Fineshade Woods Visit
I had a phone call from the blue from Paul at Soyfoods in Melton Mowbray www.soyfoods.co.uk on 2/11/07 to inform me of their audio pack for use by groups such as ours, Fineshade was mentioned during this conversation as he was going to have a stall at this event because the first Saturday of each month is going to be a craft fair there.
I was doubly intrigued by this as he said that the forestry commission, who own the site, had environmentally restored the buildings at the site and utilised many green technologies along the way, thus, I vowed to go and have a look see the very next day.
I went along on Saturday morning after having picked my son up and drove over, Fineshade is on the far side of Corby so about a 40 minute drive from Harborough and can be found here (http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/recreation.nsf/LUWebDocsByKey/EnglandNorthamptonshireRockinghamForestFineshadeWood) turning right opposite the Wakerley turning and following the road until the end.
I found a car park that is £2 a day but with £1 redeemable back in the café. The buildings look lovely and well restored but the first thing that strikes you is the smell of a wood fire, just casting your gaze to the right you can see some sort of utility building with a chimney that is obviously burning this wood. Upon entering the building there is an information board that explains that it is a wood chip burner that provides heating for the building.
I seem to remember talk of a reed bed as well, I was told that Terry Archer is the man who has put most of this together and he has unfortunately been very ill. I will attempt to contact him to see if we can have a formal visit and walk around day.
The café was very well appointed but the food was of very low quality, in my opinion, which is a shame for such a lovely location. This site is also a RSPB site with viewing points for Red Buzzards of which there are reputedly many to see.
Best regards
Darren