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Salcey Forest (Northamptonshire)
by thedevilinme If you tap in the words 'Salcey Forest' and 'Fun' into Google these days you need the family filter, as with many out of the way national park areas very popular with 'dogging' types, the act of outdoor sex with strangers, not a pretty site. Think British porn and then ten times worse. But it's still a nice place to go for walks and bike ... rides in the day time and one of very few forested areas in the centre of the country to still enjoy. It's situated about 7 miles outside of Northampton to the south of the county and the forest constantly being improved by various attractions and events. It's a former medieval hunting forest where kings and queens, noblemen and landowners, would venture out by foot or horse from their stately homes to crossbow a deer or two. Today it's a commercial forest as well as a tourist attraction with the two working side-by-side. In 2005 they built a really cool award winning timber skywalk so the visitors can now walk amongst the tree top canopy, some 15 - 18 meters up, which is up to 70ft. Some of the towering old oaks that you can touch by offering your hand are believed to be over 500 years old and some of Britain's oldest tees. Parts of the skywalk walk are good for buggies and wheelchairs and so accessible for all. Granny may not make it up the observation tower. Things to do aside from the forest walks are what you would expect, an adventure playground for the kids with an excellent café nearby for ice creams and coffee and all sorts of healthy treats. There is a pay and display car park here or you can park free in other areas of the forest. They also have a bookcrossingzone place where you can leave books for others and pick up others for free. It's not popular though in the winter. You used to be able to get there by train some 100 years ago but they ripped up the track in the 1920s. Disused railway tracks and tunnels are always fun things to explore. The quirky fact of the day for Salcey forest is that during the Second World War, elephants from circuses were put to use to fell the trees. The Elephant Pond - now called - is where the elephants could bathe at the end of the day and kick back. Not only that but they had been ridden to work in the Forest by a genuine Hollywood star, Sabu the Elephant Boy, over in England making a film with Alexander Korda, no less! There are also quirky sculptures ready to surprise you on the various trails. Although Northampton has the more convenient Harlestone Firs near Althorp House for the kids and dogs to have a run around the walks are somewhat samey up there so if you want to really get out in the countryside then Salcey Forest feels more the wilderness experience, one where you can't hear the nearby roar of a motorway or A-Road to spoil the ambience. If the spring ever arrives it looks stunning in the forest with all the Blue Bells and snow drops coming through amongst the firs and blackberry bushes. It's a great foraging forest and good for mushrooms if you are that way inclined. The author of the book 'Pollard', my mate Laura Beatty, has a home deep in the forest and it's straight from Hansel & Gretel, really spooky as the gentle wind rustles the tree tops above and creeps dusk through the forest with its cloak of evil darkness. Is there is any scarier place than a forest at night then I would be surprised. So pack you kids and into the Volvo and have a day there in the spring. In my marathon days I would run the seven miles to the café, have a hot tea and sandwich, and run back to Northampton once every two weeks to tune up for the London marathon. It's a pretty place to be and the medieval side of the forest very much Lord of the Rings stuff with lots of gothic twisted gnarly trees and roots shaped like witches hands, a carpet of thick green moss leading to magical pools to treat those who venture deeper into the forest. The foot and horse trails are good and if you are stabled nearby you will know that already. Kid's buggies will travel well on the lightly graveled surfaced tracks and they also offer milk warming services in the café if you want to bring babies and toddlers. The toilet block is good although only two in the forest so you will be doing you know what with the bears if you get lost, Salcey Forest not small. Nearby is Castle Ashby House, star of many Merchant & Ivory bodice ripping movies, and Emberton Park, lots of old gravelpits and boating areas for the kids to have fun in there. Hartwell village that lips the forest is beautiful and has a lovely local pub and great oldie worldly cottages to snap, Olney village down the road straight from a Constable painting, the familiar yellow spring canvas of rape seed soon appearing. Not a lot of Northamptonshire is pretty so head to the Buckinghamshire border for the best bits is my advice. ---The Café---- Breakfast, Snacks, Brunch, Lunch, Afternoon Tea and everything inbetween. Speciality Teas, Chocolate and Barista Coffees. Children's Menu * Ice Cream Parlour * Takeaways * Play Area Seating for 50+ inside, 80 outside. Major cards accepted. 1/2 mile from the Tree Top Walk and on the 6 mile Woodpecker Nature Trail. Well-behaved Dogs (on a lead) and Children always welcome. Car Parking * £1 for the first hour or £3 for the day or £28 pass for the year. Read the complete review |
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Brixworth Country Park (Northants)
by thedevilinme In March 2012 we were told we were suffering drought and a hosepipe ban would be enforced in Northamptonshire. The expansive and attractive Pitsford Reservoir that supplies Northampton with its water, and situated next to Brixworth Country Park, was at 69% capacity and falling. To locals this was not unusual and they have seen far worse ... in the last 50 years. After the wettest April and June on record the panic was quickly over and the reservoir was back to its normal levels, about 87%, which kind of debunks the idea that Britain can suffer any serious effects of global warming if the correction can be made so quickly by that thing we call traditional British weather. A couple of months of wiggle on that obstinate and irritable Jet Stream and the rain did cometh. How does that capricious Jet Stream fit into the man made global warming models we wonder? We are now being told by the same climatologists that Britain having its wettest year on record was also down to global warming, even though it was a degree colder in the UK last year because of all the rain. Global warming hype is simply to raise personal taxes to make up for the shortfall big business refuse to contribute to the Treasury now by hiding it in tax havens. Now the point on global warming and a country park in little old Northamptonshire is that the weather makes this park a very different place to go as the water levels are up and down in the reservoir across the seasons. When the water is low you can walk out to little islands of what used to be here before they flooded the valley and when it's tipping over the edge it's alive with wildlife. They have a private sailing club on the reservoir and you can hire out small rowing or motor boats to fish but its still an effort to get out on the water to enjoy it. The sailing club is rather sniffy and middle-class and more about the social side consumption of alcohol in the clubhouse than helping kids enjoy sailing. The Brixworth Park is a relatively new facility and opened back in 1997. It has a small café, toilets, a play and picnic area and cycles for hire, a nice touch to encourage fitness and getting out and about. Its £2.50 parking although there is free parking nearby. It's a great place to launch yourself on the long walks around the reservoir and for the kids to get up close and feed the ducks and swans. Unfortunately, due to the intimacy of the parking along the reservoir edge, it's becoming a 'dogging' spot for locals, the act of watching others have sex in cars. The council has employed wardens to keep and eye out but unfortunately that's exactly what one warden did and was found out by the local cops to be not only watching but joining in, as reported in the local paper. The walks are blustery and the full circuit nearly 8 miles long so not for amateurs, great views of the reservoir and local wildlife all the way around. The paths are graveled for walkers and cyclists and so if you do live in Northamptonshire well worth a look down there. The reservoir has a certain stillness and calm to it and a great escape from the town. I like to cycle up there to get away from it. You can also take the misses or partner up there as there are great sunsets and cozy picnic areas around the reservoir. The small village of Brixworth is just up the hill from the park and has tea rooms and pubs to enjoy on a warm summers evening. The smallish park is very wildlife centered with bird hides and things to do for the kids and young adults around that wildlife, getting involved if they so choose, a very hands on place. They have a 'naturetots' group for preschool kids every third Wednesday of the month at 3pm where they can pet birds and animals. They also do things like country skills for all ages, like coppice techniques (hedges) and conservation, like tagging birds. It's a good place to go to breath real air and see that all is well in the eco system and all very normal and there will be no global warming. But you will need a car to get out there. Read the complete review |
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Hainault Forest Park
by lak11 HAINAULT FOREST COUNTRY PARK I have visited Hainault Forest Country Park many times over the past twenty-five years or so. In this time it has only changed a little, with extra and better facilities being incorporated and so has remained a pleasant location for myself and my family. I believe it's a real treat in a London ... borough to find an area of public land containing forest, farmland, a lake and a large open space making it a lovely place to visit any time of the year and a bonus is that entry is free. Hainault Forest Country Park provides a wonderful leisure facility for local residents and also to visitors to the area. It has something for everyone from the very young to the elderly. As facilities at the park are improved the area becomes even more accessible to many. My first visits here were when my four children were young and were mostly made on a Sunday or during school holidays. We found the hills ideal for kite flying and simply letting off steam. I also came here several times on organised trips when I worked at a local playgroup. The forest area is much used by children's and teen clubs, such as girl and boy scouts and Boys' and Girls' brigade. When these clubs have sports days and similar events this large area provides a great spot. With all this space to hand there is no restriction on numbers of parents and relatives who can come to watch their children compete in sack races, hurdles etc. I love to visit the park and walk in the woods in the autumn as then it truly is spectacular when it's ablaze with autumnal colours. But for me the fondest memories I have of this public land is when my children were young and the snow fell. We have had a few cold winters resulting in enough snowfall for sledges. Whenever there is snow glistening on the hills of the park they quickly become quite crowded. The local shops soon sell out of sledges. At these times it's common to see all ages having fun and acting like kids. I have witnessed, as well as taken part myself, both children and adults hurtling downhill, not only on sledges, but on trays and even house for sale signs. Over the last few months the country park has had less to offer, for a limited time, and has looked quite different because it has been used as temporary accommodation (named Snoozebox) for security staff during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This park is in a location which has excellent transport links to Stratford and thus the Olympic Park. This has resulted in some areas of the country park being closed off and a few activities halted until October 2012. And it has meant that there have been many members of the armed forces to be seen around the area. Money paid to the council for the use of the ground will be used to invest in the park. I am reviewing the park as it was before Snoozebox and how it should be after October 2012. HISTORY IN BRIEF Hainault Forest is one of a few sections that still remain of the Forest of Essex. In the year 1851 an Act of Parliament meant the area was deforested; deer were removed and trees cut down in readiness for building. I understand that owing to public pressure the land was saved and then the park was divided between both the London boroughs of Redbridge and of, Havering and also Epping Forest District (Essex) as is still the case. These three areas and certain facilities fall within the different districts. The Woodland Trust helps to manage the country park. Next to the farmland is the golf course with restaurants and facilities. Over the years the park has been gradually improved and today I would say it has much to offer as an area of natural beauty which also has some useful facilities which help to make it accessible to many, whether they are lovers of nature (surveys have listed the forest as being equally first as a nationally important invertebrate site) or parents bringing their children out to have fun in the open air. FACILITIES This public area has much to offer in the way of facilities for everyone, I believe. There are some lovely walks set out for the independent rambler as well as organised ones; some easy and some providing more of a challenge. I like the fact that walks are signposted directing the walker. Dogs can be walked here or enjoy a run, fishing can be enjoyed on the lake and much more. I will explain a little about the various facilities that can be enjoyed here. LAKE/FISHING I have seen several dogs enjoy a swim in the lake but I'm not sure if it is an official doggy swimming pool. Probably not! My enjoyment of the lake is confined to feeding the ducks and geese, however the lake is open for day time fishing during the season and it is free to fish on the north bank. Night fishing is not allowed here but there are facilities close by. DOGS As I have already mentioned, dogs can be walked in the park but are not allowed in the farm section. It is a lovely area for dogs and their owners. FOR CHILDREN There's so much here for children from the very young who watch the world from their buggies to those ready and able to let off steam in the open spaces. The forest offers three play areas for the younger generation and these weren't available when mine were young. These facilities have been funded by The National lottery. Good luck to all those who can now enjoy them. ADVENTURE TRAIL This trail has: A climbing wall Balancing posts Bouncy bridge Ropes and foot swings ADVENTURE PLAY TOWERS These are meant for children between the ages of 8-13 and consist of linked towers with bridges for climbing fun. There is also a round swing for several children to use together. ADVENTURE WOODLAND TRAIL This has been designed for teenagers upwards and it consists of ropes and bridges set amongst the trees. ANIMALS Foxburrows Farm and the rare breeds farm and zoo opens daily. This isn't a particularly large concern but it is interesting in what is to be seen. Rare animals such as Hybrid Chinese Geese, Oxford Forest (or Plum Pudding) pigs are to be seen. Also to be met are donkeys, rabbits, guinea fowl, sheep, geese, Shetland ponies and more. There are opportunities at specific times to feed the animals. On Wednesdays during the schools summer holidays donkey rides are available at a cost of £2.50 per person. ADDITIONAL FACILITIES * Bridleways * Guided walks * Nature trail * Picnic area * Practical Conservation Sessions * Wild in the Woods * Visitor Centre * Cycling allowed DISABLED ACCESS Much of the park is accessible for wheelchair users and has become more so with ramps being incorporated where feasible. Of course all of the actual forest areas aren't easy for those in wheelchairs but maps of accessible walks are available from the office. I believe enough of the park is disabled friendly enough to make it a pleasant place to visit. Toilets in the park are adapted for wheelchair users. Car parking is free for Blue Badge holders in both car parks. CAFÉ For visitors feeling hungry, thirsty or both, there is a Café on site for refreshments. The café stays open quite late (usually until six in the evening) so this is a useful facility for the park, in my opinion. TOILETS There are two toilet block facilities within the park with the main block being situated close to the café. The smaller block is open during school holidays. Disabled facilities are here too. LOCATION Hainault Forest Country Park is conveniently located in greater London and is easily accessible to those travelling from within the London Borough of Redbridge and of Havering and from Essex and East London. It is close to Hainault underground station, which is on the central line. A short bus ride from the station of only a few minutes duration will bring you to the park. The park can be reached by the 247 bus and is also close to other bus routes. If travelling to the park by car then there are two pay and display car parks within. CAR PARKING The two car parks charge £1 for the first hour or £3 all day with Blue Badge Holders being able to park free of charge. There are also three spaces for coaches inside the park. OPENING HOURS The Country Park itself is open from 7am to dusk 7 days per week. 9.30 a.m. - 5 p.m. in the summer months and from 9.30 a.m. - 3 p.m. during the rest of the year. The Café is open from 9.30am-6pm weather permitting. JUST A SNIPPET (From http://www.hainaultforest.co.uk/) Hainault Forest Country Park celebrated 100 years of being made into an 'open space' in 2006. It has also won the Green Flag Award three times - 2006/07, 2009/10 and 2010/11. Read the complete review |
England National Park |
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