 A path is to be developed at Stanwick Lakes |
Park heritage and conservation projects across Northamptonshire have been awarded �2.4m of funding. The funds will help recreate wet grassland in Northampton and improve facilities at Salcey Forest as part of the River Nene Regional Park project. It will also fund projects at Stanwick Lakes, woodland near Broughton and a heritage park at Chester Farm. The money will also help provide a study room and bird hide at Barnwell Country Park. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) allocated �1.5m of the total through the River Nene Regional Park (RNRP) back in January. Now nine projects which are to go ahead have been unveiled. The nine were chosen by independent consultants and will be completed by March 2006. Ancient pasture A further grant of �900,000 from the ODPM was used to buy Chester Farm in April. The projects are: Salcey Forest - Improving recreation facilities for a range of outdoor activities including cycling and horse riding, restoration of 25 hectares of ancient pasture woodland, the creation of a woodland bird hide. Stanwick Lakes - Development of a former railway line into a path for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. This will link the new country park site being developed by the Rockingham Forest Trust to its surrounding communities. Chester Farm - Development of this unique site's listed buildings, walled gardens, parkland and scheduled ancient monument to it into a heritage park. Barnes Meadow Local Nature Reserve - Creation of wet grassland on the eastern edge of Northampton Martin Moore Community Woodland - Provision of a community woodland scheme for informal recreation and nature conservation near Boughton Kingfisher Lodge - Funding of equipment and development of activity packs for use in the new environmental education 'study room' and bird hide at Barnwell Country Park Nene Way and Ise Valley Access project - Improving and publicising of the long distance route between Badby and Wansford and its links to the Ise Valley. Green Infrastructure Research Project - Development of a shared strategy for green infrastructure within the regional park area with particular focus on the green links around Corby, Daventry, Kettering, Wellingborough and Northampton. Landowner Environmental Advisor - Officer to promote the take up of environmental schemes across the RNRP area and provide practical advice on conservation based land-use management. Northamptonshire County Council is spearheading the River Nene Regional Park project, alongside a variety of other organisations including the East Midlands Regional Assembly, Rockingham Forest Trust, and the Ise Valley Protection Group.
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