Stanwick Lakes

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Stanwick Lakes

Welcome to Stanwick Lakes,
where the adventure lasts all day!
(1836)

Stanwick Lakes is a unique 750acre countryside attraction and nature reserve in the heart of Northamptonshire's beautiful Nene Valley, and is widely considered to be one of the region's most imaginative outdoor activity destinations. It offers the best of both worlds: extensive play areas to keep adventurous families entertained for hours, and for nature lovers, walkers and cyclists, acres of wide

open spaces and paths, where blue skies are reflected in tranquil waters. Stanwick Lakes is managed as a social enterprise by environmental charity, Rockingham Forest Trust, in partnership with East Northamptonshire Council.

06/06/2026

Planning a visit to Stanwick Lakes tomorrow (Sunday 7th June)? Just a note that our Summer Run is taking place during the morning.

With more than 400 runners expected across 5k, 10k and half marathon distances, there'll be a little more activity than usual around the reserve and Visitor Centre.

Spectators are very welcome to come along and cheer them on. 👏

The Northamptonshire Emergency Service Cadets will be volunteering as race marshals throughout the event. They'll also be hosting a meet-and-greet behind the Visitor Centre, next to the start/finish area.

It's a great opportunity for younger visitors to get up close to fleet vehicles, ask questions, sound a siren and learn more about local cadet groups. 🚨

Runners will begin gathering from around 10am, with the event hub at its busiest during the late morning before things gradually quieten down into the afternoon.

Whether you're running, supporting, or simply enjoying a walk around the lakes, please take care around the busier areas and we hope you have a fantastic visit. 😎

05/06/2026

Leading up to the longest day of the year, join us on Saturday 20th June for a new celebration inspired by one of the oldest seasonal traditions in the calendar - Summer Solstice - a time of gathering, creativity and celebration of the natural world.

From 12-8pm, discover living history with The Longthorpe Legion Roman Camp and The Bifrost Guard Viking Camp, explore ancient and modern pagan traditions with Northampton Pagans, and learn more about the customs and beliefs that have surrounded midsummer for centuries.

Enjoy drop-in crafts to make your own solstice decorations - corn and raffia dolly making with Windhover Crafts and embossed sunshine crafting with Tales from the fen, both running until 6pm.

(Embossed decoration workshops are pre-bookable, with limited spaces available on the day.)

Watch traditional craft demos throughout the day, and learn to play the medieval strategy game Nine Men's Morris with Illuminato

As the sun lingers, make the most of a rare chance to enjoy Stanwick Lakes into the evening. With the site open late, there'll be plenty of opportunities to soak up the midsummer atmosphere, with evening workshops, food and drink from the Visitor Centre, and other special experiences including a Solstice night swim...

More to this to come... ☀️🌛 👀

For more info and to book workshops, visit www.stanwicklakes.org.uk/solstice-at-stanwick-lakes

04/06/2026

Looking for simple ways to make a positive difference? Join us for our Green Living Fair at Stanwick Lakes on Sunday 14th June.

Discover ideas, inspiration and practical tips for living a little more sustainably, with eco-friendly activities, family-friendly crafts, ethical stalls, and opportunities to learn more about caring for our environment.

We’ll also be welcoming a range of independent makers and small businesses offering handmade, ethically produced goods. It’s a great opportunity to browse unique products, support local creators, and find thoughtful alternatives to mass-produced items.

Set against the backdrop of our 750-acre nature reserve, it’s a chance to spend time outdoors, meet like-minded people, pick up useful tips, and enjoy a relaxed day out with family and friends. From small lifestyle changes to bigger environmental ideas, you’ll find plenty of inspiration to take home with you.

Whether you’re already passionate about green living or just looking for a few easy changes to make at home, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

The Green Living Fair takes place from 10am to 4pm on Sunday 14th June. Entry is free, with standard car parking charges applying.

Come along, get inspired, and see how small actions can make a big difference.

03/06/2026

Last weekend, our Nature Engagement team had a great time representing Stanwick Lakes at the Midlands Festival of Nature. Kettering Nature Group (KNG) brought together a fantastic group of organisations at Wicksteed Park for a family-friendly celebration of wildlife, creativity and community.

We took a little bit of Stanwick Lakes to the festival, including a life-size model of an otter, which attracted lots of people to our stall! Visitors could also test their nature knowledge by taking part in a mammal-themed quiz, learn about dragonflies and make their very own to take home, while our digital microscope enabled them to get a close-up view of nature. We loved telling people all about the wildlife of Stanwick Lakes, and it was brilliant to hear that so many people had already visited the nature reserve and were planning another visit soon.

It was great to connect with and be inspired by other conservationists. Thank you to the Kettering Nature Group for inviting Stanwick Lakes to this event - we are looking forward to returning in 2027!

02/06/2026

Bookings Now Open for 2026/2027

Take the stress out of school trip planning and book early with us today.
Whether you're looking to step back into prehistory or inspire curiosity about the natural world, we offer a range of engaging, curriculum-linked experiences designed to bring learning to life.

Heritage:
Develop knowledge and understanding of prehistory through hands-on sessions led by our Living History team. Our workshops are designed to support both the National Curriculum and enquiry-led learning.

Nature:
Explore the natural world through unique experiences led by our highly skilled Ranger team. Each session has been designed to support the National Curriculum and encourage STEM engagement.

Get Ahead!
Our dates fill up quickly, so we encourage schools to book early to secure their preferred dates.

Find out more and get in touch to start planning your 2026/2027 school, visit: https://stanwicklakes.org.uk/schools/ -in-touch

01/06/2026

Today marks the start of Volunteers’ Week - a UK-wide celebration running from 1st - 7th June, recognising the people who give their time, skills and energy to support causes and communities across the country.

At Stanwick Lakes, that story stretches back 20 years. Volunteers have been part of everything here for two decades - helping to care for habitats, supporting events, welcoming visitors and contributing to the day-to-day running of the site in countless ways.

We want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to all of our volunteers - past and present - who have supported the site and helped make everything we have achieved together possible. That support continues today, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has been part of it all.

In our 20th year, we’re saying thank you in different ways. For this post, we’ve gathered some photos from the archive to give just a glimpse of volunteer efforts over the years. We’ve also put together 20 simple ways to support Stanwick Lakes - including ways to thank volunteers, from small everyday actions to ideas for getting more involved yourself!

For more information, read our blog:
https://stanwicklakes.org.uk/how-do-we-love-stanwick-lakes-lets-count-the-ways

30/05/2026

Our Heritage Open build Weekend is go, go go!

29/05/2026

Did you know? On Fridays, our café stays open a little later to go alongside our open water swimming sessions. You don’t have to be a swimmer to get involved and enjoy things though - you’re very welcome to come down, watch what’s happening on the water, or just take in the scenery as the sun starts to go down.

Settle in with a coffee, a slice of cake, a light snack, or perhaps a glass of wine, and find a spot with a view.
It’s a nice, easy way to ease into the end of the week!

A note on swimming...
Due to the SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) status of the nature reserve, our swimming sessions are organised with special permission from Natural England. Swimming must be booked in advance and wild swimming is prohibited at any other time.

It’s also worth knowing that we’re not able to accept walk-ins on the evening, so if you fancy a dip, visit our website to reserve a spot!

28/05/2026

Looking forward to Ancient Craft - Dr. James Dilley returning to Stanwick Lakes for our Open Heritage Build weekend this Saturday and Sunday... Now long now!

28/05/2026

This weekend, many mosaic tiles will come together to create something much bigger… And we need you!

Join us at Stanwick Lakes and help build replica Roman mosaics alongside Lisa from Earthly Arts Studio - a chance to contribute to a community artwork inspired by the site’s fascinating past. Add a tile, create a pattern, or simply stop by to see the artwork grow throughout the weekend.

Watch our Roman kiln build take shape!
Our volunteers and Derek Roberts from Udig Excavations will be continuing with the construction of this magnificent piece of experimental archaeology.

You can also catch traditional boat-building in action with Ancient Craft - Dr. James Dilley and volunteers as our jetty project progresses. Stop by and discover how ancient crafts and techniques helped shape life along the river centuries ago.

Alongside the mosaic and boat build, there’ll be heritage activities, reenactors, crafts and living history to explore across the site - and there’ll also be a chance to “cast” your opinion and help shape the future of this heritage site.

There’s plenty to explore, perfect for those looking for something a bit different to do with the family.

Free activities for all ages, running Saturday 30th & Sunday 31st May from 10am.
Usual parking charges apply.

Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.

Address

Northampton
NN96GY

Telephone

01933 625522

Website

http://www.stanwicklakes.org.uk/

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