Exciting Funding News!

With thanks to players of People's Postcode Lottery, we are pleased to announce that our project to improve greenspaces and increase access to the outdoors has been awarded funding by Postcode Places Trust.

Little Ouse Headwaters Project (LOHP) received £24,986, made possible thanks to players of People's Postcode Lottery. The funds will be used to start to improve access around our sites in all weathers, making sites much more accessible to all and increasing community access to the outdoors, while enhancing wildlife habitats. It will help us to further engage and educate local residents and visitors, by providing funding to produce our newsletter ‘News from the Ouse’ and reprint our leaflet that will allow people to explore the Little Ouse and find out more about the wildlife and history of the area. The project will help us to raise our profile and promote volunteering opportunities.

Rob Robinson Chair of LOHP said: “The support from players of People's Postcode Lottery is invaluable, enabling us to carry out much needed access improvements, enhancing wildlife habitats and engaging with a wider audience”.

We hope to start work on the project this autumn, with completion by December 2025. So, look out for next edition of ‘News from the Ouse’ coming soon.

Find out more about the funders

People’s Postcode Lottery https://www.postcodelottery.co.uk/good-causes

Thank you from Hopton Primary School

We received a nice surprise from Hopton Primary School in the form of thank you pictures and notes written by the children who had attended the river visit. They had all enjoyed their visit and even learnt a thing or two.

Thank you notes from Hopton Primary School © LOHP

The school also requested some more of the new LOHP Rubbing Guides. If your school is interested in a visit or the rubbing guides, please get in touch.

Little Ouse Welcomes Hopton Primary School

We were visited by Oak Class from Hopton Primary School in mid-June. The group of 21 year 3/4 pupils (aged 7-9), enjoyed the morning learning more about their local river. They heard where the water in the Little Ouse flowed to and what had made it so silty. They saw the cattle grazing the surrounding fenland and watched the brightly coloured Banded Demoiselle Damselflies flitting about the river. They enjoyed looking at the river bugs that had been caught from Snails, to Damselfly larvae, Cased Caddis and even some small Fish.

Hopton Primary School visit to Little Ouse © LOHP

Hopton Primary School looking at river creatures © LOHP

On the way back they stopped to do some drawings about their river visit and ended the session with a game of pooh sticks. LOHP Conservation Manager - Ellie Beach said 'It was nice to have our local school come and visit us and learn about what is on their doorstep. Hopefully these will be the next generation of nature lovers'. Hopton Primary School Teacher Mrs Jones said, 'The children really enjoyed their morning and have not stopped talking about it, thank you to LOHP and their volunteers for making it happen'