Stanwick Lakes

07/09/2026

Home Education Day - Thursday 19th November 2026

Thank you to our home education families for joining us last week. We had so much fun sowing wildflower seed, learning about blacksmithing in the Iron Age and creating a feast around the campfire!

If you have older children in your family, then our next Home Education Day for learners aged 11–14 or those accessing the Key Stage 3 curriculum will be taking place on Thursday 19th November 2026.

There will be three timed sessions including Owl Pellet Dissection, Political Power: From Iron Age to Roman Britain, and our new Become a Ranger session, as well as more informal, drop-in learning activities.

Book today:
https://stanwicklakes.org.uk/events/home-education-day-ks3-november/

06/09/2026

🏺 5,000 years of history. One day of discovery.

Come and see the skills, crafts and everyday lives that shaped the Nene Valley on Heritage Open Day at Stanwick Lakes on Sunday the 20th of September.

As part of the day, you can see our From Iron to Empire project coming to life, including our action from our Bronze Age boat build and replica Roman kiln.

Here’s a teaser of what else is in store…

⚔️ Discover Viking and Roman camps
🔥 Watch blacksmith at work
🌿 Visit our Heritage Gardens and be tempted by their stall
🏛️ Explore the Heritage Museum
🍃 Have a go at nature crafts
🗺️ Follow the Heritage Trail

This is a FREE event, running from 10am until 4pm, and we’d love to see you there.
Usual car parking charges apply.

Find out more here: https://stanwicklakes.org.uk/events/heritage-open-day-2/

With thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and players.

04/09/2026

Planning a visit this weekend?
Tomorrow - Saturday the 5th of September - we're closing early.
Our Visitor Centre closes at midday, with last café orders at 11.30am. Breakfast and cakes will be available until then. The Walker’s Rest, new shop and outside facilities will remain open.

On Sunday the 6th of September - it's race day!
It’s our Autumn 5k, 10k and half marathon runs, and over 200 runners taking to routes through the reserve. It’ll be a little busier than usual around 10am at The Walker’s Rest and the start line, but the Visitor Centre will be back open as usual.

If you’re coming for a walk rather than the run, things usually start to quieten down by midday. But it's a great atmosphere and spectators are welcome, so if you are here early and want to feel part of it, give the runners a cheer as they go by! 👏

More September dates and visitor information:
https://stanwicklakes.org.uk/september-events-and-closures/

03/09/2026

Discover the joy of collage!

Join artist Lizzie Ault of Tales from the fen for a creative day exploring mixed media collage, inspired by the beauty of nature.

📅 Saturday the 19th of September 2026, 10am - 4pm

During this hands-on workshop, you'll learn how to:

🌿 Create your own collage papers using a variety of techniques and colours
✂️ Design and compose your artwork
🎨 Build texture and depth through cutting, layering and collage techniques

For just £100, all materials are included, along with a frame for your finished piece so you can take it home ready to hang. Parking is also included in the ticket price.

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced maker, this workshop offers the perfect opportunity to unwind, get creative and create a unique piece of art.

🎟️ Book your place today! https://stanwicklakes.org.uk/events/collage-september-26/

02/09/2026

If you have ever wondered what birds live on the water and in the woodlands of Stanwick Lakes, then we have the walk for you!

Join members of the Mid Nene RSPB group on Sunday the 20th of September for a guided bird walk around the nature reserve to spot birds and identify them by sight and sound.

This walk is suitable for all ages and all levels of birdwatching experience, and binoculars and identification guides will be available to borrow on the day.

Tickets cost £6 for adults and £3 for children, and you can book your place here:
https://stanwicklakes.org.uk/events/guided-bird-walk/

The lovely pictures in this post were taken by visitors to Stanwick Lakes. (swipe for a close up)

Reed Bunting - perched on a grass stem. Photo: Jeremy Eyeons
Great Crested Grebe - two, tending to a nest on the lake. Photo: Peter Robinson
Goldcrest - amongst branches in scrub. Photo: John Murray

We love seeing you out and about enjoying the wildlife at Stanwick Lakes!
If you’d like to share your photos with us - which might be shared in social media posts, on our website or in future projects, such as a potential Stanwick Lakes calendar, you can share them with us here:

https://stanwicklakes.org.uk/share-your-photos/

01/09/2026

Schools - Welcome Back!

We are very excited to be welcoming back our schools and home education groups this week. From travelling back in time to the Iron Age to getting hands-on with Citizen Science, our expert-led team can’t wait to get started!

Bookings are now open for Spring/Summer 2027, so if you’re planning your school visit for the year ahead, please get in touch early to avoid disappointment.

You can email [email protected] with your trip enquiry, or to find our more, visit: https://stanwicklakes.org.uk/schools/

We look forward to hearing from you.

31/08/2026

September is looking busy at Stanwick Lakes, with plenty coming up. Planning a visit? Please note these changes to our usual Visitor Centre and café opening hours:

📅 Saturday 5th - Visitor Centre closes at midday.
Last café orders 11.30am. Breakfast & cakes until 11.30am.
The Walker’s Rest & new shop open.

📅 Monday 7th - Café closes at midday.
Last café orders 11.30am. Breakfast & cakes until 11.30am.
Drinks & cakes only from midday.

📅 Thursday 17th - Visitor Centre closed all day.
Private function.
The Walker’s Rest open.

Now, onto what’s happening this month - there’s plenty to choose from, with heritage, art, wildlife, music and running all in the diary:

🏺 Heritage Talk: Bronze Age Burials - Thursday the 3rd
🏃 Autumn Run - Sunday the 6th
🎨 NROS: Meet the Artists - Sunday the 6th (exhibition throughout September)
🦇 Bat Walk (ages 11-17) - Friday the 11th
🎹 Afternoon Tea with Craig Nathan - Saturday the 12th
🐦 Guided Bird Walk with RSPB Mid-Nene Group - Sunday the 20th
🏺 Heritage Open Day & Build Weekend - Sunday the 20th

Our autumn arts & crafts workshops are also available to explore and book, with traditional and contemporary sessions coming up over the next few months.

Want to be kept in the loop? Make sure you sign up for our What’s On emails on our website. For a more detailed summary of what’s on, visit: September is looking busy at Stanwick Lakes, with plenty coming up. Planning a visit? Please note these changes to our usual Visitor Centre and café opening hours:

📅 Saturday 5th - Visitor Centre closes at midday.
Last café orders 11.30am. Breakfast & cakes until 11.30am.
The Walker’s Rest & new shop open.

📅 Monday 7th - Café closes at midday.
Last café orders 11.30am. Breakfast & cakes until 11.30am.
Drinks & cakes only from midday.

📅 Thursday 17th - Visitor Centre closed all day.
Private function.
The Walker’s Rest open.

Now, onto what’s happening this month - there’s plenty to choose from, with heritage, art, wildlife, music and running all in the diary:

🏺 Heritage Talk: Bronze Age Burials - Thursday the 3rd
🏃 Autumn Run - Sunday the 6th
🎨 NROS: Meet the Artists - Sunday the 6th (exhibition throughout September)
🦇 Bat Walk (ages 11-17) - Friday the 11th
🎹 Afternoon Tea with Craig Nathan - Saturday the 12th
🐦 Guided Bird Walk with RSPB Mid-Nene Group - Sunday the 20th
🏺 Heritage Open Day & Build Weekend - Sunday the 20th

Our autumn arts & crafts workshops are also available to explore and book, with traditional and contemporary sessions coming up over the next few months.

Want to be kept in the loop? Make sure you sign up for our What’s On emails on our website. For a more detailed summary of what’s on, visit:
https://stanwicklakes.org.uk/september-events-and-closures/

September at Stanwick Lakes: A Month of Heritage, Art and Wildlife… September at Stanwick Lakes has plenty going on – our heritage volunteer teams are digging into Open Days and […]

30/08/2026

As the days start to change and the sunshine isn’t quite as constant as it has been, it’s nice to have something to discover indoors too.

This September, the Visitor Centre will be home to a month-long exhibition as part of the Northants and Rutland Open Studios Festival, showcasing the work of four local artists.

With wood carvings, paintings, collages and quirky illustrations on display, it’s something you can easily add to a visit to Stanwick Lakes - perhaps after a walk around the lakes or while enjoying a coffee and something to eat in the café.

There will also be a special meet-the-artists event on Sunday the 6th of September, giving you the chance to meet the artists and find out more about their work.

To find out a little more about the exhibition and the four artists featured, take a look at our latest blog ahead of your visit:
https://stanwicklakes.org.uk/northants-rutland-open-studios-at-stanwick-lakes/

The exhibition runs from 1st of September until the 27th of September and is free to view.
Usual parking applies.

29/08/2026

Strike a pose!
Thank you to Toby for sharing some lovely snaps of him enjoying our playground...

We’re gearing up for a fun-filled bank holiday weekend at Stanwick Lakes, and we’d love to see your photos of your adventures. Whether you’re climbing, swinging and scrambling in the playground, taking on the adventure trail and assault course, or heading out on two wheels with bike hire from AJ Cycles, there’s plenty to get stuck into.

Don your wellies and splash suits if you need to, and if the rain does make an appearance... Why not embrace it? We want to see those best splash shots too! 🌦️

And if you’re looking for an indoor activity to have up your sleeve, our pop-up pottery painting is a lovely way to add a little undercover creativity to your visit. There’s no need to book - just speak to the team at the welcome desk to get set up, choose a piece from the day’s selection and settle down to paint. We’ll glaze and fire your creation for you, ready to collect at a later date.

So, whatever your bank holiday adventure brings, don’t forget to take a few piccies. Tag us at Stanwick Lakes in your posts and stories, or submit your favourites through our website for the chance to see them featured there too - www.stanwicklakes.org.uk/share-your-photos/ - we’d love to see them. 🙂

28/08/2026

Do you take photographs when you're out exploring the Nene Valley?

The Nene Valley is a very special place for people and nature, and Stanwick Lakes is one of the nature reserves along it, one of several amazing places to experience and photograph wildlife.

We're pleased to be supporting our partners at The Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs & Northants with their 2026 “Nature of the Nene Valley” photography exhibition.

This exhibition celebrates this special landscape through the eyes of the people who explore it every day. Photographers of all ages and abilities are invited to share their best shots of the valley and its wildlife, with the top 12 images from each category included in an exclusive 2027 calendar.

And we'd love to see your photos here too!

If you've captured great nature and wildlife photographs at Stanwick Lakes, please share them with us as well. We'd love to feature them on our website and social media, and may also use them in future projects, including a Stanwick Lakes calendar of our own.

Why choose? You can share your photos with both organisations. So send your favourites to each of us!

📸 Share your photos with Stanwick Lakes:
https://stanwicklakes.org.uk/share-your-photos/

📸 To submit an entry for the Wildlife Trust BCN's “Nature of the Nene Valley” exhibition:
https://www.wildlifebcn.org/spa-photography-exhibition

To discover more about the Nene Valley Special Protection Area, visit:
https://www.wildlifebcn.org/upper-nene-valley-special-protection-area