From Saturday 23 October, we are holding an exciting week of autumnal-themed activities and events for all the family at Nene Park, tying in with the school half term break. There is something for everyone to enjoy, from our scarecrow making activity and autumn colour walk to archery, climbing and broomstick making events. In addition we have our autumn holiday trail, daily watersports pay and play activities at Nene Outdoors and boat trips on Overton Lake!
Find out what’s happening and when, with our Autumn Festival guide to family fun in the Park:
Complete a trail at Ferry Meadows: There will be a trail up around Ferry Meadows for the half term holiday week. Pick up a trail sheet from the Visitor Centre for £1, hunt for questions as you walk around the Park and return to the Visitor Centre to claim your prize.
Pay & Play at Nene Outdoors: Make a splash with our full range of Pay and Play activities on Gunwade Lake, with activities available between 11am and 6pm each day. Daily watersports activities include swan pedalos and row boats, stand up paddle boards, kayaks and canoes, dinghies and windsurfing. Buoyancy aids are included with hire and our friendly and experienced members of staff are always on hand to offer advice and ensure you are safe at all times. You can also hire bikes at Nene Outdoors to explore the wider Park!
Take a boat trip: Take a trip around Overton Lake in our eco passenger boat and enjoy unique views of the lakes and the River Nene around Ferry Meadows. Boat trips will run at various intervals each daily throughout the week or you can book onto our special wildlife cruise on Saturday 23rd October.
Wildlife boat cruise – Saturday 23rd October 9.30-11am: Wyndham’s near silent-motor means that she is the ideal craft for wildlife watching. Join us on a cruise along the River Nene where swans, geese and other water fowl will glide alongside the boat. We cannot guarantee what you will see but wildlife highlights may include Herons, Kingfishers and the elusive Otter! Cruises last approximately 1 hour 30 minutes and a member of our knowledgeable team will join you on the cruise to make sure you don’t miss anything and help you learn more about the wildlife you observe. This event is suitable for 10 yrs+ and tickets cost £12 per person.
Come and make a scarecrow! – Sunday 24th October 10am-1pm: Sign up in a group to make a scarecrow, which will be on display in the Park for the half term week. All materials: straw, newspapers and a sack head are provided. Members of the public will be invited to vote for their favourite scarecrow and there will be a prize for the scarecrow (makers) with the most votes. This event is suitable for all ages and costs £6 per scarecrow.
Find out about Fundraising – Sunday 24th October: Our Fundraising Officer Lucy will be in Ferry Meadows talking to our visitors about all the ways you can support the Park and finding out which are your favourite areas to explore.
Nature Tots – Monday 25th October 10-11.30am: Aimed at pre-school aged children and their carers, Nature Tots is a monthly group with a nature theme. This session will include a messy autumnal craft activity, time to explore the beautiful outdoors, story and song time. Cost is £3.50 per child.
Autumn Colour Walk – Monday 25th October 10.30am-12pm: Join one of our Rangers; Sophie, for a walk around Ferry Meadows looking at the variety of plants that give us the splendid autumn colours. Suitable for 12 yrs+ and tickets cost £2.50 per person.
Tree hunts and Broomsticks – Tuesday 26th, Wednesday 27th and Friday 29th October 10am-2pm: Once again, the witch has lost her items in the trees. Find the trees, find the items and she’ll reward you with your very own broomstick to fly away home on. Children will make their broom stick from the Park’s wood resources. This event is suitable for 5 yrs+ and you need to book for a group (max. 4 including one adult) at a cost of £10 per group.
Archery – Tuesday 26th October 11am-3pm: Archery sessions will run throughout the day on Oak Meadow, so why not book to have a go? Suitable for 8 yrs+ and costs £8 per person.
Make a bird box – Wednesday 27th October 10.30am-12pm: Come along and make a nest box under the guidance of our rangers. Birds will use the boxes to roost and shelter in the winter months and will then get ready for nesting in spring next year. This event is suitable for all ages and costs £8 per box.
Climbing wall – Thursday 28th October 11am-3pm: Our climbing wall will be outside Nene Outdoors for the day so book in for a climbing session with us. Are you brave enough to reach the top? It is suitable for adults and children 4 yrs+ and a session costs £8 per person.
Community Litter Pick – Sunday 31 October 10am-12pm: Come and help us keep the Park clean and green. Pick up a litter picker and bin bags from us at the Visitor Centre in Ferry Meadows and see what you can collect. How about coming in Halloween fancy dress too?
For more details on any of our Autumn Festival activities, and to book your tickets, please go to www.nenepark.org.uk/events. You can also contact Nene Outdoors directly with any questions by email at nene.outdoors@neneparktrust.org.uk or call 01733 234193
Please donate if you can!
As you know, Nene Park Trust is a charitable organisation and relies on public support to manage the upkeep of our beautiful green spaces for all of the community to enjoy. Any support you can give to ensure the continuation of our services will help considerably. Please go to www.nenepark.org.uk/donate if you are able to make a donation.
