Brockholes

Brockholes is a new kind of nature reserve, an unreserved reserve.

Everyone is welcome at Brockholes. Whether you’re a naturalist or a beginner, we have something for you to enjoy and lots of chances for you to get close to nature.

Based on the site of an old quarry, the Lancashire Wildlife Trust have used their expertise to create habitats for lots of different wildlife. You can explore our 250 acre reserve with our network of trails and hides, not to mention the fantastic views offered overlooking the River Ribble. You can also explore our woods or enjoy the lakes on site, which have all been specially designed to attract all kinds of wildlife for you to see.

Our spectacular floating Visitor Village is the first of its kind in the UK, bringing you as close to nature as possible. The Visitor Village hosts our Welcome Centre, an activity room, our restaurant and two shops, each packed with unique treats to suit all of our visitors. Pop by our Welcome Centre when you arrive and our friendly volunteers will help you find out more and make the most of your visit.

The Nest is our lovely gift shop, packed with all sorts of goodies! Whether it is toys or books; crafts or jewellery; or some binoculars and scopes, there’s a something for everyone. The second shop is our Village Store. It is packed with a wide range of bird feed and feeders as well as gardening gifts, sweet treats, chutneys and a large selection of cookery and gardening books. Whatever you need, our friendly staff and volunteers are always on hand to help you.

Brockholes is also a great place for children. As well as exploring the reserve and Visitor Village we have an adventure play area nestled in the grassland, where the youngsters can swing, climb, balance and bounce in the play area whilst you relax on one of our picnic benches. Keep your eyes peeled too because you may be lucky enough to spot a Kestrel soaring above you as well.

After exploring the reserve you can sit back and relax in our restaurant, which offers stunning panoramic lake views. Whether it’s a cup of coffee, a tasty treat or a long leisurely meal, you can be assured all dishes are homemade from the finest local produce.

There’s a wide range of exciting events for all the family held at Brockholes right throughout the year too. These include craft sessions in our activity room, themed seasonal trails out on the reserve, open-air theatre and family themed events which test your tracking and den-building skills. We also offer regular free guided walks, host ‘Wildside’, our ever-popular school holiday club, and have a quarterly ‘Crafty Vintage’ Festival where we’ve over 70 stalls packed with everything from exotic food to homemade jewellery.

Just make sure to keep an eye on our website www.brockholes.org for all the latest on our events and don’t forget to sign up to our e-news while you’re there so you can keep up to date with all the latest activities, news and special offers.

Here at Brockholes we also cater for your special events and are now a full licensed wedding venue. With the lake in the background we offer a stunning and romantic back-drop for your photographs, while the floor-to-ceiling windows provide panoramic views across the lake. Our picturesque outdoor area also provides guests with an impressive location for drinks and canapés, so Brockholes is a truly memorable setting for your big day.

If you’d like to bring your whole flock to Brockholes, we’d love to have you. We cater for all kinds of group visits, from schools and community groups to coach trips. Whether it’s a full day out or just a quick stop off on the way to your destination, Brockholes is the ideal place for groups to visit.

Brockholes is free to enter but there is a car park charge to help support the Lancashire Wildlife Trust in looking after the reserve. Unfortunately dogs are not allowed as they can disturb and harm wildlife. If you need to, you can walk your dog (on a short lead) along the public right of way. Assistance dogs are welcome.