Oliver Wicksteed Column

It was fantastic to welcome Andy Hine, an MBE for services to the tourism industry, and more than 100 members of the Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain to the Wicksteed Park last weekend.

Europe's most popular coaster club does all it can to support theme parks and it was great to see them enjoying the park’s attractions, some for the first time.

We were also grateful for Andy’s supportive words about the need for people to help secure the future of the UK’s small, independent parks, such as Wicksteed Park.

Andy said increasing economic pressures and rising costs as well as families’ lower disposable income was having a dramatic effect.

He said: “Only the strong will survive, which is why it is important for people to visit Wicksteed Park as many times as they can as you never know when it might not be there anymore, and that would be a tragedy for a place that holds so many fantastic memories for generations of people.”

Wicksteed Park maintains free access to its green spaces at a cost of over £1million per year and it has played a massive contribution to the lives of generations of people from across the country.

The Wicksteed Charitable Trust, the charity which owns the park, is raising money to help maintain it and you can get further information and donate by going to www.wicksteedpark.org/about-wicksteed-park

The park’s rides and attractions are now open every weekend, bank holiday and school holiday until the end of September.

For May half-term the park will be open 10.30am to 5pm from Saturday May 23 to Sunday May 31 for action-packed adventures that the whole family can enjoy.

The park is also hosting a wide range of fun events for the whole family this month.

On Saturday May 16 the Woof Wag Festival will provide something for all age groups and a wide range of activities for dogs and humans.

On Saturday May 23 and Sunday May 24 join the Wicksteed Model Boat Club for scale-model sailing at Model Boat Mayhem, the country’s largest outdoor model boat show, and on May 30 and 31, the Midlands Festival of Nature is Kettering Nature Group’s flagship event, a relaxed, free, family-friendly weekend celebrating the natural world right here on your doorstep. 

For further information go to wicksteedpark.org