The Nene Park Trust increased parking charges across its Peterborough sites in early February 2026 to help pay for the ongoing care of the local green spaces. The change affects visitors arriving by car at Ferry Meadows, Orton Mere, Thorpe Meadows and Woodston Reach.
The Trust, which is a registered charity, said the higher fees are necessary to cover rising maintenance costs across the 1,725-acre estate. As an independent charity that does not receive core local authority funding, the Trust relies heavily on parking income to help keep the parkland open and free for those who visit on foot.
The additional income will be used to fund conservation work, protect wildlife habitats and improve trails and visitor facilities. The new tariffs apply to both pay-as-you-go stays and to annual parking memberships; payment kiosks and the Trust’s mobile parking service (managed via SABA) are being used to collect the updated rates.
While the Trust describes the change as essential to the park’s long-term future, some local residents — particularly frequent users such as dog walkers — have expressed concern about the additional cost. The Trust uses Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems to monitor its car parks; payment machines and the Trust’s mobile payment service are the public-facing systems used to apply the new tariffs.
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