Nene Park, Peterborough
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Nene Park is a country park in the city of
Peterborough Peterborough ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in the City of Peterborough district in the Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county of Cambridgeshire, England. The city is north of London, on the River Nene. A ...
,
Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire (abbreviated Cambs.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East of England and East Anglia. It is bordered by Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the north-east, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfor ...
in the
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
. Opened in 1978, it occupies a site approximately three and a half miles long, from slightly west of
Castor Castor most commonly refers to: *Castor (star), a star in the Gemini constellation *Castor, one of the Dioscuri/Gemini twins Castor and Pollux in Greco-Roman mythology Castor or CASTOR may also refer to: Science and technology *Castor (rocket s ...
to the centre of Peterborough. The park has three lakes, one of which has a watersports centre which provides sailing, kayaking and windsurfing classes. Another lake has a pedalo and rowing boat for hire shop, and the third lake contains moorings for boats and has access to the
River Nene The River Nene ( or ) flows through the counties of Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk in Eastern England from its sources in Arbury Hill in Northamptonshire. Flowing Northeast through East England to its mouth at Lutt ...
. 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 The Nene Valley Railway (NVR) is a Heritage railway, preserved railway in Cambridgeshire, England, running between and Yarwell Junction. The line is in length. There are stations at each terminus, and three stops en route: , and . History ...
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 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 h ...
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 within the Trust's management control, are dedicated to Ferry Meadows country park, for two 18-hole golf courses and for organised recreation such as horse riding, rowing, watersports and trout fishing; the remaining 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 long.


Ferry Meadows

Ferry Meadows is a
country park A country park is a natural area designated for people to visit and enjoy recreation in a countryside environment. United Kingdom History In the United Kingdom, the term ''country park'' has a specific meaning. There are around 250 designated c ...
and recreation area that occupies a large portion of the Nene Park, which stretches for along the banks of the
River Nene The River Nene ( or ) flows through the counties of Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk in Eastern England from its sources in Arbury Hill in Northamptonshire. Flowing Northeast through East England to its mouth at Lutt ...
. 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 (, ) is a phrase commonly used in United Kingdom, Great Britain and Ireland. It refers to the angling for rough fish, which are fish species considered undesirable as food or game fish. Freshwater game fish are all salmonids, parti ...
,
bird watching Birdwatching, or birding, is the observing of birds, either as a recreational activity or as a form of citizen science. A birdwatcher may observe by using their naked eye, by using a visual enhancement device such as binoculars or a telescop ...
and at the watersports centre, dinghy and board sailing are available. Additionally it has a miniature railway, occasional pony rides, sculptures and two cafés. One café is called Lakeside Kitchen & Bar, which is located next to the Nene Outdoors Watersports and Activities Centre. It serves traditional home-made food. The other café, called Ferry Meadows Café, is located at the southwesterly tip of Overton Lake. Here, a range of both hot and cold beverages and comestibles are served. Both venues are owned by Nene Park Trust and managed by Raj Regmi. Ferry Meadows also includes a group camping site (tents) and a year-round touring caravan
Caravan Club The Caravan and Motorhome Club is an organisation representing caravan and motorhome users in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It was founded in 1907 and now represents nearly one million members (caravanners, motorhomers and campervanners). H ...
site.Caravan Club: Ferry Meadows
/ref> Ferry Meadows is one of the major destinations and attractions signposted on the
Green Wheel The Green Wheel is an network of cycleways, footpaths, and bridleways in Peterborough, England. Designed as part of a sustainable transport system for the city, it was created as a project by the Millennium Commission. The name ''Green Whee ...
cycle route.


Orton Mere

Orton Mere is the name of a
Mere Mere may refer to: Places * Mere, Belgium, a village in East Flanders * Mere, Cheshire, England * Mere, Wiltshire, England People * Mere Broughton (1938–2016), New Zealand Māori language activist and unionist * Mere Smith, American television ...
and its surrounding area. There are several moorings nearby for boats navigating the
River Nene The River Nene ( or ) flows through the counties of Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk in Eastern England from its sources in Arbury Hill in Northamptonshire. Flowing Northeast through East England to its mouth at Lutt ...
. The area also gives its name to the nearby
Orton Mere railway station Orton Mere is a station on the Nene Valley Railway and is situated between Ferry Meadows and Peterborough Nene Valley, adjacent to the River Nene. Orton Mere provides access to the eastern end of the Nene Park. At Orton Mere, the Nene Vall ...
on the
Nene Valley Railway The Nene Valley Railway (NVR) is a Heritage railway, preserved railway in Cambridgeshire, England, running between and Yarwell Junction. The line is in length. There are stations at each terminus, and three stops en route: , and . History ...
.


See also

*
Nene Valley Railway The Nene Valley Railway (NVR) is a Heritage railway, preserved railway in Cambridgeshire, England, running between and Yarwell Junction. The line is in length. There are stations at each terminus, and three stops en route: , and . History ...
*
Norman Cross Prison Norman Cross Prison in Huntingdonshire, England, was the world's first purpose-built prisoner-of-war camp or "depot". Constructed in 1796–97, it was designed to hold prisoners of war from France and its allies during the French Revolutionary W ...
, bought by the Nene Park Trust in 2025


References


Summary Information Return of Aims, Activities and Achievements
The Charity Commission for England and Wales, 10 July 2006 {{coord, 52, 33, 55, N, 0, 19, 30, W, region:GB_dim:5000, display=title Country parks in Cambridgeshire Tourist attractions in Cambridgeshire 1978 establishments in England Geography of Peterborough Nature reserves in Cambridgeshire Meadows in Cambridgeshire