Stanwick Lakes

We’ve switched things up! Our late opening is happening on SATURDAY this week instead of Friday as part of our Solstice celebrations. ☀️

There’ll be lots going on, but if you simply fancy a drink or pizza in the evening while taking in the views, do come along (on Saturday!).

The Visitor Centre and café will remain open after (usual) hours, so you can enjoy a tipple and some tasty pizza while our workshops take place.

And if you fancy joining ‘Paint & Sip’ or fabric printing, there are still a few spaces left on each session at 8pm 🎨🍷

Book here: https://stanwicklakes.org.uk/events/solstice-stanwick-lates/

It’s set to be a warm weekend, and we’ve got plenty of ice cream and refreshments ready. You can now find them in three places across the site:

🍦 The Visitor Centre (Welcome Desk and Café)
🍦 The Walker’s Rest
🍦 Our new shop, right next to the play area!

Whether you’re joining us for the Solstice celebrations, making the most of the sunshine, or simply looking for a lovely place to spend a summer evening, we’d love to see you.

🌞 Summer Solstice is nearly here.

This Saturday, our Green Event Space will be filled with living history, traditions and opportunities to explore midsummer throughout the day.

Here’s your guide to what’s happening, where...

⚔️ Meet the Romans & Vikings

Visit The Longthorpe Legion and The Bifrost Guard as they bring Roman Britain and the Viking Age to life across their encampments, sharing ancient tales and daily life throughout the day.

🎨 Hands-on solstice making and creativity

At the craft tent, take part in foil embossed decorations with Tales from the fen, corn dollies with Windhover Crafts and making a solstice offering. Everything is drop-in, with embossing available to book in advance if you’d like to secure a place.

🔥 Pagan stories and drumming

At the campfire, Northampton Pagans will explore the meaning of the Summer Solstice.

🎲 Play Nine Men’s Morris

Challenge yourself to this classic strategy game with Illuminatio in the Medieval tent!

With the daytime celebrations running from midday to 8pm, there’s plenty to enjoy throughout the afternoon.

If you’re staying into the evening, there’s more to enjoy with adult workshops running to welcome the longest day of the year.

Have you heard a Cuckoo yet this year?

Right now is a great time to get out and listen - because there is not long left before the male cuckoo begin their migration back south. They are the ones that make the classic call whilst looking for a mate and defending territory before they leave, usually in June.

The females stay a little longer, just long enough to lay their eggs in the nests of other, unsuspecting birds, often warblers. Female cuckoos also make a different sound, thought to imitate predators, alarming smaller birds and helping the cuckoos to locate potential host nests.

The young cuckoos are then raised entirely by the host species, relying on them for food and care in the nest before eventually leaving on their first migration independently by around September.

So, it's a perfect excuse to head out for a walk around the reserve, pause, and listen closely… you might catch one of the last “cuck-coo” calls of the season.

Whilst they’re easy to hear here, they can be tricky to spot - so big thanks to Aidan, one of our wildlife volunteers, who kindly shared this cuckoo photo he managed to take recently here at Stanwick Lakes.

A quick spotlight on one of the creative highlights of our Summer Solstice celebration before the big day arrives...

Alongside living history, traditional crafts, games and opportunities to explore midsummer customs, we'll be offering a range of hands-on craft activities throughout the day.

Whilst all of our crafts have drop-in availability, including traditional corn and raffia dollies and embossed sunshine decorations, our foil embossing workshop also has bookable slots available to help avoid disappointment.

Our foil embossing workshops offer the chance to create a beautiful shimmering decoration inspired by folk motifs and seasonal details. Using metallic foil and traditional techniques, you'll craft a unique midsummer keepsake to take home and treasure.

🎟️ Book your foil embossing workshop here: https://stanwicklakes.org.uk/events/embossed-foil-decorations/

Plan your day to include a little creativity, a little history and plenty of midsummer magic. With activities running until 8pm, there'll be lots to discover across the Summer Solstice celebration

There are plenty of ways to celebrate Solstice at Stanwick Lakes, from ancient traditions to modern creativity.

While our Corn Dollies workshop - a traditional craft closely linked to seasonal celebrations - is nearly full, there are still places available on our other special evening workshops on Saturday 20th June.

🖌️ Paint & Sip: Watercolour Landscape

Capture the light, colour and beauty of Stanwick Lakes in summer with a relaxing watercolour painting session, creating your own lakeside landscape while enjoying a complimentary drink.

🎨 Lino Fabric Printing: Tote Bag or Tea Towel

Create a unique keepsake using hand-carved lino designs inspired by the natural world, and take home a handcrafted piece to remember this midsummer celebration.

Following a day of living history, traditional crafts and seasonal festivities, these workshops offer a chance to connect with nature and mark the season in your own way.

Taking place after-hours, starting at 8pm, these workshops offer a rare opportunity to enjoy Stanwick Lakes of a midsummer evening.

Whether you're looking to learn a new skill, spend time with friends, or simply slow down and welcome the longest day of the year, there's a workshop waiting for you.

Book your place today: www.stanwicklakes.org.uk/solstice-at-stanwick-lakes

Looking for a great day out this weekend? We're all set! The Green Living Day is back at Stanwick Lakes TOMORROW (Sunday 14th June), 10am-4pm, packed with ideas, activities, and inspiration for more sustainable living.

Browse eco-friendly stalls and independent makers offering ethical, handmade goods, and discover simple ways to make greener choices at home.

Families can get involved in plenty of hands-on activities, from creative crafts and face painting to nature-based fun. The Nature Zone is a must-visit, with a wildlife quiz, microscope discoveries, butterfly spotting, and make-and-take nature crafts.

This event is based in the Green Living space, where you’ll find workshops, practical sustainability ideas, and plenty to explore. Taking centre stage - don’t miss our event teepee, showcasing how Stanwick Lakes can be the perfect venue for events, set within a natural environment that puts sustainability and nature connectedness at its heart.

Free entry (standard parking charges apply).

Are Fridays for an extra helping of coffee and cake... or freshly made pizza? 🍰🍕

During the summer months, our café is often open later on Fridays when organised open water swimming sessions are taking place (usually until around 8pm), creating a lovely space to relax by the water, watch the sun go down and enjoy the evening atmosphere. Whether you're swimming, spectating or simply stopping by for a treat, it's a wonderful way to end the week.

However, next week things are a little different...

For our Solstice Celebration, we'll be open late on Saturday instead of Friday (until around 10pm), and the spotlight is firmly on pizza. 🍕

After a day of solstice festivities, the café will stay open serving freshly made pizzas, alongside creative evening workshops and a very special midnight swim.

We can't think of a better way to celebrate the summer solstice!

Dragonflies and damselflies are dancing across the lakes, so there's no shortage of inspiration to be found for our Willow Dragonfly Workshop.

Join us for this workshop on Sunday 28th June at Stanwick Lakes and learn a traditional countryside craft while creating a beautiful sculpture for your garden, fence, wall or outdoor space.

Spend a couple of hours slowing down, learning a new skill, working with natural materials and celebrating one of summer’s most captivating insects.

Using natural willow and guided by experienced tutor Chaz Friend from Wayside Willow, you'll weave your own striking dragonfly to display and enjoy for years to come.

Whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced maker, you'll leave with a unique creation and a new craft technique to take away with you.

Morning and afternoon sessions are available.

Places are limited - book now: https://stanwicklakes.org.uk/project/willow-weaving/

Are you ready for our Green Living Day & Summer Fair this weekend?

It's set to be a celebration of practical, positive ways we can all live more sustainably and care for the world around us.

During your visit, be sure to stop by the nature zone to discover some of the amazing animals that make Stanwick Lakes their home.

You'll be able to...
- test your knowledge with our nature quiz
- use our microscope to take a closer look at nature
- pick up a butterfly spotter sheet
- make a pipe cleaner dragonfly to take home!

Set within our green event space, you'll also have the chance to explore our event tipi and discover how our venue can be used for special occasions and events that make the most of Stanwick Lakes' beautiful natural surroundings.

While you're there, don't forget to browse our summer craft stalls too.

Whether you're looking for sustainable shopping, fresh inspiration, or practical advice, Green Living Day offers a welcoming space to explore how small changes can make a big impact.

☀️🌙 Solstice Night Swim

As the final activity of our Solstice celebrations, join us for a magical night swim at Stanwick Lakes (on Saturday 20th June).

Open water swimming is an exhilarating adventure and a fantastic way to unwind, enjoy the outdoors and connect with nature. For this special swim , you'll experience the lake after dark, heightening the senses and creating a unique swimming experience beneath the midsummer sky.

Enjoy a one-hour fully supervised swim (at 10.30pm) followed by a hot drink and a campfire snack as you soak up the atmosphere and welcome the Summer Solstice with like-minded souls.

Bring your head torch or fairy lights and make the most of this special opportunity to round off a day of Solstice celebrations.

Your ticket also includes safety briefing, lifeguards present throughout your swim, glow safety light and free parking. (Tow-floats required but can be hired).

The Visitor Centre Café will also be open later than usual serving pizzas and snacks, whether you've been with us throughout the day or are joining us just for the swim, so you can enjoy a bite before you take to the water.

Places are limited and booking is essential.
https://stanwicklakes.org.uk/solstice-at-stanwick-lakes/ -swim