In March 2012 we were told we were suffering drought and a hosepipe ban would be enforced in Northamptonshire. The expansive and attractive Pitsford Reservoir that supplies Northampton with its water, and situated next to Brixworth Country Park, was at 69% capacity and falling. To locals this was not unusual and they have seen far worse in the last 50 years. After the wettest April and June on record the panic was quickly over and the reservoir was back to its normal levels, about 87%, which kind of debunks the idea that Britain can suffer any serious effects of global warming if the correction can be made so quickly by that thing we call traditional British weather. A couple of months of wiggle on that obstinate and irritable Jet Stream and the rain did cometh. How does that capricious Jet Stream fit into the man made global warming models we wonder? We are now being told by the same climatologists that Britain having its wettest year on record was also down to global warming, even though it was a degree colder in the UK last year because of all the rain. Global warming hype is simply to raise personal taxes to make up for the shortfall big business refuse to contribute to the Treasury now by hiding it in tax havens.
Now the point on global warming and a country park in little old Northamptonshire is that the weather makes this park a very different place to go as the water levels are up and down in the reservoir across the seasons. When the water is low you can walk out to little islands of what used to be here before they flooded the valley and when it's tipping over the edge it's alive with wildlife. They have a private sailing club on the reservoir and you can hire out small rowing or motor boats to fish but its still an effort to get out on the water to enjoy it. The sailing club is rather sniffy and middle-class and more about the social side consumption of alcohol in the clubhouse than helping kids enjoy sailing. The Brixworth Park is a relatively new facility and opened back in 1997.
It has a small café, toilets, a play and picnic area and cycles for hire, a nice touch to encourage fitness and getting out and about. Its £2.50 parking although there is free parking nearby. It's a great place to launch yourself on the long walks around the reservoir and for the kids to get up close and feed the ducks and swans. Unfortunately, due to the intimacy of the parking along the reservoir edge, it's becoming a 'dogging' spot for locals, the act of watching others have sex in cars. The council has employed wardens to keep and eye out but unfortunately that's exactly what one warden did and was found out by the local cops to be not only watching but joining in, as reported in the local paper.
The walks are blustery and the full circuit nearly 8 miles long so not for amateurs, great views of the reservoir and local wildlife all the way around. The paths are graveled for walkers and cyclists and so if you do live in Northamptonshire well worth a look down there. The reservoir has a certain stillness and calm to it and a great escape from the town. I like to cycle up there to get away from it. You can also take the misses or partner up there as there are great sunsets and cozy picnic areas around the reservoir. The small village of Brixworth is just up the hill from the park and has tea rooms and pubs to enjoy on a warm summers evening.
The smallish park is very wildlife centered with bird hides and things to do for the kids and young adults around that wildlife, getting involved if they so choose, a very hands on place. They have a 'naturetots' group for preschool kids every third Wednesday of the month at 3pm where they can pet birds and animals. They also do things like country skills for all ages, like coppice techniques (hedges) and conservation, like tagging birds. It's a good place to go to breath real air and see that all is well in the eco system and all very normal and there will be no global warming. But you will need a car to get out there. read more
