NENESCAPE Year 2 Summary November 2018 - October 2019 1 2625 Nenescape Newsletter 2020 AW.indd 1 14/02/2020 09:14 A Message From the Chair It is my delight Fund that we are able to work with such a diverse range of to present this organisations in the Nene Valley to restore heritage and summary of encourage more people to engage with it. Nenescape’s A particular highlight of to Nenescape is incredible, Nenescape brings together the aspirations of its second year. this year has been seeing thank you to them all. partners to achieve a landscape-scale scheme so many volunteers getting After the successes of our first involved in our work, from I would also like to take the which engages with the culture, nature and year, it is no surprise to see building projects to butterfly opportunity to thank the team the fantastic achievements identification. Not only are delivering the projects, River heritage of the River Nene and its valley. of our partners and their people donating their time to Nene Regional Park who are projects. the projects, but they are also our hosts, and all the other We are hosted by River Nene Regional Park CIC, an independent community interest learning new skills, meeting organisations who have company which is creating a green infrastructure network of environmental projects Heritage of all kinds needs people and having a good time supported our work. our help more than ever from Daventry to Peterborough. The project has also been made possible by the along the way. The difference before, and it is thanks to that their generosity makes University of Northampton, whose finance administration provides vital support to the National Lottery Heritage the delivery of the projects. ANDREW LANGLEY Nenescape is a partnership of 12 organisations Funded by a £2.6million grant from Heritage working together to achieve our shared vision. Lottery Fund, contributions from our partners Through 16 projects, we will use the history of the and supported by a large number of volunteers, landscape to shape our future work, encourage Nenescape is a large investment in the people, exploration of the Nene Valley and secure its heritage and nature of the Nene Valley. The scheme resilience in the face of increasing pressures. began in October 2017 and will run until October 2022, with a wide range of projects, activities and Contact us opportunities to get involved. There are 16 main projects within Nenescape nenescape.org nenescape across three themes: T: 01536 526 451 @nenescape Listen to the Past Explore the Now Secure the Future M: 07715 659 832 @nenescapeLPS Settlers of the Nene Valley Nene Valley Festival Building Bridges Walking in Time Out to Water, into History Resilient River Ice Age to the Digital Age Enabling Access from Waterway Farming for the Future (including 900 Voices of the Nene) to Land Volunteer Task Force Nene Journey Artcodes Along the Nene Investing in Skills Photo Credits Nenescape on film Extracts of a Changing Landscape Community Grants Cover Image: Steve Garratt Page 2: John Abbott Page 4: Nenescape Page 5: Nenescape Page 6: Nenescape There are also ongoing pieces of work with a view to developing a visitor management plan for the Special and Sam Hardwick Page 7: Richard Nicholson & Nenescape Page 8: Nenescape and Canal & River Trust, Protection Area, and to monitor and evaluate Nenescape. Angling Trust Page 9: RNRP Page 12: One to One Development Trust Page 13: Wildlife Trust BCN Page 14: One to One Development Trust Page 15: Screen Northants 2 NENESCAPE YEAR 2 SUMMARY 3 2625 Nenescape Newsletter 2020 AW.indd 2-3 14/02/2020 09:14 Listen to the Past Walking in Time Nene Park Trust Settlers of the Nene Valley Walking in Time highlights the heritage of Nene Park and encourages visitors to explore the Rockingham Forest Trust at Stanwick Lakes park and river through art and interpretation. Barn schools programme and there has been great Boardwalk Station Master’s Garden restoration Over the summer of 2018, the multi-era barn feedback from children and teachers. Additionally, Contractors finished installing the substructure Work to clear the site using volunteer help took was built, using construction styles from across volunteers have participated in heritage craft for the boardwalk in November 2018, after which place over the weekend of 12 and 13 October 2019. the centuries. skills days. a team of volunteers fixed the 875m of decking (using 42,000 screws) in plenty of time for the formal River-inspired art Roundhouse Saying ‘Thank You’ opening on 21 September 2019. Nene Park was invited to take part in ‘Rivers of the The reconstructed Iron-Aged roundhouse now has The team have thanked National Lottery players World’, an education programme which connects beautiful carvings at its entrance and volunteer- through the annual ‘Thanks to You’ campaign. Heritage research a community in the UK with one overseas through made wattle and daub walls. The project also co-hosted a ‘Thank You’ event for Nene Valley Archaeological Trust (NVAT) produced river-inspired art. Six Peterborough secondary the Settlers of the Nene Valley team, Nenescape a very detailed 227-page heritage audit of Nene schools were connected with six Moroccan schools, Garden partners, Nene Valley teams and volunteers. Park last year, which has been digitised to create an producing six flag designs for display close to the Working with historical garden experts, a new interactive map. Parts of Durobrivae were excavated river in Nene Park. garden has been created by volunteers next to the Nene Valley Festival finale and documented after the geophysical survey in the barn to showcase plants used throughout history in The ‘Come and Meet the Settlers’ Nene Valley interest of learning. medicine, food and dyeing cloth. Festival finale event was a great success, attracting over 1000 cars over the weekend despite the soggy Celebration event Skills and learning weather. This fantastic celebratory ‘walk and talk’ event on Several local schools have participated in the new 21 September 2019 included an exhibition promoting Nenescape and all the ways in which Nene Park is involved. Community Grants Nenescape After the successful granting of funding to five community heritage organisations during Nenescape’s first year, two more grants were made in our second year. Grants to date include: • The Museum of Leathercraft in Northampton - • Rushden Museum - new collection storage digitising ‘Stories of Leather’ archives equipment • Rushden Historical Transport Society - building • Flag Fen near Peterborough - learning and an access ramp into the Goods Shed landscape conservation skills project • Irthlingborough Archaeological Society - geophysical survey work at Tannery Cottages • Dame Joody social enterprise - improving access onto the boat and for showings and talks about • Langdyke Countryside Trust - two new walking 900 Voices of the Nene in partnership with One trails in Castor & Ailsworth to One Development Trust. 44 NENESCAPENENESCAPENENESCAPE YEAR YEARYEAR 2 22 SUMMARY SUMMARYSUMMARY 5 5 2625 Nenescape Newsletter 2020 AW.indd 4-5 14/02/2020 09:14 Explore the Now Out to Water, Into History East Northamptonshire Council East Northamptonshire Council is leading a project to link Wellingborough and Nene Valley Festival Peterborough by cycle and walking routes, and Out to Water, Into History supports enhancements to a section of the Greenway in Rushden. Destination Nene Valley Tidying up by local artists. Depicting the heritage of Rushden, including the railway, HE Bates and wildflower Launch and finale Saying ‘Thank You’ The Greenway in Rushden has undergone a series of meadows, the mural now brings a splash of colour The Nene Valley Festival 2019 was an extraordinary Destination Nene Valley held a ‘Thank You’ event refurbishments through Out to Water, Into History. to the Greenway. success, with its launch in Peterborough Cathedral at Stanwick Lakes on 21 September for all the Much-needed litter picks and vegetation clearance Square on 14 September and finale at Stanwick organisations who had supported the festival. events with a team of volunteers have made the Signposting pathway safer and more user-friendly. Rushden Lakes on 22 September. Attendees at the launch A total of 95 partners attended the celebration and As well as new blue directional signage to help Historical Transport Museum is kindly hosting a enjoyed natural craft activities and circus skills enjoyed meeting the Vikings who were camping people to get onto the Greenway from Rushden Greenway litter-picking equipment station. entertainment alongside a tank of native freshwater there for the finale event, trying archery and Lakes and into the town centre, new track markings fish, heritage storytelling and information on a wide axe-throwing and eating a hog roast. on the ground give a direct lead to and from the range of local places to visit. Nenescape partners A splash of colour and a place to sit historic centre of Rushden. The green railway came together to share the heritage of the valley Nene Valley Festival 2020 The Washbrook Road tunnel had become symbols are a clear reminder of the path’s former and support the hugely successful ‘Settlers of the The next Nene Valley Festival will be held from an unloved part of the Greenway, so East life as a railway. Nene Valley’ finale event, after a week filled with 12 - 20 September 2020 and local organisations are Northamptonshire Council held a competition for over 160 events. encouraged to get involved with the celebrations. local people to help design a mural to be painted Enabling Access from Waterway to Land Environment Agency This project seeks to improve waterside facilities, including moorings and canoe portage points and to share information about the river more widely. A new website The website at: nenevalley.net launched in August The Environment Agency has worked with after consultation with a wide range of people, Destination Nene Valley, One to One Development including local boaters and other stakeholders.