8 December 2009 – Awards success for Stanwick Lakes Visitor Building
December 2009 – New Project To Help Protect Northamptonshire's Heritage
November 2009 – Trust Creates New Online Heritage Resource
12 November 2009 – Greenway construction update
30 Mar 2009 – Local firm supports wildlife at Stanwick Lakes
21 September 2009 – Official opening for new Education Suite/Discovery Zone at Stanwick Lakes
3 April 2009 – New visitor centre opens at Stanwick Lakes
30 Mar 2009 – Greenway project takes next steps
25 Mar 2009 – Clearance work gets underway for Greenway project
30 Sep 2008 – Santa's grotto at Stanwick Lakes
30 Sep 2008 – ‘Spooky Halloween’ at Stanwick Lakes
18 Aug 2008 – Visitor centre at Stanwick Lakes taking shape
15 July 2008 – ‘Peter Pan’ flies in to Stanwick Lakes
14 July 2008 – ‘The Great Little Green Shop’ comes to Stanwick Lakes
7 July 2008 – Pirates invade Stanwick Lakes!
12 June 2008 – A successful week for ‘The Great Little Green Shop’
12 June 2008 – 'Pirates of the Nene Valley’ at Stanwick Lakes
2 May 2008 – The Great Little Green Shop’ comes to Stanwick Lakes
21st April 2008 – ‘Animal Magic’ event at Stanwick Lakes
10 March 2008 – Work begins on Stanwick Lakes visitor building
25 Feb 2008 – Preparatory ground works underway at Stanwick Lakes
19 Oct 2007 – Getting 'into the swing' of local heritage
02 May 2007 – Tour of St Mary the Virgin Church at Titchmarsh
13 April 2007 – 'How the wind blows' event draws the crowds to Stanwick Lakes
February 2007 – Protecting our Hidden Heritage – from Post Boxes to Chicken Coops
18 Jan 2007 – It's not easy being green
7 Nov 2006 – Trust helps pupils uncover woodland school remains
11 Sep 2006 – How does your village grow...? Gretton
18 July 2006 – From Quarry to Country Park...development of a different kind!
20 July 2006 – Local people to discover the heritage of Rockingham Forest
19 June 2006 – How does your village grow...?
25 May 2006 – A Legacy of Kings: New book sheds light on local area
April 2006 – Stanwick Lakes: three months on
6 Mar 2006 – The Community Planning Network consults!
18 Jan 2006 – Consultation advice for weary parish councillors

8 December  2009

Awards success for Stanwick Lakes Visitor Building

Stanwick Lakes Visitor Building has won the prestigious Building and Design Excellence Award at the annual Milton Keynes South Midlands (mksm) Excellence Awards.

The awards have been created to recognise best practice in building and open space design at a range of scales - from parks, squares and neighbourhoods to single buildings, works of public art and larger housing, mixed-use and commercial schemes. The judging panel was headed up by John Weir, Chairman of TransForm:MKSM. They described Stanwick Lakes as: "a great value scheme and a wonderful building that responds well to its setting. The on-going success of the centre only serves to highlight the quality of the experience."

Also counting in the centre's favour were the various eco-friendly aspects of its design, including its renewable energy technologies, and the fact that it operates as a Social Enterprise, which means that all profits are reinvested to sustain its environmental and community objectives.

Alyson Allfree, Director of Rockingham Forest Trust, the charity which developed and runs the building, said, "We are delighted that Stanwick Lakes has been awarded this coveted prize. We and our partners at East Northamptonshire Council are hugely proud of the Visitor Centre, which provides excellent facilities to the local community and those that travel here from further afield. A lot of hard work went into the delivery of this important project and it is very pleasing to receive recognition for what has been achieved." Quotation from someone at East Northants Council: Stanwick Lakes visitor building was the Joint winner of the award along with C4.1 Vizion, a large mixed use development in Milton Keynes. The mksm Excellence Awards recognises schemes which demonstrate outstanding excellence in order to promote the best projects which are still being delivered in these testing times. mksm is the country's largest growth area, spanning three regions and fourteen local authorities, with a partnership headed up by a high level 'Inter Regional Board', chaired by a CLG Government Minister.

For further information contact Rockingham Forest Trust on 01933 625527

December 2009 

New Project To Help Protect Northamptonshire's Heritage

A new initiative, led by the Rockingham Forest Trust, will soon be supporting communities, landowners and councils in protecting Northamptonshire's heritage, thanks to an award of £371,700 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Over the next three years the 'Rose of the Shires' project will work with thirty communities in six areas of the county; recording their historic surroundings and helping to protect these features for future generations. As well as studying the development of each settlement the work will record other evidence of the past, such as enclosures, field patterns, woodland, hedgerows and earthworks. The project will be using recently created data that enables reconstruction of Northamptonshire ?s land use and settlements over the past 700 years; the only county in the UK that has this mapping available.

The work will be delivered by a team that includes historians and landscape archaeologists, providing a programme of presentations, workshops and other activities in each area. The project will also involve communities in discovering more about their social and industrial history and will be delivering a range of heritage work with local schools. The studies carried out with communities will be written up in detailed reports, assessing the condition and survival of the various historic elements and including recommendations for their future management. Northamptonshire County Council and Peterborough City Council will adopt these reports into their Historic Environment Records where they will be used to inform future decision making by Local Authorities. The six areas selected by the project represent different historic landscapes and periods in time. In its first year the project will work with local parishes around Naseby (site of the civil war battle with its historic landscape and archaeological earthworks) and the Whittlewood area which is at the heart of a forest dating from medieval times. Other areas to be involved as the project progresses are around Althorp, Fawsley, Earls Barton and the Soke of Peterborough. The project will also be producing historic website content and mapping for more than 250 settlements. These will be added to the Trust ?s existing online Heritage Resource Centre, which covers the Rockingham Forest area, and will create a unique County wide resource for Northamptonshire. The Heritage Resource Centre can be accessed through the Trust's website www.rockingham-forest-trust.org.uk

Stuart Taylor of the Rockingham Forest Trust said: "Northamptonshire is experiencing rapid change and growth and we need to make sure that it still maintains its character and distinctiveness for the future. This is an exciting opportunity for these communities to have an active role in managing their local heritage, establishing a framework that could also be used in other areas of the County."

For further information contact Stuart Taylor at Rockingham Forest Trust 01933 625527

23 November 2009 

Trust Creates New Online Heritage Resource

A heritage project, led by the Rockingham Forest Trust, has just completed its three year programme of work with communities, landowners and schools. The final achievement of the ‘People of the Forest’ project was to create a major online Heritage Resource Centre for the Rockingham Forest area.

Users can now access hundreds of pages of information, maps, photographs and other resources. They can discover how the Forest has changed over the past thousand years and can also select any individual village or town, each of which has its own pages of information. Selecting the ‘Atlas of the Forest’ section enables people to look at maps that reconstruct the Forest’s landscapes of the medieval, post medieval and Victorian periods. Schools can use the Education pages to find out how the content relates to the National Curriculum; they can also access Case Studies, support materials and videos.

The Heritage Resource Centre can be visited through the Trust’s website www.rockingham-forest-trust.org.uk

‘People of the Forest’ also worked with Northamptonshire Record Society to publish a hardback book that includes the maps and other information produced for the website. The ’Rockingham Forest Atlas’ is available from Northamptonshire Records Office and costs £25.
The project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, worked with almost 50 communities in studying their historic environment. This included presentations and guided walks, recording buildings of local significance and exploring the architecture and features of their churches. Nine areas, including Collyweston, Oundle,  Brigstock and Fotheringhay, were chosen for more detailed Heritage Days that were led by Landscape Archaeologists. The project also delivered heritage activities for schools, collected an archive of photographs and oral histories and provided a range of support for farmers across the area.

The Trust has now been awarded further Heritage Lottery Funding for a new project ‘Rose of the Shires’. This will work with 30 communities in other areas of Northamptonshire; carrying out comprehensive studies of their historic surroundings. The results of this work will be adopted by local councils and used to inform future decision making in the county.

Stuart Taylor of the Rockingham Forest Trust said: “Northamptonshire is experiencing rapid change and growth and we need to make sure that it still maintains its character and distinctiveness for the future. The new project is an exciting opportunity for these communities to have an active role in managing their local heritage, establishing a framework that could also be used in other areas of the County.”

Press enquiries: Contact Stuart Taylor at the Trust. Tel: 01933 625527

Greenway construction update

The New Year is set to make the East Northamptonshire Greenway project a reality. On-the-ground construction of the Greenway is planned for January – October 2010 with mobilisation sites being set up in December 2009. Residents that will be most closely affected during the construction phase will be updated and advised of the dates by letter. Additional information will also be published in future editions of the Nene Valley News and on the East Northamptonshire Council website.

During the summer an exhibition providing information about the East Northamptonshire Greenway project was held in the libraries in Irthlingborough, Higham Ferrers and Rushden. Residents were given the opportunity to make comments about whether they would use the route, how often and for what reason, and also give their opinions on various aspects such as lighting. The Greenway received strong support with 63% of respondents saying that they would use the Greenway and more than half of those people saying that it would actually encourage them to leave their car at home.

The greenway will connect the towns of Irthlingborough, Higham Ferrers and Rushden with a tarmac path suitable for cycling and walking and for use by disabled people. Respondents to the consultation stated that the main reason for them to use the path would be for general walking and cycling, a route to school and for dog walking.

It is hoped that the Greenway will encourage children to walk or cycle to school, commuters to walk to work and generally encourage a more active lifestyle. The East Northamptonshire Greenway is a project being carried out for East Northamptonshire Council by Rockingham Forest Trust.

For further information please contact Jane Ivens, Project Manager at Rockingham Forest Trust on (01933) 625527.

23 November 2009 

Local firm supports wildlife at Stanwick Lakes

Local charity Rockingham Forest Trust is set to benefit from the generosity of Dodson & Horrell, as the Islip-based firm has sponsored the Trust and its work at Stanwick Lakes, at the start of what it is hoped will become a long-term partnership. The family-owned animal and bird feed specialists have set up the Willowbrook Wildlife Trust to support conservation and wildlife in the area, and believe that they share many of the values which have made Stanwick Lakes so successful for both people and wildlife.

"We are delighted to be able to present this £2,000 cheque to Rockingham Forest Trust as an encouragement to keep up the good work at the lakes," said Managing Director Richard Horrell," and we look forward to working with them in the years to come. It is a good opportunity to be able to invest in the local area from which we draw so many of our workforce."

The next joint venture between the two organisations is likely to be the development of a Stanwick Lakes Explorer Pack in the spring.

Dodson & Horrell's new Willowbrook Wildlife range of bird seed is available from its countryside store in Ringstead from the New year.

Press enquiries: Alyson Allfree at Rockingham Forest Trust on 01933 625527 or Rebecca Ingram at Dodson & Horrell on 01832 737300

21 September 2009 

Official opening for new Education Suite/Discovery Zone at Stanwick Lakes

There will be opportunities for local people to join in the fun at the official opening of the Stanwick Lakes visitor building and its brand new Education Suite/Discovery Zone on Saturday 10th October, starting at 2pm.

Following the opening itself by the Editor of the Evening Telegraph, there will be activities for children in the new Discovery Zone, a treasure hunt, and an appearance by Mr Mudge the clown.

For further information please contact Rockingham Forest Trust at Stanwick Lakes on (001933) 625522.

3rd April 2009

New visitor centre opens at Stanwick Lakes

The new visitor centre at Stanwick Lakes countryside attraction and nature reserve is now open to the public and attracting hundreds of visitors. Its iconic design combined with its use of the latest ‘green’ technologies make it set to be a landmark building in Northamptonshire, and one of the first carbon neutral facilities in the county.

In addition to a café (with a deck out over the lake), gift shop and indoor play area for young children, the centre has a multi-purpose function suite available for hire; the central ‘atrium’ by the café contains an interpretation space with interactive exhibits to explain its innovative design. By pedalling furiously on a bicycle the visitor can see how much energy is required just to boil a kettle, and can learn how to reduce their own demand for heat and light.

The building is able to meet its own energy needs by a combination of solar power, a ground source heat pump, and a wind turbine (the latter to be installed this summer). It also has rainwater harvesting for flushing the toilets, and a sedum ‘living roof’ to improve insulation and bio-diversity.

“Opening the visitor centre has created over 20 jobs, and will enable us to provide a valuable community resource, making Stanwick Lakes a facility which has something to offer whatever the weather,” said Alyson Allfree, Director of Rockingham Forest Trust, the charity which develops and manages the site. “Importantly, it should make the site sustainable in the long term by generating additional income for the social enterprise, to cover the running costs.”

Stanwick Lakes attracts around 200,000 visitors per year and this is set to rise to 250,000 with the opening of the visitor centre.

Construction continues on phase two, the education wing, and should be finished in the summer.

Rockingham Forest Trust is an environmental and rural development charity which develops and manages Stanwick Lakes on behalf of East Northamptonshire Council, one of the project’s key funders.

Other funders include North Northants Development Company (through the Department for Communities and Local Government), Northamptonshire Enterprise Ltd (through East Midlands Development Agency) and River Nene Regional Park.

Construction of the visitor centre has been by Jeakins Weir, the architects are Laurie Wood and Projects Managers are Saturn Projects. The cost for phase 1 of the building was £2.2Million.

Stanwick Lakes is a countryside attraction and nature reserve situated off the A45 between Thrapston and Wellingborough.

Press enquiries: Alyson Allfree at Rockingham Forest Trust (01832) 274278

Site information: Please contact the rangers on (01933) 625522

30th March 2009

Greenway project takes next steps

The Greenway Project, managed by Rockingham Forest Trust on behalf of East Northamptonshire Council, has taken its first steps towards developing a route between the towns in the south of the district, to enable people to travel by active and sustainable methods that are good for both their health and the environment.

Growth area funding of £250,000 has been made available for this first stage, which has enabled initial clearance works to be carried out along the dismantled railway to remove vegetation and litter from the proposed cycle route. Wildlife, tree and visitor surveys have also been carried out and all clearance work was carried out under the supervision of an ecological specialist. The full design for the route is also currently underway and will include details on lighting, dog waste bins and road crossings.

Councillor Sarah Peacock said: “This is the first stage of this exciting project to make it easier for people to access the countryside, on foot and by bike.  The Greenway will benefit the district by promoting ways of travel that are kinder to the environment and encourage a more active lifestyle among our residents.”

East Northamptonshire Council intends to hold a number of community information events to explain the future progress of the project, and encourage peoples’ input. Community suggestions, where appropriate, will be incorporated into the design.

Further funding will be sought by East Northamptonshire Council, including Links to Schools, to enable the next stage of the project to go ahead.

The East Northamptonshire Greenway is a project being carried out for East Northamptonshire Council by Rockingham Forest Trust, supported by Growth Area Funding from North Northants Development Company.

For further information please contact Jane Ivens, Project Manager at Rockingham Forest Trust on (01832) 274278.

25th March 2009

Clearance work gets underway for Greenway project

The first steps have been taken in getting the East Northamptonshire Greenway Project underway, with clearance works starting along the dismantled railway to remove vegetation and litter from the proposed cycle route.

A full ecological survey was undertaken by a wildlife expert before work started to ensure that wildlife would not be adversely affected; in particular it was important to cut back vegetation before the nesting season. No hedges are being removed, only brambles and scrub.

The affected local residents were informed by letter and East Northamptonshire Council intends to hold a number of community information events to explain the future progress of the project, and encourage peoples’ input.

The full design for the route is currently in preparation and will include details on lighting, dog waste bins and road crossings.

“At the time that a Greenway project was first mooted for the district there was huge community support for the project,” said Councillor Sarah Peacock. “We understand that some people have concerns about the potential impact on their immediate neighbourhood, and we are happy to discuss these, but we believe that in the longer term the opening up of a greenway through one of the most populated parts of the district will be both a practical benefit and a visual asset, which should address some of the anti-social problems such as fly-tipping.”

The East Northamptonshire Greenway is a project being carried out for East Northamptonshire Council by Rockingham Forest Trust, supported by Growth Area Funding from North Northants Development Company.

For further information please contact Jane Ivens, Project Manager at Rockingham Forest Trust on (01832) 274278.

30th September 2008

Santa’s grotto at Stanwick Lakes

Santa will be paying a flying visit to Stanwick Lakes on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th December between 11am and 4.30pm.

The rangers’ cabin will once again be transformed into a magical winter wonderland with Christmas trees, twinkling lights and festive music.

Visitors will be able to wander through to Santa's grotto where the children will meet Santa and, if they have been good boys and girls, they will receive a gift from him.

Adults can also join in the festive fun with a mince pie and a glass of sherry or a hot drink. Adults £1 Children £3.50.

Rockingham Forest Trust is an environmental charity which manages Stanwick Lakes on behalf of East Northamptonshire Council.

Stanwick Lakes is situated off the A45 between Thrapston and Wellingborough.

Press enquiries: Alyson Allfree at Rockingham Forest Trust (01832) 274278

Site information: Please contact the rangers on (01933) 625522

30th September 2008

‘Spooky Halloween’ at Stanwick Lakes

As the autumn leaves fall and the evenings draw in, fiendish plans are underway at Stanwick Lakes for ‘Spooky Halloween’ arts and crafts sessions on Wednesday 29th and Thursday 30th October.

Activities will include a Halloween themed treasure hunt with a prize for all those who answer the questions correctly. Other activities will be held in the rangers’ cabin and will include making scary masks, bat puppets, bouncy spiders, googly eyes, pop-up black cats, clip on bats and a few other surprises.

For a spook-tacular time, come to the cabin between 1pm and 3.30pm. The cost is £2 per child. For more information please contact the rangers on (01933) 625522.

Rockingham Forest Trust is an environmental charity which manages Stanwick Lakes on behalf of East Northamptonshire Council.

Stanwick Lakes is situated off the A45 between Thrapston and Wellingborough.

Press enquiries: Alyson Allfree at Rockingham Forest Trust (01832) 274278

Site information: Please contact the rangers on (01933) 625522

18th August 2008

Visitor centre at Stanwick Lakes taking shape

Recent visitors to Stanwick Lakes will notice that the outline of the long awaited visitor centre is beginning to take shape. The supporting external walls and the large support timbers for the roof are all in place and the overall appearance of the building is now distinguishable.

The centre is expected to open in spring 2009 and will provide a café, shop, educational indoor play facilities, interpretation and exhibition space, function rooms for hire, and visitor toilets. The innovative design of the building incorporates the latest green technology, such as solar power, rain water harvesting, a ground source heat pump and a wind turbine, which will enable the building to meet its own energy needs.

15th July 2008

‘Peter Pan’ flies in to Stanwick Lakes

On Friday 22nd August, the open air theatre at Stanwick Lakes will be playing host to Heartbreak Productions theatre company with their brand new adaptation of Peter Pan - the little boy who never grew up. It promises to be a fun-filled, family show, suitable for ages 5 to 95.

Now is your chance to become a member of the gang of Lost Boys, Indians or Fairies as spectators are encouraged to dress up for the performance. It is an interactive show so be prepared to join in!

The show starts at 6pm, but why not have a picnic prior to the performance? Tickets are on sale now and are available on site from the rangers or from Rockingham Forest Trust (01832) 274278. Tickets cost £10 (adults) and £6 (concessions - over 65s and children 1 – 16years)

Fantasy, magic, humour and sinister villains guarantees entertainment for all in this exciting family show. Don’t miss out – buy your tickets now!

14th July 2008

‘The Great Little Green Shop’ comes to Stanwick Lakes

Visitors to Stanwick Lakes will again be able to buy gifts and other items from ‘The Great Little Green Shop’ which will be re-opening for business by the rangers’ cabin from Monday 18th - Friday 22nd August, from 10am – 4pm (weather permitting).

Rockingham Forest Trust are keen to find out people’s reaction to their ‘green’, ethical and branded products range prior to the visitor centre opening in the spring. Solar torches and Stanwick Lakes jute bags are among the new items in the range. Jewellery, greetings cards, bird boxes, teddies and the very popular Stanwick Lakes Explorer Pack will all be available to purchase. Come and take a look and remember to bring your money!

The venture will provide valuable feedback for planning the stocking of the shop. All proceeds will be re-invested in the project.

7th July 2008

Pirates invade Stanwick Lakes!

Captain Jack Sparrow and Long John Silver were just two of the young pirates who visited Stanwick Lakes on Saturday 5th July for the ‘Pirates of the Nene Valley’ event run by Rockingham Forest Trust.

Families flocked to the site to take part, and the cabin was full to capacity with youngsters making pirate rafts, hats and patches and having a go at guessing where the hidden treasure was buried. Groups followed the various treasure trails, and the pirate rafts were tested for their sail-ability in a race on the lake.

Councillor Dudley Hughes, Chairman of East Northamptonshire Council, awarded prizes to the best dressed pirates. Alyson Allfree of Rockingham Forest Trust said, “Everyone who dressed up made such an effort and all the pirates looked fantastic! The children particularly enjoyed racing their little rafts.”

12th June 2008

A successful week for ‘The Great Little Green Shop’

‘Sunny’ beads, branded pencils and ‘Stanwick Lakes Explorer’ Packs’ were among the most popular items on sale at The Great Little Green Shop at Stanwick Lakes recently. Despite the poor weather, the shop was open every day and received a steady flow of interest from visitors.

The week’s trading gave Rockingham Forest Trust a feel for potential visitor interest in green, ethical, local and branded products – just some of the ranges likely to be on sale when the visitor centre opens next spring.

Young visitors to Stanwick Lakes who purchased the pack can now be seen exploring the site with their binoculars and learning about some of the birdlife.

The shop will be visiting the site again in August with additional products for sale. The venture will provide valuable feedback for planning the stocking of the shop. All proceeds will be re-invested in the project.

12th June 2008

‘Pirates of the Nene Valley’ at Stanwick Lakes

Ahoy, me Hearties! On Saturday 5th July between 10 am and 1pm a fun, family event on a pirate theme will be held at Stanwick Lakes. ‘Pirates of the Nene Valley’ will give children the chance to take part in various piratical goings-on, and to dress up, with a prize for the best ‘pirate’.

Activities on the day will include treasure trails, knot tying and guess the location of the hidden treasure. There will even be the chance to make, and race, your own pirate raft complete with a skull and crossbones flag.

So, all you lads and lassies, come on down to Stanwick Lakes. You’ll only need a few ‘pieces of eight’ for the making activities and trails.

2nd May 2008

The Great Little Green Shop’ comes to Stanwick Lakes

During the half-term week at the end of May, visitors to Stanwick Lakes will be able to buy gifts and other items from ‘The Great Little Green Shop’ which will be open for business all week by the rangers’ cabin.

Rockingham Forest Trust will be trialling some of the products that will be on sale when the visitor centre opens next spring. Items from our green, ethical, local and branded products range will be available to buy from Monday 26th May until Sunday 1st June from 10am – 4pm (weather permitting).

Jewellery, bags, greetings cards, bird boxes, teddies and the exclusive Stanwick Lakes Explorer Pack, to name just a few, will all be available to purchase. Come and take a look and remember to bring your money!

The venture will provide valuable feedback for planning the stocking of the shop. All proceeds will be re-invested in the project.

21st April 2008

'Animal Magic’ event at Stanwick Lakes

On Friday 16th May, between 11am and 2pm, pre-school children visiting Stanwick Lakes with their mums and dads will be able to have fun doing simple arts activities on an animal theme.  Also, see if you can spot the hidden teddies in the log cabin!

The cost is £1 per child. For more information please contact the rangers on (01933) 625522.

10th March 2008

Work begins on Stanwick Lakes visitor building

Visitors to Stanwick Lakes will notice that after much planning and fund raising, construction of the long awaited visitor centre is beginning on site. Set to be one of the first carbon neutral buildings in Northamptonshire, it will provide a full range of visitor facilities including café and shop, as well as a valuable community resource.

Rockingham Forest Trust has appointed construction company Jeakins Weir to develop the Stanwick Lakes Centre. The innovative design of the building incorporates the latest green technology, such as solar power, rain water harvesting, a ground source heat pump and a wind turbine, which will enable the building to meet its own energy needs.

In addition to the café and shop, there will be educational indoor play facilities, function rooms for hire, interpretation and exhibition space, and visitor toilets.  It is expected that the building will be completed by Easter 2009.

“This is a key stage in the site’s development,” said Alyson Allfree, of Rockingham Forest Trust. “Not only will the visitor building generate the income needed to make Stanwick Lakes sustainable, it will also provide the community with a facility of which we hope they can be proud.”

Chairman of the Council, Councillor Eloise Finch said, “After such a lot of hard work by all involved it is incredibly rewarding to see the diggers on site. The centre will be a landmark building in East Northamptonshire and will be a fantastic example of environmental innovation.”

Project Managers for the construction are Saturn Projects, and the architects are Laurie Wood.

Rockingham Forest Trust is an environmental charity which manages Stanwick Lakes on behalf of East Northamptonshire Council, one of the project’s key funders.

Other funders include North Northants Development Company (through the Department for Communities and Local Government), East Midlands Development Agency and River Nene Regional Park.

25th February 2008

Preparatory ground works underway at Stanwick Lakes

Visitors to Stanwick Lakes may notice that initial ground clearance works are underway on the site of the proposed visitor building.

Certain areas are being cleared of vegetation now in order to minimise disturbance to nesting birds as spring approaches. The areas affected include the central lakeside site and the mains sewerage route. It is hoped that full construction of the building could start in the near future.

Alyson Allfree of Rockingham Forest Trust said “It is our responsibility as the site managers to ensure we protect the bird population on the site. This initial work taking place now has been agreed with Natural England, and should ensure that no birds are disturbed during the construction phase.”

19 October 2007

Getting 'into the swing' of local heritage

The 'People of the Forest' project run by Rockingham Forest Trust (and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund) has had a busy autumn so far, with two events taking place to involve communities in learning more about their local heritage.

The first involved a visit by Kings Cliffe Endowed School to their local WWII airfield, occupied by American squadrons from 1943 until the end of the war. The trip took place almost exactly 63 years since Glenn Miller & his orchestra played at the airfield, and so Glenn Miller music was played as the children were organised into 3 ‘Squadrons’.

Activities involved map work to plot distance and direction, examination of the remains of the defences, runways and control tower, and study of the war memorial. Once back at school the children rounded off the day with a piece of wartime fruit cake - made from rationed ingredients but which tasted delicious! 

The second event was a heritage day at Brigstock attended by 25 people, some of whom have already been have been working with the project to study and record the church and other buildings in the village.

An overview of the project was followed by presentations and guided walks led by archaeologists Glenn Foard and Tracey Partida. Old maps, historical documents, earthworks and buildings were all studied to provide the evidence of how the village looked in previous centuries. This information will be made available through the project website that will be launched in 2008.Villagers were shown evidence of the early Saxon settlement and a major Roman road, an old Drovers’ road through Fermyn Hall Park, and an ancient boundary marker, the Bocase Stone.

The day was a great success and some of those attending are now hoping to carry out further research to discover more about the history of Brigstock.

For more information on the 'People of the Forest' project please contact Stuart Taylor at Rockingham Forest Trust on (01832) 274278.

About the Heritage Lottery Fund

1. The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our diverse heritage.  From our great museums and historic buildings to local parks and beauty spots or recording and celebrating traditions, customs and history, HLF grants open up our nation’s heritage for everyone to enjoy.  Since 1994 we have awarded over £3.6billion to more than 22,500 projects across the UK.

2. For more information please contact Sarah Barnwell, Heritage Lottery Fund  Tel: 020 7591 6046,email: sarahb1@hlf.org.uk Website:  www.hlf.org.uk or Helen Griffee on 07787793541 email: heleng2@hlf.org.uk. 

02 May 2007

Tour of St Mary the Virgin Church at Titchmarsh

On Monday 23rd April local residents and members of the Community Planning Network were treated to a very special evening of events in St Mary the Virgin Church in Titchmarsh. Organised by the Rockingham Forest Trust, the evening started with a fascinating tour of the church by Jean Bussens. Jean was a mine of information and pointed out many of the church’s architectural features ranging from the Norman origins of the chancel to the Victorian wall paintings and more recent renovation work.

The rest of the evening was given over to three talks. Firstly, Stephen Barber talked about recent church projects, which gave the local people in the audience an insight into the costs of the renovation works, the red tape that had to be gone through to secure funding and how the works were managed.

This led nicely into Stuart Story-Taylor’s talk on Statements of Significance. Stuart talked through the process of writing a Statement of Significance, the key element to securing funding for any kind of restoration or improvement works. Finally, Peter Dunn rounded off the evening with a short talk on the work being done by the Northamptonshire Historic Churches Trust to preserve local churches for future generations.

The evening was very well attended and if the number of questions raised is anything to go by, the local community in Titchmarsh and the surrounding area is very interested in preserving their heritage and also very keen to get involved. The church at Titchmarsh is a superb example of how a local community can make a big difference, and it proved to be a huge inspiration at this popular event.    

For anyone preparing a Statement of Significance, Stuart Story-Taylor at the Rockingham Forest Trust is more than happy to give assistance and guidance. He can be contacted on 01832 274278.

For more information please contact the Rockingham Forest Trust on 01832 274278 or email Karen@rftrust.org.uk.

13 April 2007

'How the wind blows' event draws the crowds to Stanwick Lakes

A record number of visitors came to enjoy the fun at Stanwick Lakes' event, 'How the Wind Blows' during the Easter holidays, as a combination of good weather and family activities drew the crowds.

The event made the most of the winds blowing through the site: children had fun making kites and mini rafts, and taking part in treasure hunts on a wind-related theme.

A grand sailing of the rafts took place at the end of the afternoon, with some of the crafts making it right across the lake!

"This Easter has been the busiest period since we opened," said Alyson Allfree, Rockingham Forest Trust's Marketing Director. "We are delighted that so many people are getting such obvious enjoyment from the site."

Stanwick Lakes is situated off the Stanwick roundabout on the A45. It combines walks and cycle routes with adventure playgrounds, picnic areas and wonderful birdwatching opportunities.

For further information please contact the rangers on (01933) 625522.

February 2007

Protecting our Hidden Heritage – from Post Boxes to Chicken Coops

Most people are familiar with the system by which old buildings of historical interest can be ‘listed’ and given statutory protection. But what of the buildings and other structures of the last 160 years that aren’t usually included in these lists? Local Councils have the option of creating ‘Local Listings’, to record the most important of these ‘buildings’ and use this information within the planning system.  English Heritage are pressing for these valued buildings and structures to be given greater protection and Local Lists could have an increased role in saving our heritage for the future.

This month, the Community Planning Network, led by the Rockingham Forest Trust is hosting a presentation on some of the more interesting unprotected structures in the area and what can be done to protect them.

Dr. Peter Hill, the well-known local historian will be talking about what makes a structure ‘of importance’ and will be including some unexpected examples such as bridges, wells and roadside signs as well as more conventional buildings like railway stations and village schools. Dr. Hill said, “Many of these structures are off-the-beaten-track, and some are almost forgotten but all of them are part of our local heritage and are of historical importance to their communities. It would be tragic if they were lost to us forever. The new local listing process gives everyone an opportunity to make sure that historical structures have a chance of being saved for posterity.”

Stuart Taylor, of Rockingham Forest Trust, will also be talking about the local listings process and what people can do if they know of a structure that is significant to them. Attendees are invited to bring in photographs of buildings or structures they think may be of interest.

The event is taking place on Tuesday 27th February at 7.30 pm at the Drill Hall in Oundle and is free. There is expected to be a high demand for places so booking is essential. Contact Karen on 01832 274278 or by email at Karen@rftrust.org.uk

About the Community Planning Network

The Community Planning Network is a Leader+ project led by the Rockingham Forest Trust to support the rural areas, funded by the European Union and Defra. The events programme is also supported by “Awards for All”.  Membership is open to anyone who lives in the Rockingham Forest and is interested in understanding and influencing planning and development in the area.

18th January 2007

It’s not easy being green

We all know we need to recycle and conserve water in our homes but sometimes it helps to understand the bigger picture and learn about new technologies available to help us. That is exactly want members of the Community Planning Network did.

Members met in Geddington Village Hall to learn more about recycling, renewable energy and technology being explored for new homes in the area. Emma French from Northamptonshire County Council helped us to understand the problems and opportunities from recycling our goods. We discovered that we can’t put yoghurt pots in our recycling simply because there is currently not a market for the end product. To help with this she encouraged us to actively buy goods made from recycled products.

Paul Hicks from Velux shared his extensive knowledge of renewable energy and showed us the new technologies already being used in Europe that will shortly be available here. George Bowman from Bee Bee Development then spoke about the work they are doing to explore the opportunities for whole community solutions rather than individual home owners being responsible. We looked at options such as Biomass heating solutions for an entire estate to electric cars that come with the house that you buy.

The Community Planning Network is a Leader+ project led by the Rockingham Forest Trust to support the rural areas, funded by the European Union and Defra. The events programme is also supported by “Awards for All”. Membership is open to anyone who lives in the Rockingham Forest and is interested in understanding and influencing planning and development in the area.  If you would like to find out more or to become a member please call Rockingham Forest Trust on 01832 274278 or E-mail karen@rftrust.org.uk.

Rockingham Forest Trust, Drill Hall House, Benefield Road, Oundle, Peterborough,
PE8 4EY Tel. (01832) 274278


7th November 2006

Trust helps pupils uncover woodland school remains

Pupils from Nassington Primary School were on a mission to uncover the past, as they braved the mud in Old Sulehay Forest and spent a happy morning learning about the one-time woodland school there: a colourful part of their local heritage. The event was organised by Rockingham Forest Trust as part of their ‘People of the Forest’ project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The children, aged 7-9 walked across the fields to the woods, hoping to discover remains of Second World War military buildings. Research carried out by the Trust established that after the war there were families living in these buildings, and one of the huts was used as a school for a number of years, with a local teacher cycling out each day to give the lessons.

The pupils searched the woods and managed to find a large concrete floor, still intact beneath a layer of soil and moss. They also found various remains of buckets, saucepans and pottery nearby. 

Project Co-ordinator, Stuart Taylor, said “It was very exciting to work with the school and discover this evidence; we would really like to find out more about the buildings that were there and talk to people who have memories of them.”  

If you can help the Trust find out more about the buildings and what they were used for please contact Stuart Taylor or Susan Thompson.


The Trust will be working with schools from across the Rockingham Forest as the 'People of the Forest' project unfolds. Those interested in participating should contact them on (01832) 274278.

11 September 2006

How does your village grow...? Gretton

Members of the Community Planning Network discovered hidden facets of Gretton on a sunny Saturday afternoon and found out from local residents how it has grown over the years. The local Historical Society shared their knowledge of Gretton through the years, aided by members of the team who were involved in the creation of the Parish Plan.  Did you know that two of the houses in Gretton had “garderobes”  (inside toilets to most of us) at a time long before everyday folk had them.

After the walk, members returned to the village hall to hear what Gretton residents felt to be the important issues for their village during the Parish Plan process.  One member commented “I had not realized how useful the document could be in commenting on planning application”.

Corby Council Planning Department also attended to speak about their commitment to communities who want to start this work. The key message was “Do contact your local council if you are starting this process, we want to help if we possibly can”. A Parish Plan is very much a community led process and whilst the local borough council and parish council are involved and support it, the end document is about what is important to all local people.

The Community Planning Network is a Leader+ project led by the Rockingham Forest Trust to support the rural areas, funded by the European Union and Defra. Membership is open to anyone who lives in the Rockingham Forest and is interested in understanding and influencing planning and development in the area.


If you would like to find out more or to become a member please call Rockingham Forest Trust on 01832 274278 or E-mail karen@rftrust.org.uk.

18 July 2006

From Quarry to Country Park…..development of a different kind!

Members of the Community Planning Network spent a summers evening at Stanwick Lakes, hearing form the rangers how the site has changed in the two years since quarrying stopped. They were also able to talk to local residents about the role they have been able to play in developing the site.

Having seen the newest of the lakes, which has only been a lake for two years and yet still has nesting birds, they were fascinated to hear and see some of the wildlife which has been attracted to the more established areas.

The play area and adventure trail also proved to be of great interest to young-at-heart members!

The Community Planning Network is a Leader+ project led by the Rockingham Forest Trust to support the rural areas, funded by the European Union and Defra. Membership is open to anyone who lives in the Rockingham Forest and is interested in understanding and influencing planning and development in the area.


If you would like to find out more or to become a member please call Rockingham Forest Trust on 01832 274278 or E-mail karen@rftrust.org.uk.

20 July 2006

Local people to discover the heritage of Rockingham Forest

Rockingham Forest is to benefit from a new project involving local people thanks to a grant of £353,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

The money is funding a three year programme, ‘People of the Forest’, which involves communities in a variety of heritage events and research activities. It also includes working with local schools, supporting land management to maintain the character of the Forest and carrying out archaeological surveys.

The Forest covers 572 sq km stretching over Corby, Kettering and East Northamptonshire.  Once a Mediaeval royal hunting ground, it has a heritage of limestone and ironstone buildings and is one of the most important remaining ancient woodland areas in the UK. It is also one of the last remaining habitats for the Black Hairstreak butterfly and is home to 50 breeding pairs of Red Kites.  The landscape and character of the area are now facing a variety of development pressures and are also affected by a lack of traditional woodland management.

The award, which will be managed by the Rockingham Forest Trust, will support communities in recording the heritage on their doorsteps. A variety of events and training workshops will be delivered to raise awareness and develop research skills and activities.

Local people will be encouraged to research and record the history of where they live and how it has changed over the years.  Memories and stories of the Forest will be captured, along with the history of buildings, local industry and the people who lived and worked there. Part of the work will involve communities in researching the history of their churches and in recording significant local buildings and structures that are not already listed. Much of the information gathered by the project will be added to existing historic data held by the Trust and made widely accessible through a new website.

Explaining the importance of the award HLF’s regional manager Sheila Stone said, “This is a fantastic project which will allow people to try their hand at something new and unusual and protect the heritage on their doorstep.  We’re committed to funding projects that every community can take pride in and learn about their local heritage.  In this case communities will come together to make a real difference and protect their regional distinctiveness for future generations.”

Commenting on the award, Stuart Taylor from the Rockingham Forest Trust said, “This is an exciting opportunity to work closely with the communities of the Forest; creating a comprehensive heritage resource that is easily accessible and can continue to grow. The project will make many more people aware of the rich heritage of this area and will help maintain the unique character of the Rockingham Forest landscape”.


Pictured: Stuart Taylor and Peter Hill of Rockingham Forest Trust start work on the new heritage project.

If you would like to find out more or to become a member please call Rockingham Forest Trust on 01832 274278 or E-mail karen@rftrust.org.uk.

19 June 2006

How does your village grow...?

Members of the Community Planning Network discovered hidden facets of Brigstock one sunny evening and found out from local residents how it has grown over the years. The local Historical Society shared their knowledge of Brigstock through the years, aided by members of the team who were involved in the creation of the Village Design Statement.  “We were able to see how the Design Statement is helping the village to influence its own growth, for example in relation to building style” explained one member.

After the walk, members returned to the village hall to hear how Brigstock residents tackled the process.  East Northamptonshire Council also came along to talk about their support for villages who undertake this work. A design statement is very much a community led process and whilst the parish council is involved, it is about what is important to all the local people.

The Community Planning Network is a Leader+ project led by the Rockingham Forest Trust to support the rural areas, funded by the European Union and Defra. Membership is open to anyone who lives in the Rockingham Forest and is interested in understanding and influencing planning and development in the area.


If you would like to find out more or to become a member please call Rockingham Forest Trust on 01832 274278 or E-mail karen@rftrust.org.uk.


25 May 2006

A Legacy of Kings: New book sheds light on local area

Riots, mutilations and hunting on horseback are just three of the more colourful aspects of life in the area to feature in a new book called 'A Legacy of Kings’, published by local charity, Rockingham Forest Trust.

It tells the story of man's impact on the landscape of historic Rockingham Forest, from the days of the Norman kings, who created their own royal hunting forest, up to modern times and the coming of the steelworks.

"We draw on evidence gathered from years of survey work, plus reference to some very old maps, which shows that our landscape has always been changing, "said Project Coordinator, Stuart Taylor. "The difference now is the pace of change. The book can help give an understanding of the Forest's legacy, and how this needs to be protected in the future."

The launch of the book marks the beginning of Rockingham Forest Trust's new 'People of the Forest' project, which has been granted £353,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

'Legacy of Kings is available from Oundle Bookshop, Oundle Tourist Information Centre, and Walker's Bookshop in Stamford; also direct form Rockingham Forest Trust, priced £7.50.

For further information, please contact Rockingham Forest Trust on (01832)274278.

Pictured are Stuart Taylor, Heritage Project Co-ordinator, with a Medieval Lord of Rockingham Forest.

April 2006

Stanwick Lakes: three months on

Enthusiastic response
Three months after opening to the public, Stanwick Lakes is thriving, with thousands of visitors coming to enjoy its facilities and wide open spaces, and over 700 people having taken out membership.

The central play area is proving a magnet for young families, and the more intrepid are tackling the assault course - despite the mud! A slightly more hidden asset is the Adventure Trail, which provides a great way to see a very pretty part of the site on a loop taking in four pieces of adventure play equipment. New signage should help to make more people aware of this.

The site is blessed with an abundance of wildlife, in particular a huge range of birds with many rare species such as golden plover, and has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Why 'dogs on leads'?
It is primarily for environmental reasons, therefore, that Rockingham Forest Trust, which manages the site, has its 'dogs on leads' policy. Dogs rushing about near the water margins disturb the wildlife, not only in the breeding season, but also during the autumn and winter, when over-wintering birds seeking a safe haven gather here in great numbers.

Dog owners are very welcome at Stanwick Lakes, provided they keep their pet on a lead within the park and do not take them in the central play area. Small children can be frightened by strange dogs, and dog fouling in the sand play is an obvious health hazard.

Dogs can be let off the lead at the northern end of the site, where the former railway line heads out towards Thrapston.

Feedback from responsible dog owners has been largely positive, and the Trust hopes that once people understand the reasons for this policy they will be happy to co operate.

Events
A new events programme is available for Stanwick Lakes which gives details of all the activities to be enjoyed at the site this year, ranging from guided walks to arts and crafts and adventure days. Copies are available from the rangers' log cabin, the Trust's office in Oundle and tourist information centres. For further information please contact the rangers on 01933 625522.

Stanwick Lakes is managed by Rockingham Forest Trust on behalf of East Northamptonshire Council.

6th March 2006

The Community Planning Network consults!

Local people from the villages made their views known on East Northamptonshire Council's latest development consultation document, when members of the Community Planning Network got together in Glapthorn village hall to create a joint response.

On a cold winter's evening they discussed the likely impacts of the “Rural North, Oundle and Thrapston Preferred Options”, and produced several pages of strongly-felt comments, both positive and negative, which have been sent to the Council. 

The issues which sustained some heavy debate were around the infrastructure needed to support development, and how the design of new buildings should be made to reflect the local character. They also wanted to know “Why can’t we have some bungalows for the elderly and disabled? Tall, apartment-style properties are all very well in their place but they don’t suit our villages and towns.”

The Community Planning Network is a Leader+ project led by the Rockingham Forest Trust to support the rural areas, funded by the European Union and Defra. Membership is open to anyone who lives in the Rockingham Forest and is interested in understanding and influencing planning and development in the area.

If you would like to find out more or to become a member please call Rockingham Forest Trust on 01832 274278 or E-mail karen@rftrust.org.uk

18th January 2006

Consultation advice for weary parish councillors

“Be selective, don’t feel you have to respond to all the questions!” that was the key message from a Community Planning Network event in Kettering. The evening was designed to help local people play a more meaningful role in community consultation. Dr Roy Darke of Oxford Brookes University, a specialist in planning and development matters, was on hand to give useful advice on dealing with jargon and responding to documents effectively.

Members had the opportunity to review another local authority document and consider how they would have responded to that. Dr Darke gave advice on getting beneath the language used and understanding the essence of the statements. He also gave suggestions on getting the most from reading a document.

Dr Darke finished with some handy hints for responding. These included explaining why a particular view is held not just supporting or objecting. One very relevant point was that we should not feel the need to respond to every question posed but select those most important to us.

The Community Planning Network is a Leader+ project led by the Rockingham Forest Trust to support the rural areas, funded by the European Union and Defra. Membership is open to anyone who lives in the Rockingham Forest and is interested in understanding and influencing planning and development in the area.

If you would like to find out more or to become a member please call Rockingham Forest Trust on 01832 274278 or E-mail karen@rftrust.org.uk