I don’t know if it’s ever happened to you, but sometimes when you’re on holiday…you just need a holiday. Or to be slightly more accurate (and perhaps sound a little less nuts), sometimes when you’re travelling, you just need a holiday. It’s where we find ourselves five weeks into this journey.
Himself has just the remedy. He’s found a nature reserve just outside Peterborough: Ferry Meadows in Nene Park and it’s here we’ve chosen to prop for a while.
It’s an interesting place. Whilst today it’s a haven for waterfowl, birds, rabbits, squirrels, otters and other wildlife, Ferry Meadows had an industrial beginning. As part of post war town planning, the UK passed the ‘New Towns Act’ facilitating the rapid expansion of selected small towns and villages for fast track housing. I’m guessing an attempt to decentralise a post blitz London.
When Peterborough was designated a New Town in 1967, it created an immediate need for new infrastructure requiring gravel excavation from the meadows to construct parkways and roads. The resulting quarries were then flooded to form three lakes: the Overton, Gunwade, and Lynch Lakes.
The surrounding areas, used for sheep grazing for centuries, were re-wilded turning once desolate quarry moonscapes and farmland into scenic waterscapes and freshly minted wild habitat. The River Nene also runs through the meadows providing a source of fresh water and waterway for aquatic life.
They did a great job in restoration. It’s a sprawling green oasis absolutely teeming with life. There are endless paths to explore on foot, bikes and even horseback. That’s Himself below, crossing the Willow Bridge on his trusty steed.
Three cutely named play areas (Otter, Fox and Badger) are noisily busy with kids enjoying the last of their summer break. There’s a heritage railway, although only with diesel trains at present – steam trains have been deemed a too high fire risk, and there’s even a miniature railway on a 10 1/4 inch track that’s endlessly popular. It features a turning track at both ends of the line and on special occasions they dress the engine as Thomas the Tank.
During our explorations we learn that Roman artefacts were unearthed during 1970s gravel extraction, halting work to catalogue findings which including pottery kilns, workshops, drainage ditches and an aisle barn, the footprint of which is preserved for viewing at ‘Roman Point’. Lake designs were hastily adjusted to preserve the aisle barn’s foundations. You can just make them out below on the right, drainage ditches to the left and there’s the remnants of a now covered well in the far right corner.
Best of all, the river and lakes are a wild otter habitat. Otties!!! When it comes to habitat, the adage ‘build it and they will come’ certainly rings true her. I’m deeply excited on learning there are guided wildlife boat tours at dusk that mention otters, kingfishers and a bat walk but I found out later that the next one is scheduled long after we leave. *Sigh*. No otties for me then. It doesn’t stop me looking though – the wildlife officer helpfully marks favoured otter spots and I drag Himself through them, even knowing that our chances are slim as they are only really active later in the evening and very, very early in the morning. Still, it’s a beautiful walk along the River Nene bridle way. We see an historic bridge, flush out two very disapproving bunnies (the park has evidence of bunnies everywhere), a couple of colourful, but very shy pheasants and enjoy wild fruit harvests along way.
It’s a very relaxing four days – we take endless walks, get the bikes out and lap the largest lake and even join the kids on the miniature train. I lose count of the number of squirrels we see. Despite nuts to hand, none of them can be coaxed close though, or stay still long enough for a photo – these are properly wild squizzies. Birds tweet us along our way, too many species to list but it’s clear that it’s a thriving environment. On the water we see terns, black faced gulls, white swans, cormorants, moor hen, heron and many different ducks. It’s a peaceful oasis with many spots to prop and take in the view. Bliss.
There’s a busy lakeside cafe for lunch and coffee – it’s a great place to be amused by those attempting the Swan boats, canoeing or standup paddle boarding for the first time. One day sees the lake full of small watercraft – a sailing club perhaps.
I meet a friendly cat and even see a little fox cub. He’s not going well though and we arrange a call to the RSPCA. Lost his mamma I suspect – he only just remembers not to come when I call him over. Poor little thing.
It’s pleasing to learn that the parkland is safeguarded for future generations. It’s moved out of the hands of development and Council into the Nene Park Trust, an independent charity that manages and protects it. Thank goodness. I’m a firm believer that the first step to animal conservation is preservation and/or creation of habitat.
In between walks, cycling and twittering on about otters I find time to do a bit of house elf-ing and devour a series of books. It’s utterly relaxing and just what was needed at this point in time. Hats off to Himself – a very good choice indeed.
Miss Baci Travels 