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Leisure

Parks, Nature Reserves and Green Spaces

HCP Public Exhibition

We recently held public exhibition sessions that outlined the proposals for future plans as part of the wider Hinchingbrooke Country Park investment project. These sessions included local councillors, stakeholders and residents, taking place at the Countryside Centre and at Pathfinder House.

Feedback was overwhelmingly positive for the future of the park, with residents and stakeholders contributing some excellent suggestions and recommendations to be considered.

Public exhibition

Below you will be able to view the documents and information that were on display at the public exhibition sessions.

Design drawings in the public exhibition are only concept designs and not final plans.
Surveys The following surveys were completed to help us understand what Hinchingbrooke Country Park means to residents, how people use the space as well as understand the physical structure of the park... Historical Consultation Public Survey (2017) Car Parking Usage (2017-2022) Healthy Open Spaces Strategy (2019) Play Provision (2019-2022) Topographical Survey (2021) Biodiversity Survey (2021) Ecology Survey (2021-2022) Tree Survey (2022) Flood Risk Assessment (2022) Building Condition Survey (2022) Mechanical & Electrical Efficiency Survey (2022) EV Charging (2022)

 

 

Café & Visitor Centre The proposed new cafe at Hinchingbrooke Country Park will have... • increased indoor & outdoor seating • comfortable seating options • longer opening hours • a more varied menu • a pizza oven • greater accessibility between cafe and car park • a modernised space for functions and special events

 

 

Accessibility Pathways The upgrade of the pathways will include... • widening (passing place where widening is not possible) • more wheelchair & pushchair friendly surfaces • completely resurfaced route around the main lake • collaborative working with neighbours to improve the link directly to Brampton The upgrade and extension of footpaths will allow greater access for more of the year Inclusive Site An accessible site with a welcoming atmosphere Easy access between carpark, cafe and play areas Wheelchair friendly play equipment Trampers mobility scooters available

 

 

Project Support Changing Places: Toilets Funded by a grant from Changing Places: accessible toilets will be installed in the new cafe so that everyone, regardless of their access needs or disability or reliance on the assistance of carers or specialist equipment, can use a toilet facility with dignity and hygienically. For further information about the campaign visit www.changing-places.org With thanks to sponsors including: HDC HDC CIL Brampton Angling Society Care UK BRJ Friends of Hinchingbrooke Country Park Cambridgeshire County Council Anywhere Environment Agency Huntingdon Canoe Club To sponsor part of this project or to make a donation, please speak to a member of staff

 

 

Play Provision Good access to play features offers exercise opportunity to those not engaging in formal sport - the improved footpath network and the individual play zones will naturally encourage more physical activity in the young. By spreading the play features around the circular route, it encourages exploration and physical activity and greater understanding of the natural environment.

 

 

Environment Did you know? At least 3000 trees have been planted at HCP over the last 10 years to maintain the varying age structure Biodiversity What do we mean when we talk about biodiversity? Biodiversity is the relationship between all variations of life and their habitats on earth. This includes everything from how oxygen is produced to seeds and forests to soil, insects and animals. So what is bio-cultural diversity? Bio-cultural diversity is the relationship between human culture and surrounding ecology. Based on the surveys and biodiversity audits, we will play our part to conserve, protect & enhance our share of the earth to help combat climate change and continue to encourage biodiversity. We will achieve this by: • creating hedgerows around the car park • planting additional pictorial meadows • maintaining the tree age structure Eco-building What will make the Cafe/Visitor Centre an "eco building"? The building will use sustainable materals and include... • insulation • solar panels • grey water system • eco-heating

 

 

Car Park The total car park spaces will be in excess of 200 including increased availability for blue badge holders The new car park will be created on an area of least ecological value. The new car park will have: • EV charging points • lighting • wider spaces • 3 payment points • Closer proximity and easier access to the cafe

 

 

Hinchingbrooke Country Park The Vision Research undertaken in 2019/2020 considering Open Spaces in Huntingdonshire identified Hinchingbrooke Country Park as • The most popular open space site • The site with best current provision • The site offering the highest value The Vision… • Maintain and increase nature through tree, hedge and wildflower planting as part of the management plan • A strategic, key accessible community open space for the benefit of residents • Destination play to increase physical activity levels • Wide ranging volunteer and career opportunities • Greater income opportunities to become a sustainable site

 

 

Active Huntingdonshire Wellbeing Walks Huntingdon walks – every Wednesday and Friday Find out more info at www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/wellbeingwalks Huntingdon Canoe Club Accomodates all levels of paddler www.huntingdoncanoeclub.co.uk Flatwater tours, surfing trips, sea kayaking, play boating and led white water river running all with different types of craft. St Ives Cycling Club SATURDAYS 10:00AM - 11:30AM Alternating weeks between Hinchingbrooke Park and Alconbury Weald Huntingdon Parkrun Parkrun is a free, weekly, timed, 5k run! www.parkrun.org.uk BRJ Run and Tri A friendly club catering for runners and triathletes for all standards! With varying distances and member ages ranging from 7 to over 70! Pedals – Cycling Scheme Every Wednesday Specially adapted bikes for people with disabilities and those who require extra support to exercise. Fishing Brampton Angling Society Fish for Bream, Tench, Carp, Perch or Pike from marked swims June 16th to March 15th each year.

 

 

Friends of HCP The Friends group supports the rangers in their work of maintaining and improving site We aim to..... • promote the use and enjoyment of Hinchingbrooke Country Park • organise fund raising activities • seek grants for new and ongoing projects Some of the items we have funded include: • Benches for the new play areas • Waymark signs • Artificial otter holt construction • Materials for footpath improvement • Cycle helmets for users of adaptive bikes • Trees for the orchard • Donation towards refurbishment of beekeepers apiary viewing gallery For information visit freidnshinchcp@btinternet.com or visit: @friendsofhcp If you are interested in volunteering visit: www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/jobs/volunteering

 

 

Huntingdonshire District Council CIL Funded Community Infratructure Levy Growth. Infrastructure. Delivery. What is CIL? The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) allows local planning authorities to raise funds from new development. The money raised is used to fund district-wide and local infrastructure projects that benefit local communities. Would you like to find out more? Call us on 01480 388388 Visit us on www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/cilfunding Email us at implementation@huntingdonshire.gov.uk

 

 

Car park concepts

Due to the size of the car park concept design documents and in order to enable a zoom function, they are located on the publishing site Issuu. They can be accessed via the above links.

If you have any questions or queries, please email investinginhinchingbrooke@huntingdonshire.gov.uk