Conversion of the buildings to holiday units is virtually complete and Tim & Beverley Hankins are ready to welcome visitors to the new facility which has been funded with the help of a LEADER grant.

The site overlooks the picturesque ElinorTrout fishery lake and the Titchmarsh Nature Reserve and will be an addition to the established farm house bed and breakfast facility and tea room.

Visit the website @ www.peartreefarm.net

The project is nearing completion and the first reservations have been made for the self catering accommodation.

The tea room is planned to open in time for Easter so why not pay a visit and also admire the newly refurbished fully operational mill water wheels.

The nursery was established two years ago  and specialises in imported olive trees and Mediterranean plants.

LEADER funding will assist in creating a coffee shop, Italian style terraza and gelateria and the new facility will open on March 31^st.

Tim and Jackie Thackeray the co-owners live on site in an eco lodge and are looking forward to welcoming visitors to the newly created facility.

Visit Olive Grove Nurseries website @ www.olivegrovenurseries.co.uk

Wooster Interiors have commenced work on refurbishing a disused farm building with the help of a LEADER grant to provide showroom and soft furnishing production facilities.

The business specialises in ‘country houses’ with ‘country fabrics’.   The curtains are all handmade, which gives a far superior finish and longevity. Main fabric suppliers include: Sanderson, Jane Churchill, Colefax & Fowler and G P & J Baker.

Visit Wooster Interiors’ webiste @ www.woosterinteriors.co.uk

First off is a visit to the new Corby Olympic size swimming pool followed by a trip to Adrenaline Alley.

On Friday there is a busy schedule of visits to current LEADER supported projects including the new addition at Olive Grove Nurseries.

Under a new initiative grants of 40% of costs up to a maximum £25,000 contribution are available to farmers, foresters and horticulturists in respect of the following initiatives:

• Nutrient Management: Improvements in use of farm manures and slurries so as to improve soil quality and reduce reliance on artificial fertiliser.
  Eligible items include slurry injectors, mechanical slurry separation systems and Global Positioning Systems.
• Energy Efficiency: Projects to reduce or recover energy use on farm resulting in a reduction of farm energy bills and carbon dioxide emissions.
  Eligible items include heat exchangers, gel coolers and ice builders.
• Water Resource Management: Rainwater harvesting, recycling and reuse systems to reduce reliance on mains water.
  Eligible items include pipework specifically to intercept and divert roof water to a storage facility, rainwater harvesting equipment.
• Animal Health and Welfare: Projects which bring about significant improvements in farm animal health and welfare.
• Forestry: Projects which improve the economic value of forests through the efficiencies of improved processing and adding value.
  Eligible items include timber processors, forwarders, forestry trailers, tractors mounted forestry grabs.

Full particulars may be obtained from:  http://rdpenetwork.defra.gov.uk/funding-sources/farm-and-forestry-improvement-scheme or by telephoning   0300 602526.

The LEADER funded bridge crossing over the  Nene, linking Frontier Centre, Irthlingborough with Stanwick Lakes is now open following a well planned delicate process which included temporary closure of the of the river to boat traffic.

Water sports facilities will now be available on lake five with this new bridge access and an official dedication ceremony will take place in early 2012.

The Frontier Centre website is located at www.rockuk.org