Page 20 - Oundle Life Feb 2021

BARNWELL
COUNTRY
PARK
Our beautiful outdoors
2020 was a challenging year for everyone, for a great many reasons, and both rangers would like to take the opportunity to thank our incredible team of volunteers for their help in looking after the park. It was a very busy year, with the park experiencing an extended ‘busy season’ through the whole of summer and into autumn and winter (traditionally our quieter months). The increased number of visitors
put extra pressure on the park, however, it
was lovely to welcome so many new visitors. We would like to thank our visitors for their patience and support as everyone adapted
to the challenging circumstances that we all found ourselves in.
On a brighter note, 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the park. Barnwell Country Park opened to the public in July 1971 (as Barnwell Picnic Park) and this year we will be celebrating our big birthday, with a series of small events throughout the year. This includes a project to plant 50 semi-mature trees around the park to ensure it continues to look great for the next 50
years! We plan to add our trees to Countryfile’s Plant Britain tally.
For the rangers, the play areas have been our main focus since the new year, with the fence and gates around the main play area being replaced, and the tots play area receiving some much-needed improvement work.
For the visitors though, as you walk around the park be sure to look out for snowdrops (white flowers) and winter aconite (yellow flowers), and any early signs of spring. You might see hazel catkins hanging from the trees, and primroses or early dog violets. The birds will be getting ready for the approaching nesting season, and it won’t be long before the park is full of life again.
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