Page 6 - Oundle Life November 2022

PARK LIFE
Barnwell Country Park
It may be a cliché, but no two days are the same at Barnwell Country Park. As the rangers and volunteers made a start on the routine tasks of hay-raking, trimming the hedge in
the main car park, and cutting back some of the overhanging vegetation, the park prepared for the not-so-routine task of playing host
to Netflix The Crown’s production team. The filming unit used a substantial section of the car park and meadow to set up their base of operations for a day as they filmed scenes in Oundle. Many thanks to our visitors for their patience and understanding while this was going on.
The park also hosted the U3A 40th Anniversary Mile-a-Member walk in September, with the group completing a one-mile lap of the park before gathering for a picnic. The weather was favourable, and the group far exceeded their target of walking one mile for every member!
The day-to-day work continues though, and without the big budget and large workforce
of the production team, the rangers rely on the help of volunteers. As well as our regular A-team, who do so much all year round, the park welcomed a team from Barclaycard who spent a day hay-raking, clearing a section of reed bed and helped install a memorial bench.
Regular visitors will recall that last winter
we planted 50 trees, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the park, which formed part of the Queen’s Green Canopy. We are aware that due to the heatwave and drought of the summer not all the trees have made it, and we will be looking to plant some replacement trees this winter.
Also, starting in October, Barnwell Country Park will host an art exhibition co-ordinated by Fermynwoods Contemporary Art which aims to encourage visitors to explore the woodland space through autumn and winter. More information can be found in the Visitor Centre at Barnwell Country Park, or online at www. fermynwoods.org.
Looking for an excuse to get out? There is always plenty to do in the park, with activities for both children and adults, many run by our Active Parks team.
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To find out about events and all the latest information, visit our website at www.northamptonshireparks.co.uk