Shop, Eat and Explore Nature at Rushden Lakes

Shop, Eat and Explore Nature at Rushden Lakes

If you were discussing some of the most beautiful landscapes across, `England`s green and pleasant land`, Northamptonshire would probably not be one of the first places mentioned, but as someone who has lived, worked and walked across much of the county for the last forty years, I would say it is one of the nation`s `real gems`

Several years ago I walked The Nene Way, a long distance path following the course of the River Nene, from Northampton, then on to Thrapston and Oundle. The river Nene meandered its way through beautiful Northamptonshire countryside, stunning wetland landscapes, picturesque country villages with prominent church spires and areas of thriving wildlife habitats

The Nene Wetlands around Rushden had for many years seen a number of industrial and leisure activities take place including iron ore mining, gravel quarrying, brick manufacture, water skiing and it also had a very successful dry ski slope, for many years. After these ventures became uneconomical or exhausted of their mineral assets, the area reverted back to nature with a string of small lakes and ponds straddling the river Nene like a necklace and seven small wetland nature reserves were established.

Today the area has witnessed a pioneering project, the first in the country with the partnership of a Nature Reserve and Retail Shopping development including House of Fraser, M&S, H&M, River Island, Next and Primark alongside other big brand fashion names such as Jigsaw, Hobbs and Joules, at the gateway to a 41,000 acre Nature Reserve on their doorsteps.

What is so unusual and pioneering about this development is that these retail giants are successfully working alongside local Wildlife Trusts to create a totally new shopping experience with nature at its heart. The needs of the wildlife has been considered at every part of the planning process. Visitors and children who may not usually venture into a nature reserve get the opportunity to learn more about the local wildlife and natural environment when visiting a local shopping centre.

You really wouldn’t know you were next to a large retail shopping development as you stand on the boardwalk looking out over the water. In Summer migrant breeding birds include Sedge, Reed and Cetti`s Warblers. Dragonflies and Damselflies can be seen skimming over paths and water all summer long. Butterflies such as Common Blues, Small Coppers and Marbled Whites are a real delight to spot.

In Winter over 20,000 birds, including Bittern, Lapwings, Gadwalls, Wigeons, Pochards, Tufted Ducks and Great Crested Grebes, make the Nene Wetlands their home. Other habitats range from wildflower meadows, ancient woodlands and flooded gravel pits. The Nene Wetlands is a unique square mile of habitats, which is being managed for both wildlife and people!

I went for a short twenty minute walk around the `Nature Loop Walk ` skirting Skew Bridge Lake and was delighted to come across a series of fourteen wooden sculptures highlighting the wildlife to be found in the reserve and a nod to its industrial history. The sculptures are made of good strong wood and are very tactile, the children I saw were keen to explore them, sitting on or climbing over many of the sculptures, much to their delight.

I would love to have walked more of the wetlands but `retail therapy` and lunch was also part of the day, so I headed back across the Boardwalk to find refreshment at M&S, which I must say was very well prepared and reasonably priced. From my table I could look out over the water of `First Lake`. Delightful!

I am not it must be said, much of a shopper, but I did spend a short time in the comfortable surroundings of Primark and managed to secure a new pair of shoes and trousers at very competitive prices.

I will return to Rushden Lakes later in the year to explore the 2.5 hours `Travellers Trail` which guides walkers over a five mile route. Looking at the map there are seventeen different named lakes including Higham Lake, Dragonfly Lake and Heron Lake hugging the fringes of the River Nene.

Rushden Lakes Shopping Centre really does offer the Nature lover and Shopper the best of both worlds.