soke of Peterborough, which was considered part of Northamptonshire but was more recently part of Cambridgeshire.-History:Castor's toponym is derived...
to the centre of Peterborough. The Park has three lakes, one of which houses a watersports centre which provides sailing, kayaking and windsurfing classes. Another lake houses a pedaloe and rowing boat hire attraction while the third lake contains moorings for boats and has access to the River Nene
River Nene
The River Nene is a river in the east of England that rises from three sources in the county of Northamptonshire. The tidal river forms the border between Cambridgeshire and Norfolk for about . It is the tenth longest river in the United Kingdom, and is navigable for from Northampton to The...
. Nene Park also has three children's play areas, located in different points of the Park and a small miniature railway. The main entrance to the Park is served by the Nene Valley Railway
Nene Valley Railway
The Nene Valley Railway is a preserved railway in Cambridgeshire, England, running between Peterborough Nene Valley and Yarwell Junction. The line is currently seven and a half miles in length...
station at Ferry Meadows, from which all the Park's main attractions can be accessed. The eastern end of the Park is also served by Orton Mere and Peterborough Nene Valley stations.
The Park was conceived as part of the town’s 1968 expansion masterplan. Originally within the control of the Peterborough Development Corporation
Peterborough Development Corporation
The Peterborough Development Corporation was established in February 1968, as a national government initiative, following the city's designation as a third-wave New Town in July 1967...
, the management of the Park was transferred to the Nene Park Trust, a company limited by guarantee with charitable status in 1988 under the auspices of the New Town Community Related Assets transfer arrangements. An endowment of properties provides sufficient income to cover running costs, along with that generated by the Park's tenancies and operations.
The Nene Park Trust is tasked, "to provide for the recreation of the public by the provision of a park for the benefit of the inhabitants of Peterborough and visitors with the object of improving the conditions of life for such persons." The Park combines a balance of commercial attractions and informal and formal recreational pursuits appropriate to the quiet enjoyment of the countryside in addition to farmed land and nature areas.
From a total of 2,535 acres (1,026 ha) within the Trust's management control, 658 acres (267 ha) are dedicated to Ferry Meadows country park, 259 acres (105 ha) for two 18 hole golf courses and 82 acres (33 ha) for organised recreation such as horse riding, rowing, watersports and trout fishing; the remaining 1,535 acres (621 ha) are in private ownership with managed pathways and informal areas. The landscape of the Park is varied, providing a range of natural habitats, informal areas and visitor attractions, including woodland, flood plain meadow and arable fields. In addition local schools make extensive use of the Park for educational field study, students also can gain hands on landscape management experience. Within this area there is also a visitor centre, public house, two hotels, sculpture collection, plant nursery and garden centre which add to the broad appeal of the Park and its inclusion in the life of the city. There is also a major steam railway run by enthusiasts that is some eight miles (13 km) long.
Ferry Meadows
Ferry Meadows is a country parkCountry park
A country park is an area designated for people to visit and enjoy recreation in a countryside environment.-History:In the United Kingdom the term 'Country Park' has a special meaning. There are over 400 Country Parks in England alone . Most Country Parks were designated in the 1970s, under the...
and recreation area that occupies a large portion of the Nene Park, which stretches for six miles (10 km) along the banks of the River Nene
River Nene
The River Nene is a river in the east of England that rises from three sources in the county of Northamptonshire. The tidal river forms the border between Cambridgeshire and Norfolk for about . It is the tenth longest river in the United Kingdom, and is navigable for from Northampton to The...
. It is managed by the Nene Park Trust.
The area is often used by people for activities such as pleasant walks, picnics and barbecues, coarse fishing
Coarse fishing
Coarse fishing is a term used in the United Kingdom and Ireland for angling for coarse fish, which are those types of freshwater fish other than game fish . The sport and the techniques used are particularly popular in the United Kingdom and mainland Europe.-History:The term "coarse fishing"...
, bird watching and at the watersports centre, dinghy and board sailing are available. Additionally it has a miniature railway, occasional pony rides, sculptures and cafés. It also includes a group camping site (tents) and a year-round touring caravan Caravan Club
Caravan Club
The Caravan Club is an organisation representing caravanners in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It was founded in 1907 and now represents nearly 1 million members.-History:...
site.
Ferry Meadows is one of the major destinations and attractions signposted on the Green Wheel
Green Wheel
The Peterborough Millennium Green Wheel is an network of cycleways, footpaths and bridleways. Designed as part of a sustainable transport system for the city , it was created as part of a Millennium project around Peterborough, England....
cycle route.
See also
- Orton MereOrton MereOrton Mere is a station on the Nene Valley Railway and is situated betweenFerry Meadows and Peterborough Nene Valley, adjacent to the River Nene.Orton Mere provides access to the eastern end of the Nene Park...
- Ferry Meadows railway station
- Orton Mere railway station
- Nene Valley RailwayNene Valley RailwayThe Nene Valley Railway is a preserved railway in Cambridgeshire, England, running between Peterborough Nene Valley and Yarwell Junction. The line is currently seven and a half miles in length...