Every Monday
Walk into Shape at Salcey Forest
Salcey Forest, Northamptonshire
Would you like to get fitter and explore the forest with others? Walk with our weekly group and make new friends. Join Katherine and Tilly the dog every Monday for the walk and why not stay for a coffee and a chat afterwards.
Start/duration: 10:30 – 12:00
Meet at: Salcey Forest main car park – café
Cost: Free
Booking: Not required. For more information contact Katherine on 07834 765590 or ask in the café.
Salcey Forest is on the Quinton to Hanslope road, about 6 miles south west of Northampton, and very close to Hartwell village.

Every Wednesday
Get Active Health Walk
Top Lodge, Fineshade Woods, Northamptonshire
This regular walk is designed to increase your general fitness, whatever level you’re at. By stopping for a friendly coffee at the on site café afterwards, it’s a chance to meet new people too.
Start/duration: 1:30pm for 45mins walk
Cost: Free
Meet: at the main car park
Booking: No need to book. For more information contact Jenna Parton, East Northamptonshire Council on 07725 422871
Top Lodge is in the village of Fineshade, signposted off the A43 between Stamford and Corby.

Every Saturday
Woodland Walks
Top Lodge, Fineshade Woods, Northamptonshire
More than 30 different species of bird live and breed in Fineshade wood – come along and experience the sights and sounds of this fabulous woodland.
Start/duration: 10:00am / one and a half hours.
Meet at: the RSPB shop.
Cost: £2.00 per person, children under 16 free.
Booking: No need to book. For more information please contact the RSPB on 01780 444691.
Top Lodge is in the village of Fineshade, signposted off the A43 between Stamford and Corby.

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Saturday 4th October
Craft Fayre
Top Lodge, Fineshade Woods, Northamptonshire
Local craftsmen will have their wares on sale, such as turned wood products, jewellery, bags and art.
Start/duration: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Meet at: the Craft Courtyard, Big Barn, Little Barn and elsewhere around the visitor centre.
Cost: free
Booking: No need to book. For more information please contact the Forestry Commission on 01780 444920
Top Lodge is in the village of Fineshade, signposted off the A43 between Stamford and Corby.

Wednesday 8th October
Discover Red Kites
Top Lodge, Fineshade Woods, Northamptonshire
Come along to this illustrated talk and hear about the red kites and their amazing return to Fineshade woods.
Start / duration: 2:30pm – 3:30pm
Cost: £2 per person
Meet: at the Little Barn
Booking: Please book in advance – places limited. For more information please contact the RSPB on 01780 444691.
Top Lodge is in the village of Fineshade, signposted off the A43 between Stamford and Corby.

Wednesday 8th October
Birdwatching for Beginners
Top Lodge, Fineshade Woods, Northamptonshire
Learn how to spot and identify the birds in your garden and in the wider countryside. Pick up hints and tips from the experts.
Start / duration: 6pm – 7:30pm
Cost: £2 per person
Meet: at the Little Barn
Booking: Please book in advance. Places limited. For more information please contact the RSPB on 01780 444691.
Top Lodge is in the village of Fineshade, signposted off the A43 between Stamford and Corby.

Thursday 9th October
Volunteer Work Party
Bourne Woods, south Lincolnshire
Come and have fun helping us clear up an overgrown ride in this lovely ancient woodland. Just bring a pair of old gloves, your lunch and a hot drink, and wear old clothes. All tools provided.
Start / duration: 10am – 3pm
Cost: Free
Meet: the car park
Booking: Please ring the ranger after 8am on the morning of the work party to check it is going ahead, and you will be given full details. Please ring 07774 730212.
Bourne Woods car park is about a mile west of Bourne town centre, on the A151 Colsterworth road.

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Thursday 9th October
Volunteer Work Party
Salcey Forest, south Northamptonshire.
Come and have fun helping us do conservation work in this lovely ancient woodland. Just bring a pair of old gloves, your lunch and a hot drink, and wear old clothes. All tools provided.
Start / duration: 10am – 3pm
Cost: Free
Meet: the main car park.
Booking: Please ring the ranger after 8am on the morning of the work party to check it is going ahead, and you will be given full details. Please ring 07917 262860.
Salcey Forest is located about 6 miles south east of Northampton, on the Quinton – Hanslope road.

Sunday 12th October
Art walk in Salcey Forest
Salcey Forest, Northamptonshire
Local artist Linda Johns will be leading a guided walk through Salcey Forest. Join her for a fascinating insight into her work and the inspiration behind it.
Start/duration: 11:00am, approx 1.5 hours
For more details of the event and to book a place please contact Linda on 07914 265361, or salcey@lindajohns.com

Sunday 19th October
Autumn Nature Walk
Top Lodge, Fineshade Woods, Northamptonshire
Bring the family for a gentle autumn stroll and find out about the animals and plants that live in this beautiful woodland.
Start / duration: 11am - 1pm
Cost: £4 per adult, £2 per child.
Meet: in the courtyard.
Booking: Please book in advance, places limited. Contact the Forestry Commission on 01780 444920.
Top Lodge is in the village of Fineshade, signposted off the A43 between Stamford and Corby.

Thursday 23rd October
Volunteer Work Party
Morkery Woods, south Lincolnshire
Come and have fun helping us clear up an overgrown ride in this lovely ancient woodland. Just bring a pair of old gloves, your lunch and a hot drink, and wear old clothes. All tools provided.
Start / duration: 10am – 3pm
Cost: Free
Meet: the car park
Booking: Please ring the ranger after 8am on the morning of the work party to check it is going ahead, and you will be given full details. Please ring 07774 730212.

More follows Thursday 9th October
Volunteer Work Party
Bourne Woods, south Lincolnshire
Come and have fun helping us clear up an overgrown ride in this lovely ancient woodland. Just bring a pair of old gloves, your lunch and a hot drink, and wear old clothes. All tools provided.
Start / duration: 10am – 3pm
Cost: Free
Meet: the car park
Booking: Please ring the ranger after 8am on the morning of the work party to check it is going ahead, and you will be given full details. Please ring 07774 730212.
Morkery Woods are close to Castle Bytham.

Thursday 23rd & 30th October
Birdwatching for Kids
Top Lodge, Fineshade Woods, Northamptonshire
Get the youngsters interested in wildlife with our child-friendly introduction to birds. Learn about our feathered friends then go out into the woods to find them.
Start/duration: 10:30 – 12:00
Meet: at the Little Barn
Cost: £2 per child (one adult per booking free) Suitable for ages 7 – 16
Booking: Places limited, please book in advance. For more information please contact the RSPB on 01780 444691.
Top Lodge is in the village of Fineshade, signposted off the A43 between Stamford and Corby.

Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th October
Woodcraft Fayre
Local craftsmen will have their wares on sale and demonstrating their art – including wood carvers, wood turners, furniture makers and flute makers to name a few.
Start/duration: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Meet at: the Craft Courtyard, Big Barn, Little Barn and elsewhere around the visitor centre.
Cost: free (car park charges apply)
Booking: No need to book. For more information please contact the Forestry Commission on 01780 444920

Saturday 25th October
Deer of Bourne at Dawn
Bourne Woods, Lincolnshire
Join the wildlife ranger for a dawn walk to see deer gathering in the woods for their autumn rut. No cameras, and please wear rustle free dark coloured clothing.
Start/duration: 6:30am for 2 hours
Meet at: bourne woods car park
Cost: £3 per person
Booking: Essential. Please contact the Forestry Commission on 01780 444920.
Bourne Wood is signposted off of the A151 half a mile west of Bourne.

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Sunday 26th October
Volunteer Ranger Work Party
Top Lodge, Fineshade Woods, Northamptonshire.
A chance to do some conservation work in this historic woodland. We will be coppicing an area of alder carr, a habitat rare in this local area. A chance to meet new people, get fit and have fun all at the same time!!
All tools provided. Bring hot drink and lunch, old clothes and gloves.
Start/duration: 10:00am – 3:00pm
Meet at: the courtyard outside the Little Barn
Cost: free (car park charges apply)
Booking: Booking essential – ring 07917 262860 for details.
Top Lodge is in the village of Fineshade, which is signposted off the A43 between Stamford and Corby.

Sunday 26th October
Hallowe’en Party
Bourne Woods, Lincolnshire
Come find spooky things to see and do as it gets dark in this enchanted woodland.
Start/duration: 15:30am for 1.5 hours
Meet at: bourne woods car park
Cost: Free
Booking: No need to book. Please contact the Friends of Bourne Woods on 01778 422152 for more information.
Bourne Wood is signposted off of the A151 half a mile west of Bourne.

Tuesday 28th October
Seed Collectign Morning
Top Lodge, Fineshade Woods, Northamptonshire
Help us give nature a helping hand by joining the ranger to collect acorns and other native tree seeds. These will be used later to help native tree regeneration in areas where conifers have been removed.
Start / duration: 11am – 12:30pm
Cost: Free
Meet: in the courtyard.
Booking: No need to book. For more information contact the Forestry Commission on 01780 444920.
Top Lodge is in the village of Fineshade, signposted off the A43 between Stamford and Corby.

Ends
Workshops with the artist: (£15 per person, including tools/materials and guided walk)
NOTES TO EDITOR

1. The Forestry Commission run two main visitor centres in the region which are open all year round and are packed full of things to do for all the family:
   
2. Top Lodge, Fineshade Woods – Nestled in the heart of Rockingham Forest. This brand new centre incorporates all ability paths, horse & cycle trail, Café, RSPB shop, children’s play area, toilets, picnic areas and more besides for a wider woodland experience. Top Lodge is in the village of Fineshade, which is signposted off the A43 between Stamford and Corby. For more details visit www.forestry.gov.uk/toplodge
   
3. Salcey Forest – Home of the famous Tree Top Walkway which allows visitors to climb to 20 meters above the canopy and enjoy fantastic views across the region. Other facilities to make a great day out include Forest Café, children’s play area, surface trails, horse & cycle routes, toilets, picnic areas and orienteering course.
   Salcey Forest is on the Quinton to Hanslope road, about 6 miles south west of Northampton, very close to Hartwell village. For more details visit www.forestry.gov.uk/salceyforest
   
4. The Forestry Commission is the government department responsible in England for protecting, expanding and promoting the sustainable management of woods and forests, and increasing their value to society and the environment. Forestry makes a real contribution to sustainable development, providing social and environmental benefits arising from planting and managing attractive, as well as productive woodlands. Further information about the Commission can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk.