Open Water Swimming

For 2026, we are pleased to offer weekly open water swimming sessions, taking place every Friday evening throughout the summer season, from Friday 15th May to Friday 28th August. This […]

Pond Dipping Tuesday Summer Sessions

Join our rangers for a pond dipping session this summer! Using nets, trays and magnifying glasses and guided by one of our rangers, come and discover the creatures that live […]

Pond Dipping Thursday Summer Sessions

Book a Thursday summer pond dipping session! Using nets, trays and magnifying glasses and guided by one of our rangers, come and discover the creatures that live in the ponds at Stanwick Lakes!

Fabric Printing Workshop (age 7+)

Join us for one of our summer workshops and create your very own tote bag. You will use ready cut stamps and lino blocks to print and create your own design. Supported by artist and printmaker Lizzie Ault, who will be providing her own hand cut blocks for you to use. 

Embossed Decorations (age 7+)

Join artist & tutor Lizzie Ault to create a set of hanging decorations or a garland inspired by summer.  You’ll try foil embossing, a beautiful, relaxing craft inspired by folk art and seasonal themes. You’ll learn the basics and create your own embossed decoration to take home.

Northants and Rutland Open Studios -Stanwick Art Collective

This September, five creative local artist exhibit together at Stanwick Lakes to feature a vibrant mix of styles, materials and perspectives in response to the natural world. The exhibition at Stanwick Lakes Visitor Centre will run for the month of September, and will be open daily.

Home Education Day Key Stage 1 & 2

Heritage Talk: Bronze Age Burials And Ceremonial Landscape

Bronze Age Burials And Ceremonial Landscape A heritage talk by Professor Stephen Upex The coming of the Bronze Age heralds major changes in the way that society appears to have […]

Finds Fridays at Stanwick Lakes

Discover more about the objects you’ve found, 300 years or older, with Northamptonshire’s Finds Liaison Officer, Eleanore Cox.

A 2-Day Flax Fiber and Weaving Workshop on Your Handmade Ceramic Frame

Participants will have the opportunity to create a beautiful traditional handwoven piece using flax fiber woven onto their own handmade ceramic frame.

Northants and Rutland Open Studios – Meet the Artist

This September, five creative local artist exhibit together at Stanwick Lakes to feature a vibrant mix of styles, materials and perspectives in response to the natural world. The exhibition at Stanwick Lakes Visitor Centre will run for the month of September, and will be open daily.

Mixed Media Art Course

Combine layered water-based media with drawing tools to create unique and detailed mixed media paintings. You’ll explore various techniques to add depth and texture to your work.

Bat Walk (Nene Valley Mammal Youth Group)

Come and join a Bat Walk with the Nene Valley Bat Group as we look for bats around Stanwick Lakes, and listen out for their echolocation sounds using bat detectors. […]

Afternoon Tea with Craig Nathan

Enjoy a traditional Afternoon Tea inspired by the calm and simplicity of our nature reserve with a beautiful view of our Solstice Lake while listening to our request pianist play.

Autumn Wreath Making

Spend a relaxing morning creating a beautiful wreath for your home with florist Catherine Elworthy. You will be shown how to create this arrangement using an ecofriendly willow and moss base and a range of dried and fresh foliage and flowers.

Watercolour Painting Course

Join us for an inspiring watercolor painting class where creativity flows as freely as the paint on your brush!

Copper Foiling Stained Glass Workshop – Butterflies and Bees

A fun and relaxed workshop at Stanwick Lakes where you will make ‘Butterflies and Bee’ suncatchers to take home, using the basics of the Tiffany copper foil technique guided by maker Joanne Turner.

Mixed Media Collage Workshop

Join artist Lizzie Ault to create your own collage inspired by nature. You will learn how to create collage papers using different techniques and colours, design your image and then use scissors, glue and layering to create a final image.

Heritage Open Day

Discover the everyday lives spanning 5,000 years at Stanwick Lakes. From Roman crafts and Viking camps to blacksmithing, Roman pottery kilns and Bronze Age Boat building – explore the skills, […]

Oil Painting Course

In these 2.5 hour oil painting sessions learn and practice techniques from canvas prep to paint application — perfect for beginners or artists wanting to refine their skills.

Acrylic Painting Course

Come along for these creative acrylic painting class where you can explore the techniques of this lovely medium!

Batik Silk Painting Workshop: Autumn Berries

In this hands-on, beginner-friendly class, Lisa will guide you through the beautiful and organic process of batik, a centuries-old technique that uses melted wax and vibrant inks on silk to create rich, flowing designs.

Linocut Jigsaw Workshop

The jigsaw method in lino is the act of cutting your lino block into sections which you can ink up with different colours to create colourful prints. The workshop will be inspired by the season, flowers, nature, celebrations.

Pottery Course

These 2.5-hour pottery sessions, led by skilled artist Louise Berrill, are designed to accommodate all levels, from beginners to those with more experience.

Wooden Spoon Carving Workshop

Spend a relaxing day at Stanwick Lakes learning traditional spoon carving techniques. This beginner-friendly course covers cleaving wood, shaping with an axe, and carving with sloyd and hook knives to create your own handcrafted wooden spoon. Set in the oak-framed craft barn and surrounded by 750 acres of inspiring wetlands, it is a practical and immersive introduction to green woodworking.

All About Badgers (Nene Valley Mammal Youth Group)

Hosted by the Northamptonshire Badger Group and suitable for young adults age 18-30. Join the Northamptonshire Badger group to discover all about badgers, including how to spot the signs that […]

Heritage Talk: The Roman invasion of AD 43 and the conquest of Britain

The Roman invasion of AD 43 and the conquest of Britain A heritage talk by Professor Stephen Upex The Romans sent an invasion force to Britain in AD 43 and […]

Harvest Mouse Explorers (ages 4-11)

Grab your magnifying glass and join us for a fun-filled walk around the nature reserve this half term! Discover the secret world of the harvest mouse – the UK’s tiniest […]

Wild About Harvest Mice (age 11-17)

This event is designed for ages 11-17 in partnership with the Nene Valley Mammal Youth Group. Young people attending this even must be accompanied by their adult at all times. […]

Fabric Printing Workshop

Join us for one of our autumn workshops and create your very own design onto a tote bag. Using ready cut stamps and lino blocks to print and create your own design. Supported by artist and printmaker Lizzie Ault, who will be providing her own hand cut blocks for you to use.

Willow Weaving Workshop: Berry Basket

Spend a creative day at Stanwick Lakes learning traditional willow weaving techniques. Learn core basketry skills while creating an impressive large willow flower.

Wildlife Survey Skills: Harvest Mouse Monitoring (age 18-30)

This event is designed for young people aged 18-30 in partnership with the Nene Valley Mammal Youth Group. Join the team at Stanwick Lakes to take part in monitoring the […]

Heritage Talk: Understanding Roman Northamptonshire

Understanding Roman Northamptonshire A heritage talk by Dr Michael J Curtis Northamptonshire occupies a central position within the landscape of Roman Britain, yet its remarkable archaeological heritage is often overshadowed […]

Linocut Christmas Cards

Join us for a creative and hands-on workshop where you’ll design and carve your very own linocut stamp. Experienced printmaker, Kerrie Suteu, will guide you through each step, and you’ll leave with a a small set of Christmas cards ready to send.

Willow Weaving Workshop: Festive Trees & Reindeer

Embrace the festive season with this joyful half-day willow weaving workshop led by willow artist Chaz Friend. You’ll learn how to create two classic seasonal pieces

Home Education Day Key Stage 3

Our next Home Education Day for KS3 will be on Thursday 19th November 2026. Everyone is welcome but is best suited to learners aged 11-14 or those accessing the Key […]

Christmas Woodcarving Workshop – One Day

Spend a relaxing day learning the traditional craft of wood carving by hand which dates back thousands of years, from when we first learned to make sharp tools. This one-day course is suitable for those starting out and also for carvers who would like to develop their skills further.

Christmas Wreath Making Workshops

Craft your very own Christmas wreath with guidance from a friendly instructor and a beautiful selection of natural materials. Leave with a wreath that’s one-of-a-kind, ready to bring festive cheer to your front door or home.

Heritage Talk: Northamptonshire Villas and Life in the Countryside

Northamptonshire Villas and Life in the Countryside A heritage talk by Dr Michael J Curtis Roman Northamptonshire was a predominantly rural landscape, where prosperous villas, bustling farmsteads, and productive agricultural […]

Tinsmithing Festive Pierced Lantern – 2 Day Course

On this two-day course, you will learn how to pierce patterns into tinplate, form it into shape and use various joining methods to create your own traditional tinplate lantern.

Mixed Media Collage Workshop

Join artist Lizzie Ault to create your own collage inspired by nature. You will learn how to create collage papers using different techniques and colours, design your image and then use scissors, glue and layering to create a final image.

Copper Foiling Stained Glass Christmas Decorations Workshop

Join us for a hands-on, full day workshop where you’ll craft your very own genuine stained glass decorations, perfect for hanging on your tree or sparkling in your window this Christmas.