Get ready to have even more fun on the water at Peterborough’s Nene Park but in relaxed style aboard their new electrically-powered passenger boat.
Boat trips aboard the Edwardian styled Frolic 31 Launch will start this half term.
Named ‘Wyndham’ after Wyndham Thomas who was the chief architect of Ferry Meadows in the 1970s who sadly passed away last year, it replaces the previously diesel-powered boat that used to provide passenger trips around Overton Lake at Ferry Meadows.
It’s not only a great new attraction – it’s green too. The batteries used to power the new boat will be charged using electricity provided through a green energy tariff, as part of the Trust’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and in response to the climate emergency.
Oliver Burke, Head of Operations at Nene Park Trust said, “The arrival of our very own hand built electric boat for the Park is a poignant one. Both in terms of looking back and celebrating the tremendous achievement of Wyndham Thomas in founding Nene Park, but also in looking forward to a more environmentally sustainable future for the Park, which continues to play such an important part in the lives of local communities.”
Nene Park Trust has been able to purchase the new boat thanks to a number of generous funding sources. It’s been made by Norfolk Boat builders, Landamores, who’ve been building boats in Wroxham and Hoveton since 1923 and is made by combining new and traditional manufacturing methods and the highest quality of materials and workmanship.
They’ll be running the first boat trips as part of the Nene Park Autumn Festival (October 24 – November 1) for household groups or social bubbles of up to 6 people. These will be Covid-secure and can be booked at www.nenepark.org.uk/events. They then hope to launch a more regular service next year when the ‘Rule of 6’ is relaxed. It’s hoped they can run a service at weekends and school holidays, offering 30-45 minute boat trips for up to 12 passengers at a time around Overton Lake and out onto the River Nene.
In addition, bespoke trips will also be developed for special occasions and corporate groups, providing a unique view of the Park and an inspiring experience on the water. To ensure this tranquil experience is available to all, the boat will have an accessible lift available from spring 2021, enabling up to two wheelchair users on board at any time.
Future plans for the boat include the possibility of a taxi service to different parts of the Park. The Trust also hopes to install a solar array to help charge the boat, creating a truly sustainable long-term energy source.
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