Region: Midlands
Twywell Hills and Dales Country Park is much-loved and well used by the local community in East Northamptonshire. Its open fields and hilly landscape make the site popular amongst dog walkers, ramblers and people looking to escape the busy towns.
The Land Trust was transferred the management of the site from East Northamptonshire Council (ENC) in 2019. ENC will be investing capital funding to make a number of improvements to the area.
Throughout the initial stages of the handover, the Land Trust will work in partnership with ENC to develop the Friends of Twywell Hills and Dales group, which will ensure any improvements meet the needs of local residents and visitors to the site.
Part of Twywell Hills and Dales is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest for botany but with an excellent invertebrate fauna which is replicated over more of the site. The site is also recognised as the best place for butterflies in Northamptonshire. However, these elements of the site are currently in poor condition and are deteriorating and the Land Trust will improve the conditions and create a better environment for both the wildlife and visitors.
The site contact for our Twywell Hills and Dales space is Friends of Twywell Hills and Dales Nature Reserve who can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/twywellnaturereserve/about/
This space is managed by the Land Trust.
24-hour access is available, however the car park will be open from dawn to dusk.
There is free parking at the site. Car park open dawn until dusk.
Unfortunately there are no public toilets on site however there are a number of pubs in the surrounding villages such as Twywell, Cranford, Woodford and Barton Seagrave.
(click here to find the nearest public toilets)
The nearest pub is the Red Lion, 42 High St, Cranford, Kettering NN14 4AA. The Old Friar at Twywell is also located to the rear of the site.
There is a large open space which is accessible for wheelchairs, mobility scooters and pushchairs, but there are some areas which are not suitable.
Paths are unsurfaced and range in condition from good to challenging in places.
Well behaved dogs are welcome on site. We will be looking to graze the site at certain times throughout the year so there may be periods where dogs may need to be kept on their leads in particular areas.
A variety of walking routes are available, which vary in degree of difficulty. There are picnic benches close to the car park and plenty of grassed space for family fun.
This site is particularly interesting for butterflies and species such as Dingy Skipper, Green Hairstreak, Common Blue can often be seen. Botany is excellent on site and some areas are fenced off to protect the wildflowers in areas of Specific Scientific Interest.
The Nene Valley, Stanwick Lakes, Thrapston (Historic Market Town).
Twywell Hills and Dales, Twywell, Kettering, East Northamptonshire, NN14 3AL
Site size: 52 hectares
The site was used as an ironstone quarry from 1920-1948. As quarrying developed through these years, machinery was brought in and a railway line was laid to carry the stone up to Islip furnaces. The affects from this process can be seen in ridges of the gullet area of the site.
This area is now designated as a Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its rich wildlife. It provides a home for great crested newts, badgers, rare butterflies, dragonflies and beetles. Its flora is also of particular interest and a range of wildflowers can be found across the hills and dales.
The Land Trust was transferred the management of the site from East Northamptonshire Council (ENC), who will be investing capital funding to make a number of improvements to the area.
The Land Trust will work in partnership with ENC to develop the Friends of Twywell Hills and Dales group, which will ensure any improvements meet the needs of local residents and visitors to the site.
To contact the Land Trust about this site or how we could help manage your space please email our Estates Manager Charles Langtree .
To enquire about holding an event on a Land Trust site, please click here.
We are always on the look out for enthusiastic, committed people who want to make a real and lasting difference in their local community.
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