LEI Country
Fermyn Woods Country Park
Permanent Orienteering Course available
View details of this and other Permanent Orienteering Courses
Fermyn (which means farming) is right at the heart of the original Rockingham Forest which was part of continuous ancient woodlands originally stretched from Peterborough to Oxford and this area is little changed since the 12th century. The area has an abundance of mineral wealth and has been comparatively populous back to the Bronze Age.
Even though Corby is an industrial monstrosity based on iron and steel works it is surrounded by many pockets of fascinating woodland many of which resemble Irchester with steep banks left from early iron ore extraction. This was a boom area during the iron-age with a thriving industry in the making of tools and weapons. The ironstone and a ready supply of timber for charcoal production account for most of this history.
This is largely coppiced woodland gone wild with the more diverse area of the original Brigstock Park founded on sand and gravel extraction quarries. The area we now know as Fermyn was until recently Brigstock Country Park and Fermyn Woods. These were joined together to form a new Fermyn Woods Country Park as a joint venture between Forest Enterprise and Northamptonshire County Council. Just south of Fermyn lies Lady, Souther and Titchmarsh Woods which we used to use and the combined area if available to us would cover 506 hectares of which 438 is owned by the Forestry commission. Just to the north are Old Dry Hills and Harry's Park also Forestry Commission and we sometimes use this area by walking people in from Fermyn.
The former Brigstock Park area where the quarrying had been carried out is very detailed and the visitor centre regularly provides packs for the permanent orienteering course.
© 2008 Leicestershire Orienteering Club