AUTUMN EDITION
Whitlingham Country Park News
Want to know what's happening at the park? Read on...
EVENTS 2025
December 14th -
Mental Elf charity run for 'Mind'
FUN ALL YEAR ROUND -
Flint Barn Café Autumn/Winter opening hours are 9-4
There are always new things going on at the park. Here is some of our latest news:
Shiny conkers lay like little jewels on the ground, and the beautiful colours of autumn are all around us - so get your hats, scarves and gloves back out for exploring the park this cosy season!
🌳 The coppicing season is in full swing!
Our amazing regular volunteers enjoy this yearly challenge. We have also had the generous support of corporate volunteering groups from Aviva, DWP and John Lewis so far. Look at what they achieved in the first two days of the coppicing season alone. (see before and after images above.) Amazingly, it all grows back within just two or three years!
What is coppicing?
Coppicing is a traditional management technique which can rejuvenate a tree and allow it to last for many years and provide further crops of timber or wood.
The rotational coppicing along the Broad edge increases the longevity and health of the trees providing a valuable variety of habitats. It's essential for much of the park's wildlife and supports a higher number of species. Spot the difference on your next visit.
Have you heard it...? 👂
There is a strange squeaky sound being noticed regularly at the park. But do you know what it is?
We have had a couple of ring-necked parakeets spotted regularly on site for several years now. You may have spotted a flash of bright green flying above you. You may have heard the extraordinary sound they make, which sounds similar to the squeak in a dog toy! They are often spotted in the trees close to the Flint Barn car park, so keep an eye out for our exotic friends.
Don't forget to add your wildlife sightings to our chalk board in the Flint Barn Café.
Our ground solar array is underway ☀️
This solar project has been in planning for the past two years, but we are delighted to now finally be underway with the installation. See our recent blog post for all the details, and watch the activity in the Old Quarry Car Park as the project develops.
More park projects springing into action soon...
The Great Broad path has been prone to flooding in recent years, over winter, and we will soon be in a position to prevent that from happening. We will be installing a large drainage pipe on the south side of the Great Broad this autumn/winter. The pipe and water control mechanism will allow us to manually alter the water level of the Great Broad through the seasons. We know our visitors love the circular Great Broad route, so don't worry, disruption will be kept to a minimum and the path will still be accessible during these works, other than a day or two potentially! Keep an eye on our Facebook page and 'News' page for updates on any path closures and progress updates.
🍂 Cosy season is here at Flint Barn Café!
Now that the weather is turning cooler, we have the perfect way to keep you warm at Whitlingham.
Seasonal soup is now available daily from 12 midday.
The selection changes regularly. The current delicious flavour combination is:
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cauliflower, spinach and thyme, served with roasted tomatoes and a granary roll + butter.
All of our soups are Vegan and Gluten Free! (For GF bread, just let us know when ordering.)
Our breakfast and lunch menus continue all year, including paninis which you can even take on a walk to keep your hands warm as you eat! Just ask staff for yours as a take-away option.
🕓 New seasonal Cafe hours for autumn/winter from MONDAY 3RD NOVEMBER
Please note, opening time will still be 9am, but closing time will change from 5pm to 4pm.
Thanks for your continued support. We look forward to welcoming you to Whitlingham again soon.
The Whitlingham Country Park team
Please see our FAQs if you have a query, and then contact the team if your question has not been answered there.
Your next quarterly newsletter will be sent at the end of January 2026.