It’s been another exciting season for the Active Quarter partnership – and for Northampton as a whole. While the weather may be turning colder, there’s still a wealth of outdoor locations to enjoy this winter. As we reflect on Autumn 2025, here’s a roundup of key highlights from the Active Quarter and beyond.

Delapré Abbey, one of our partner organisations, launched ‘ParkPlay’. Funded by the Northamptonshire Serious Violence Prevention Partnership, ParkPlay is a free and inclusive way to get active. ParkPlay has brought families together every Saturday for informal games and activities. It’s a fantastic way for the community to stay active, have fun, and connect with one another.

Outside of the Active Quarter partnership, there was no shortage of exciting local events. This included the 2025 Amazing Northampton Run, a half-marathon event visiting local landmarks – and an opportunity to learn more about the Active Quarter at a Café Scientifique event.

For those unfamiliar, Café Scientifique is a global movement that brings people together in informal settings – cafés, bars, and restaurants – to discuss science, technology, and innovation. At September’s event, Dr. Declan Ryan, Associate Professor in Physical Activity and Health at the University of Northampton, shared insights from the Active Quarter’s ongoing research. A recording of this talk (along with a PDF version of Declan’s slides) are available at this link.

Northampton also celebrated its ‘East Midlands in Bloom’ success. Judging took place during the summer months, but representatives of Northampton in Bloom attended a ceremony later in the year.

Led by the Royal Horticultural Society, In Bloom is one of the largest horticultural competitions in Europe – so Northampton’s award is a testament to the hard work and passion shown across the town.

The town was awarded a Silver Gilt Award and a Judges’ Award, recognising the role of volunteers in achieving this success. The results were clear: our public spaces have been transformed into greener, more welcoming areas, thanks to the tireless work of local communities.

The good news doesn’t stop there. Work is set to continue, with plans for further improvements to key spaces like the Northampton Racecourse and Pavilion. In collaboration with West Northamptonshire Council and the Northants Football Association, Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust launched a survey to gather community feedback on these spaces.

Meanwhile, West Northamptonshire Council also launched a parks survey to better understand the barriers that people face when accessing outdoor spaces.

In November, the work of the Active Quarter partnership was proudly shared in Westminster by representatives from the University of Northampton, as part of the celebrations for Northamptonshire Day 2025.

Local businesses, community leaders and organisations gathered in Portcullis House to celebrate the county and highlight Northamptonshire’s shared commitment to improving local life.

It’s clear that through collaboration between local communities, organisations, and decision-makers, Northampton is committed to being a place where everyone can enjoy the outdoors – no matter the season.

As the year draws to a close, the Active Quarter continues to gain momentum. In December we added over 100 new bench locations to our interactive map – another step in making our town more accessible and comfortable for everyone.

But we can’t do it without your help! Keep telling us about new benches, share information about local activities, and let us know what would make our website even more useful when planning your next outdoor adventure.

Let’s continue to work together in making it even easier for everyone to enjoy being outdoors.