Introduction

Update from the Friends of Milton Country Park

The Friends have recently combined the Trust's and the Friends' websites into one at www.miltoncountrypark.org. This will give the Park a single presence on the internet. Information about the Trust will still be available at www.cambridgesportlakes.org.uk

We'd also like to thank all the volunteers who helped in the car-park earlier this year, and with the Birdbox and Easter Egg Hunt events. We'd especially like to thank the volunteers from Cambridgeshire Search and Rescue www.camsar.org who give-up time to help. Camsar regular use the park for training, and enjoyed the chance to meet park-users.

In the last year we have been able to fund the building of a new viewing platform. Students from the Cambridge University Offices Training Corp. spent about a week levelling the ground, and building a wooden platform. The Friends of Milton Country were pleased to sponsor the materials for this project. The platform is just over the bridge from the path to the memorial meadow, it is designed to be easily accessible, and incorporates two benches. We hope to welcome the students back in the future, to work on repairs to existing bridges.

Stephen Bennett Chairman of the Friends.

Update from the Trust

Over the last year much of our energy has gone into the 3 vital 'C's of the Country Park being; CONDITION of the Park, CONTENT of the Park and COMMERCIAL viability of the park. The Trust feel that we have continued to make great strides in each of these vital elements. Whilst progress does not always seem dramatic when working with the changing seasons there is no doubt that the Park is starting to thrive. The biggest single change has been the introduction of the new facilities in the Visitor Centre. The outcome of this project is that the Park is now more able to cope with more visitors at more times.

Looking ahead to this summer and the year ahead we are very excited about how the programme of events has developed. The Parklife, Summer Chill in the Park, X-Adventure and Food Farming and Country Side events all promise to be well attended. Delivery of the events programme will be our main focus over the next couple of months. It will be important that we achieve a good attendance for the outdoor theatre performances this year to give us the confidence to keep going with this initiative in the future.

Over the winter period we plan further tree maintenance works and planting, improvements to some of the key stretches of footpaths and further improvements to the presentation of the Visitors Centre.

Mick Woolhouse Cambridge Sport Lakes Trust.

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Wildplace

Over recent years an area of unused land just before the play-areas has been developed into The Wild Place.

View of The Wild Place Entrance

Introduction to the Wild Place

The Wild Place has been developed by Ranger Chris Goodwin, from an area which had previously been created as an outdoor classroom for use with children's groups. Chris's training and career experience has been in fine art (as a Sculptor and Painter), environmental sciences, outdoor education, and youth work.

Chris describes The Wild Place as follows:

• The Wild Place initiative began in February 2010; I was looking to establish a permanent base with an emphasis on Bushcraft, outdoor skills, and arts that was founded on a sense of local, community ownership, open to a diversity of user groups.
• The practical work has all been carried out by myself with support from students at Cambridge Regional College, members of the Youth Offending Team, Explorer Scouts from the Perse School, Volunteers at the Park, and work experience students.

The area is in use on regular basis, and can facilitate educational groups, at pre-school, primary and secondary level, as well as adult training sessions, and private booking such as birthdays and seasonal parties. The sessions are usually Ranger led, and can include fire lighting, cooking, den building, environmental arts and traditional woodland crafts.

Camp fire and Den building.

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Parkrun

The Cambridge Parkrun, takes place at Milton Country Park, every Saturday morning at 9am. This is a timed 5Km run for runners of all abilities. The Event Director, Heidi explains the history of this event.

I'd heard about the parkrun phenomenon from running friends who had attended various other parkruns around the country. The whole concept is simple; register, print your barcode, turn up, run. All for free! I couldn't believe no one had organised a Cambridge event

We soon decided we'd love for Milton Country Park to be our venue. Despite a seeming abundance of parks and green spaces, there are not many places in Cambridge where a 5k course can adequately be situated. Surprisingly, a cafe is more of a necessity than a nice touch - that's where the friendships blossom, the laughs are shared and the conversations go on long after the event has finished. Milton Country Park had it all! We were utterly delighted when the park management were as keen for it to become the venue as we were.

The first event will always stand out in my memory. It was a freezing cold morning. We'd had a dusting of snow and some of the volunteers were stuck in traffic following an accident on the A14. I was terribly nervous - half nervous that people wouldn't turn up, half nervous that they would. I think we had around 75 runners that day and everyone enjoyed themselves, so a successful inaugural run. We've now got a record turnout number of 255 and regularly see 220+ runners donning their trainers and taking part on a Saturday morning. It's a credit to our great team of volunteers who make the event possible and, of course, to Milton Country Park. Without support from the venue, the park rangers and all the park's volunteers, we simply wouldn't have such a successful and well-loved event. I love the atmosphere at Milton Country Park: it's alive with nature, with people and with activities.

Heidi Uff Cambridge Parkrun.

All you need to do is register with www.parkrun.com, print out a unique barcode and bring it to the event

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Events

Thursday 11^th August: Snow White

A Chapter House Theatre Company Production.
Tickets and Information from:

• The Visitor Centre (01223) 420060
• The Junction (01223) 511511,
• See Tickets (0871) 2200260 www.seetickets.com

Doors: 2:00PM Starts: 3:00PM

Saturday 13^th August: The Summer Chill in the Park 2011

An Outdoor Music Event for All, featuring; LIVE SOUL / JAZZ / WORLD MUSIC ACTS thoughtout the afternoon and evening. This is a ticket event, see information organiser's website

Saturday 20^th and Sunday 21^stAugust: X-Adventure Weekend

A weekend of outdoor activities for more details see www.xadventureactivities.co.uk

Tuesday 30^th August to Thursday 1^stSeptember: Wind in the Willows

3 Day Children's Workshops by Cambridge Touring Theatre. Details & tickets from 0843 2080500 or online

Come and have a great time with our team of trained workshop leaders as you put on your own production of `Wind in the Willows'. You will be in charge of stage management, acting, singing, dancing, artwork, publicity and production. At the end of the 3 days, you will be able to show your work to your friends and family. Even if you don't want to act, you will be fully involved in the process.

For children aged 7 - 11, 10.00am - 4.00pm each day, Price £90.00.
Pre-booked lunches available or bring your own. Performance is at 3pm on the last day

Sunday 4^thSeptember:Alzheimers Memory Walk

Details from:

Sunday 11^thSeptember:Food, Farming and Countryside Day

Local food stalls, information and activities from wildlife and countryside organisations. Including the Milton Produce Show for 2011

Sunday 2^ndOctober:Cambridge Cancer Walk

Details from: Catherine Cope email

Sunday 6^thNovember:Tree Identification Walk.

A 1½ hour walk for families. Join one of the Rangers on a leisurely walk looking at trees in winter and how to identify them. 2.00 pm start from the visitor centre.

How to join an event and what will it cost? Places are limited on some events, so please book and pay for your place by any dates shown. Events at the park are run by park staff or other experienced leaders, charges for events vary because of this. To book an event, please call 01223 420060.

What to wear Most events take place outdoors so please wear clothing and footwear that is appropriate for the weather and ground conditions at the time.

Children and events Children are welcome at park events with some aimed at children and some at adults or families, if unsure please ask. At all events please ensure that under 16's are accompanied by an adult at all times.

Cancelling events Very occasionally we may need to cancel an event at short notice. We will try to contact everyone who has booked to inform them of this. We reserve the right to cancel an event if we have received no bookings or if bad weather is forecast.

Events in green are run by Cambridge Sport Lakes Trust (CSLT).
Events in navy blue are run by The Friends of Milton Country Park.
Events in purple are collaborative events between CSLT and partnership organisations.
Events in light blue are hosted by Milton Country Park, but run by a partnership organisation.