Hello – and a very warm welcome to our July blog! This month, we say farewell to another school year and hello to the long-awaited summer holidays…
Therefore, today we’ll be covering all the exciting things you and your family can get involved with this summer in and around Oakley Vale – and be warned, there’s a lot! We’ll also be giving an update on our photo competition so let’s get right down to it!
Summer Activities
We all know the feeling… Summer holidays are fast approaching which means our little ones are in desperate need of fun, entertainment, and those special summer days out. As we countdown to the end of the school year, we’ve rounded up a list of our five best things to do in and around Oakley Vale – from magical castles to state-of-the-art civic centres – so you can plan ahead and keep everyone happy.
- Corby Cube
The Corby Cube, opened in 2010, is a state-of-the-art concrete and glass community centre boasting a 445-seat theatre, public library, register office and a new council chamber. The Core theatre has a programme of live productions, dance, music and stand-up comedy – and also screens films twice a week, including current mainstream and independent releases.
- Rockingham Castle
Take your little ones back in time on a medieval adventure at Rockingham Castle, built under the instructions of William the Conqueror. The Castle hosts a range of family-friendly events such as the Rockingham country fair, or jousting and medieval living demonstrations. Take in a view of the Welland Valley and cast your eye over five counties in Rockingham Castle’s impressive gardens.
- Wicksteed Park
Having first opened over a century ago, Wicksteed Park is a fantastic place for all the family to enjoy. Located in nearby Kettering, the park boasts 30 rides and attractions from zip lines to the classic monorail. The famous narrow gauge railway takes you on a scenic journey around the park grounds too!
- Great Oakley Park
A historic rural area of Northamptonshire, Great Oakley Park is connected to Oakley Vale by a public footpath. It’s perfect for a Sunday stroll through fields populated by a flock of Jacob sheep.
- Corby Boating Lake
Located in the heart of Corby, the lake is extremely popular for coarse fishing. Home to a variety of wildlife, there is also a café, picnic area and the Boating Lake Adventure Site, a large children’s play area, to enjoy.
Simple Pleasures of Spring
As spring comes to a close, so does our ‘Simple Pleasures of Spring’ photo competition. We’ve now stopped taking new entries which means it’s time to vote! Voting will end on 18th July where we’ll then reveal our winner the following week…
For those of you who don’t know, our photo competition gives you an opportunity to win £50 for your photos of life in Oakley Vale. The £50 prize is matched by an equal donation to the Oakley Vale Community Association – so that’s £100 handed out each time!
To cast your vote and see our finalists, click here.
All that’s left to say is we hope you all have a great July and spend the month basking in the summer sun – see you shortly in August!
