Enjoy, and stay safe in, country parks this Summer

31 July 2024

With Summer having finally arrived in North Northamptonshire, the council and Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue are reminding residents to enjoy the area’s country parks, woodlands and open spaces safely and responsibly.

Below are some top tips and reminders:

• The use of BBQs is not permitted due to the fire risks they pose - grass can catch fire and spread very quickly.
• Please take your rubbish home with you 
• Swimming is strictly not permitted in the Sywell Country Park reservoir outside of instructor led open water swimming sessions run by NSport. Whilst open water swimming has health benefits, there are also numerous hazards if not carried out safely and this restriction helps keep everyone safe.
• Parents should warn their children about the dangers in and around open water. It can appear fun to cool off in water, but structures such as bridges, locks and reservoirs should be avoided.

Our country parks, woodlands and open spaces are popular all year around, but they really come into their own in the Summer, with families gathering and spending the day at one or more of the excellent parks we have in North Northants. Whilst most visitors are careful and courteous, we are asking everyone to stay safe and not use BBQs, take your rubbish home, not swim in Sywell Country Park and take care when around open water.Cllr Harriet Pentland, the council’s Executive Member for Climate and the Green Environment

We want to make sure that people enjoy the warm weather safely.

We would urge people to think carefully before going swimming in the open water, we would always recommend going to somewhere supervised if that’s what you want to do.

Even if it’s hot outside, open water can be very cold. If you get into trouble, try and float on your back in a starfish shape and wait for the cold-water shock to pass. If you see someone in trouble in the water, call 999, tell the person to float on their back and see if there’s something you can throw – such as a ball or a throwline – that can help them float.

We know people will also want to get the BBQ out on a hot day. We would recommend doing this in your own garden rather than in public spaces. To stay safe we would say to never leave it unattended; keep it a safe distance away from sheds, fences or trees, and never put any hot ashes into the bin afterwards. We would also recommend keeping a bucket of water nearby in case of emergency.Darren Carson, a Prevention Team Leader at Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service

More information about North Northamptonshire Council’s Country Parks.