About Us
What We Do
Rockingham Forest Trust manages Stanwick Lakes nature reserve and countryside attraction. Income from visitors directly supports the cost of running the site, which is self-financing.
The Trust’s work focuses on four main areas:
- Environmental conservation
- Heritage
- Education
- Health, well-being and inclusion
All areas of our work are interlinked and promoted through specific activities and events involving children and adults from across the area. We aim to inspire people to perhaps try something new or to adopt a greener, more wildlife-friendly lifestyle.
Annual Impact Report
At Stanwick Lakes, we’re proud to share the highlights and achievements of the past year. From vital conservation work and heritage restoration to community events and educational programmes, Our Impact 2024 celebrates how your support has helped us make a difference.
In this report, you’ll discover how our dedicated teams and volunteers have contributed to preserving our beautiful landscapes, protecting wildlife, and engaging people of all ages in meaningful nature experiences. You’ll also see the strides we’ve made in sustainable practices, including the installation of solar panels and our ongoing habitat restoration projects.
Learn about our successful events, growing education sessions, and the all hands-on efforts that make Stanwick Lakes a special place for nature, heritage, and adventure.
Thank you for being part of our journey. Every visit, every membership, and every moment spent at Stanwick Lakes directly supports our work as an independent charity.
Conservation
Stanwick Lakes is a 750-acre former sand and gravel quarry transformed into a nature reserve and countryside attraction. It is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Special Protection Area (SPA), and a wetland of international importance, protected for conservation and managed to maintain its wildlife interest.
The site has diverse habitats and abundant wildlife. It is particularly well known for wintering waterfowl like tufted duck and great crested grebe, and supports many kinds of butterflies, moths, bees and mammals. A team of rangers, with support from volunteers, work throughout the year to maintain the reserve.
Stanwick Lakes also offers recreational activities including an adventure playground, assault course, adventure trail, cycle hire, walking routes and café, ensuring the site is accessible and welcoming to families and visitors of all ages.
Heritage
Through project work, the Trust explores the area’s history and brings it to life through events and demonstrations. Rockingham Forest Trust has managed a number of Heritage Lottery funded projects over the years, all developing understanding and knowledge of Northamptonshire’s history.
All heritage projects have involved schools and young people in discovering the history of where they live, either through activities for schools to explore their local area’s heritage or through events at Stanwick Lakes. Projects have included the Big Bronze Age Boat Build and launch, development of the Heritage Museum, Heritage Garden, and Heritage Trail.
Traditional craft courses offer opportunities for adults to learn heritage skills, connecting participants with the methods and materials used by previous generations in this landscape.
Education
The Trust takes a broad approach to education, enabling us to inform and involve people of all ages in a variety of ways. Our educational work is linked with our heritage and environmental conservation projects, delivered through interactive school visits, community events and publications.
Educational visits for schools and youth groups are provided by the education team at Stanwick Lakes throughout the year. A variety of subjects suited to a range of age groups are linked to the national curriculum. Rangers and the Nature Engagement teams also carry out educational visits for community groups, such as scout and brownie groups, home educators and adults attending events to learn about the site and its wildlife.
Adult learning opportunities include art and contemporary courses, supporting lifelong learning and deeper engagement with nature history.
Wellbeing
The Trust works to promote health and improve people’s well-being by using the natural surroundings of Stanwick Lakes and, for all commercial events such as runs or open water swimming, profits are re-invested back into the charity.
The Trust offers regular health walks, encouraging people to get outdoors, enjoy fresh air and take part in gentle activity that supports physical and mental well-being, including as part of a social prescribing approach.
The paths are surfaced and mostly flat, making them suitable for all. Beyond organised walks, the site’s accessible infrastructure and natural environment provide opportunities for visitors to benefit from time spent outdoors.
Many visitors also choose to use Stanwick Lakes in their own way to support their well-being, whether through dog walking, orienteering, gentle exercise, or simply spending quiet time connecting with nature.
Meet the Board
Our Board of Trustees provides strategic oversight and brings a wide range of professional experience to support the charity’s work:
Stanwick Lakes is a charity, and everything we do is made possible through the support of people who care about this place and its future.
If you would like to help protect the landscape, support wildlife and heritage, or make sure more people can enjoy and benefit from Stanwick Lakes, there are lots of ways to get involved. You can donate today, become a member, volunteer with us, or sponsor a project and directly support our work.