Earlier this month, Nene Park Trust announced that new parking charge systems were being introduced at the Orton Mere and Thorpe Wood car parks from 5^th July.  

We outlined that as a charity with no additional funding from taxpayers, income generated from parking is an essential source of funding which enables us to continue to maintain and nurture the beautiful landscapes of Nene Park. In addition, this income will help to manage the significant increase in litter and waste management across the Park and will help to fund the introduction of new facilities in the Orton Mere and Thorpe Meadows areas. 

A modest charge of £1.50 for the first hour and £2.50 for up to 24 hours were confirmed as the tariff and a cost effective new annual membership covering parking at Orton Mere and Thorpe Meadows for just £40 was detailed for regular visitors.  

Following the announcement, the Trust received some helpful feedback from visitors about the need to link the existing Ferry Meadows parking membership with the new parking membership for Orton Mere and Thorpe Meadows. As a result of listening to this feedback, we are pleased to offer a new parking membership, ‘Ferry Meadows Plus’. This membership option will allow current Ferry Meadows parking members to upgrade their membership to cover the car parks at Orton Mere and Thorpe Meadows for a £10 admin fee, and for new parking members to purchase for an annual charge of £85. 

The options for a stand-alone Ferry Meadows car park membership at £75 per year, and the new Orton Mere and Thorpe Meadows car park membership at £40 per year, will remain, giving Park visitors a choice of parking memberships that best suits their requirements. 

Parking members also benefit from a number of discounts to use across Nene Park such as 10% discount on retail purchases at the Visitor Centre & Gift Shop and the Lakeside Farm Shop, plus 10% discount on activities at Nene Outdoors Watersports and Activity Centre. 

Details on how to upgrade a Ferry Meadows parking membership will be available on the parking web page from 5 July. Visitors can also purchase the new Orton Mere and Thorpe Meadows parking membership from this date. 

The Trust has also received feedback from Paul Bristow, MP for Peterborough, who shared concerns from constituents regarding the impact the new parking fees may have on vulnerable residents or those with disabilities.  We are taking these comments into account, and are actively looking at ways to help anyone disproportionally impacted by the introduction of parking fees in these areas. 

For any queries on the annual parking memberships available at Nene Park, please contact us on 01733 234193 or email [email protected].