Queen Suzie & Grenville the Grenadier Guard will return
We have given Grenville a new ‘gun’ and will make a new orb for Queen Suzie, to replace the one that was stolen before Easter, and will bring them both back to the Country Park to help with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee beacon & celebrations at the beginning of June.
Bluebell Wood : Our Super Heroes have put up new posters
Our bluebells are on their way again. Big thankyou to our Hunsbury Park Primary School Super Heroes for their posters to make sure everyone is aware not to walk on them or pick them.
MOLA Drone Survey
We are liaising with MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology) who are driving our bid for a 2nd National Lottery grant, mainly to fund more archaeological investigation of the Hill Fort and the artefacts recovered during quarrying. One thing MOLA want to do as part of that bid is to undertake a drone survey of the Hill Fort and surrounding area, so if you do see a professional looking drone in that vicinity (possibly week commencing 25th April), don’t be alarmed. And please don’t let your dogs or children interfere with it.
Visitor Survey
We have summarised and analysed our Visitor Survey and will be submitting both the analysis and summary to the relevant West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) and West Hunsbury Parish Council (WHPC) councillors and will follow up with requests for meetings so that we can push for some action on the things you wanted improved or changed. You can use this link to check the results for yourselves now.
We are looking for new members
We would like to have some fresh recruits in our group. For all of you who enjoy the Parks, please consider joining us. It’s not very onerous and can be fun. More details here.
WHPC Jubilee Event : Friday 3rd June
We are helping West Hunsbury Parish Council to organise a celebration for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June, to mark her 70th year on the British throne. There will be an all day event in Ladybridge Park on Friday 3rd June, starting at 11am, with live music of different sorts, a variety of entertainment and stalls for both children and adults, as well as food and drink stalls, and ending with a ceilidh from 5pm to 8pm. More info here.
Jubilee Beacon
WHPC are also joining in the national beacon lighting which will take place at St. Benedict’s Church at 9:45pm on Thursday 2nd June (preceded by a bugler playing a specially commissioned fanfare).
Jubilee Litter Pick : Saturday 4th June
We are anticipating a lot of West Hunsbury residents, family and friends attending the Jubilee celebrations on Friday 3rd June, so it makes sense to plan for a litter pick on Saturday 4th June. Please join us to make sure Ladybridge Park gets back to normal as quickly as possible. We will provide litter grabs, bags and gloves. Start time to be confirmed later.
July and August
We haven’t started planning anything for July and August (yet) but don’t let that stop you enjoying the Parks (and the Drovers’ Return café) during the summer.
Also, we can recommend a visit to Northampton Museum in Guildhall Road, where they have a marvellous display relating to the Hill Fort and the history of the area.
Heritage Open Days : 17th & 18th September
Put these dates in your diary. Following on from our analysis of the Visitor Survey Results, from which we are aware that a lot of you would like more information about the Hill Fort and the Parks, we will be available to show people where the fort is (and other notable points of interest such as the Trig. Point and the main railway line tunnel vent) and do our best to answer your questions about the history of the place.
More Astronomy : October
We will be getting John McEvoy back to the Country Park in October for some more insights into all things universe-related and some more telescope time looking at the moon & planets and, clear skies permitting, more star, constellation and galaxy gazing.
Green Lane logs
The section of the ancient Drovers’ Road that runs up Hunsbury Hill from Ladybridge Drive to Hunsbury Hill Road is known to us as Green Lane. A couple of large oak trees have been cut down on Green Lane behind Whaddon Close and we are planning to get a decent bench carved out of one of them and, if we can get sufficient funding, will commission a chainsaw artist to sculpt something appropriate into the bench.
We have also got approval from WNC to plant some bulbs and whip-hedging in the vicinity of the oak logs. This will probably all be done in or about October of this year.
Our new Facebook page is up and running
We have sorted out our Facebook problems, so you can now follow us on both this website and on our Facebook page.
Other things
In the meantime you can always enjoy our Tree Trail and can buy Northampton Lottery tickets using our dedicated page at any time. This QR Code will take you straight there :
Be sure to enjoy the Wildflower Meadow and the Bluebell Wood, but with the latter, please do stick to the established paths round the edge of the wood so as not to squash or damage the flowers.
We shall be organising litter picks and other activities and events as the weather warms up.
Remember to keep an eye on this website and on our Facebook page for updates.