Thanks to funding from LEADER and the hard work of our Park Management and Development teams, new signage has now been installed at key positions on the Nene Park Rural Estate to improve the visitor experience in this area.

A survey was carried out in autumn 2019 which revealed that many Nene Park visitors were unaware that the area to the west of Ferry Meadows was part of Nene Park and could be accessed directly from the main Park. Funding from the RDPE LEADER Programme has enabled Nene Park Trust to install three information boards, a number of directional finger posts and way marker discs, to help visitors navigate this beautiful part of the Park.  The new structures have been made from sustainable Accoya wood by Antomic Woodworking in Leicester and are in keeping with the natural environment.

The three information boards with maps are in the following locations:
• Near Lynch Farm Bridge in Ferry Meadows – showing how you can access the wider Rural Estate from Ferry Meadows. 
• At the car park in Splash Lane, Castor
• At the bottom of Station Road near ‘Station Master’s Garden’ in Castor/Ailsworth

There are also other finger posts dotted along routes across the Rural Estate - Nene Valley River Bridge, another close to Wansford Railway Bridge, one at Milton Ferry Bridge, one at Gunwade Lake (between Long and Short Meadow) and one at Lovers Lane, Sutton.

With access to open spaces becoming more important for our health and wellbeing, the Trust hopes the footpaths and bridle ways in this area will provide quieter, alternative routes, across a rural landscape, much of which runs alongside the River Nene and the Nene Valley Railway line.  The Trust has also worked with Peterborough City Council’s Public Right Of Way Officer, to improve access and replace stiles with gates where possible.

Chris Rollason, Deputy Park Manager said about the project, “Our landholding to the west of Ferry Meadows has been our hidden treasure for many years offering peaceful walks, abundant wildlife and natural views. We are very pleased to be able to help our visitors explore this wonderful rural part of Nene Park and are very grateful to the LEADER programme for providing funding for the new signage in this area.”