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Brixworth Countryside Access For All
Toc H Project Rushden Branch
2015 - Twenty years on since the Rushden Branches, led by the Men’s Branch, supported by Northamptonshire District Toc H, decided to create an Environmental Pond, with graded access for all, to celebrate Toc H’s 80th birthday.
This actually became the first phase to create a pond and construction of paths with suitable gradients leading to the pond which had a hard path all round to enable viewing from all angles and a boardwalk to take people over deeper water, providing a pond dipping platform.
After discussions with Northamptonshire County Council, the possibility of Toc H doing a Millennium Project at the undeveloped Brixworth Country Park was suggested. The Northants District Toc H members supported the project and five members met to plan a way forward.
Alan Teullon, NCC Countryside Chief Officer, and Andy Johnson, NCC Officer, were tremendous supporters of the project and worked tirelessly to make it a success.
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Megan & Harry Graham (Chairman of NCC) holding a portrait of Prince Charles and wearing their chains of office.
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Disabled people were consulted at the planning stage, to ensure that their needs for countryside recreation and enjoyment were met.
As with all Toc H projects the aim was to strengthen understanding and break down barriers; the different groups of people who met and worked closely together on the Brixworth Countryside For All Project achieved this.
When Lottery money became available it was considered Brixworth would be ideal for a Millennium Project.
This £1.5m project was small but none the less important to Northamptonshire. It demonstrated our rural connections and our love of the countryside. Toc H’s contribution was to realise £200,000.
We worked in partnership with Northamptonshire County Council, Anglian Water and British Trust for Conservation Volunteers.
Fieldfare Trust who are leading advisors on the provision of countryside recreation for people with disabilities were consulted.
In addition to the Environmental friendly pond and trail, improvements to the existing visitor centre, a new restaurant, cycle hire facility, classrooms, residential accommodation, a wildflower meadow, sensory garden and maze in the country park and construction of the Pitsford Water Trail, a 9 km hard surfaced path suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
The partners applied to the Millennium Commission in April 1995 for funding and were delighted to be accepted as a suitable project to mark the start of the 21st Century.
In 1995 Megan and I travelled to Alison House and gave a case study to the Toc H Central Executive Committee, who then agreed to underwrite the Toc H contribution to the project the sum of £200,000 in cash and “in kind” up to the year 2000. Similar amounts from the other parties.
The task seemed daunting at first but the partnership with the local authority, private and voluntary sectors, showed the success which can be achieved when working together.
We will always be grateful to Toc H’s own committee and support group. Through the Toc H Events Magazine volunteers came from France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Hong Kong and the UK. Many people throughout the country helped with finance and in other ways.
Their effort at the country park was greatly appreciated and it was an opportunity for them to learn the Toc H way of life whilst working and living together, for days at a time.
The National Lottery Millennium Award was £736,000.
In January 1998 we received the good news we had been awarded £220,000 from SITA the landfill tax which gives grants for environmental work. That meant coupled with Toc H volunteers working time and cash already raised, the underwritten £200,000 was now covered. A truly wonderful day for all.
On a hot sunny day in June 1998 the new buildings at Brixworth Country Park “Countryside for All” Centre and Cycle Hire scheme were officially opened by Mrs Joan Neal of the Northamptonshire Council for the Disabled. Many Toc H members attended. Others present included Northamptonshire County Councillors, Representatives of Anglian Water and British Trust for Conservation Volunteers and many friends.
A high spot of the proceedings was the presentation of a cheque for £220,000 to Megan Graham, for Toc H. This was a grant from the Sita Environmental Trust Ltd.
After the presentation people inspected the new Cafe and the accommodation block (where many hundreds of exhausted Toc H volunteers had lived and slept over the past three years, previously the village hall at Pitsford had been used).
The tree appeal continued until 2000 and many hundreds were planted in all weathers. It was an invitation to so many Groups, MP’s, W.I., MIND and many personal tributes by individuals.
The project began in 1993 and was completed in 2000.
H.R.H. Prince Charles visited Brixworth Country Park early in September 2000. His visit was to celebrate the completion of the Millennium Project of which Toc H had been a partner.
It was a lovely sunny day. Many Toc H members attended and were so pleased when Prince Charles spent time talking to them. He told Megan to “take care of Toc H”.
N.C.C. staff and Councillors attended the event and Harry who was Chairman that year had the honour of inviting the Prince to unveil a plaque commemorating his visit.
“A never to be forgotten day”.
My thanks to Megan, Jim, Sally, Rushden Toc H Branches and Toc H Central Executive Committee. It was a totally worthwhile project.
History by Harry & Megan Graham - 15th May 2015
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