News – Prospects

Anti Litter Heroes From St Nicholas CE Primary School

Posted on 16th March 202616th March 2026Posted in Brookside, News, Oswaldtwistle Local Panel

The year, project officer Alice was invited back to St Nicholas CE Primary School in Church for their annual science week. Through the Brookside Restoration Initiative, Alice has attended Science Week for the last two years, explaining more about her work at Prospects and delivering practical lessons for all year groups.

This year, year 5 focused on creating anti littering posters for use at Brookside and other prospects sites. Keep your eyes peeled while out and about in Hyndburn, as will be having a number of these brilliant posters printed as real life signs.

Other year groups enjoyed building wildflower gardens on the school grounds, constructing bird feeders, and having their say about what they would like to see at Brookside. In addition, Brookside volunteers have donated much of the hazel that has been coppiced from site, for use in the St Nicholas forest school.

Prospects in the Community – St Bartholomew’s Church, Great Harwood

Posted on 6th March 202610th March 2026Posted in Brookside, Great Harwood Local Panel, News, Oswaldtwistle Local Panel, Past Projects

This week, Prospects were kindly invited to speak at the St Bartholomew and St John’s Mothers Union, in Great Harwood. Brookside Restoration officer, Alice, met with 18 of their members and spoke at length about how Prospects is fighting for positive environmental and social change across Hyndburn.

Many of the members of the MU recounted how St Bartholomew's Church was supported by the windfall fund in 2015, with a grant of £7,500 for a new energy efficient heating system.

Prospects would like to say a big thank you for the invite, and for the generous donations on the day.

Brookside Hosts Half Term Crafts Bonanza

Posted on 24th February 202624th February 2026Posted in Brookside, News, Oswaldtwistle Local Panel

New Faces at the SVCA x Brookside Restoration Heritage Walk

Posted on 10th February 202610th February 2026Posted in Brookside, News, Oswaldtwistle Local Panel

On Saturday the 7th of February, Andy Barnes from the Stanhill Village Community Association joined Brookside Restoration Officer Alice in hosting a guided walk around the Stanhill Heritage Trail. The event proved popular despite the drizzle, with many new faces among the 10 attendees. The trail starts at the Hargreaves Memorial Garden, and loops around through Moss Lane and Brookside before heading back up the footpath by Kemp Delph.

For more information on the trail, visit the SVCA website: https://www.stanhillvillage.co.uk/heritagetrail/

Thank you Andy and the SVCA for your expertise about the incredible history of our local area!

Prospects Launch Sunday Volunteer Session at Brookside

Posted on 5th January 20265th January 2026Posted in Brookside, News, Oswaldtwistle Local Panel

Hyndburn’s Nature Reserves January 2026 Newsletter

Posted on 1st January 202629th January 2026Posted in Hyndburn's Nature Reserves, News, Pleck Meadow

Happy Holidays 2025 from PROSPECTS & Annual Volunteer Celebration

Posted on 19th December 2025Posted in Brookside, Community TreeACTION, Hyndburn's Nature Reserves, Hyndburn's Woodlands - Phase 2, News, Our Trustees

Thank you to all our trustees, volunteers and participants for your support over the past year.

On Wednesday 17th December we celebrated an amazing year of environmental action with our annual Volunteer Celebration. Filled with food, drinks, music, and a brain-scratching, PROSPECTS-themed quiz!

A huge thank you again to all our volunteers who help make our work possible! We can't wait for what's in store in 2026.

PROSPECTS will now be closed until 5th January 2026.

We look forward to seeing you in the New Year!

With best wishes from the PROSPECTS team -
Alison, Alice, Brandon, Gemma, Helen, and Robert.

Wrapping Up Christmas Crafts at the Prospects Foundation

Posted on 17th December 2025Posted in Brookside, News

Prospects Community Tree Nursery 2025 Roundup

Posted on 17th December 202517th December 2025Posted in Community TreeACTION, News

Here's a roundup of 2025 at the Prospects Community Tree Nursery, shown in photographs!

This year we built three new tree-growing boxes, cleared loads of balsam, planted over 550 acorns, and stratified thousands of tree seeds. We also said goodbye to a rickety greenhouse and shed, welcomed a brilliant group of corporate volunteers, and raised an incredible £6,712 through our Crowdfunder campaign!

We’re hoping 2026 will bring major site access improvements and create even more opportunities for people to learn about growing trees. Watch this space…

Jan 2025 - Transplanting Oaks from the Coppice

March 2025 - making room for tree growing boxes

April 2025 - planting spare trees to grow on over summer

May 2025 - planting tree seeds that started to sprout

July 2025 - Our Crowdfunder celebration day with wood-fired sourdough pizza

Aug 2025 - greenhouse demolition

Sep 2025 - Fedcap Community Day clearing beds and making paths safer

Oct 2025 - Acorn planting in new rodent-proof boxes

Nov 2025 - Acorn planting in root trainer trays

Dec 2025 - weeding tree beds ready for mulching

Bullough Community Woodland planted in one week

Posted on 17th December 202517th December 2025Posted in Community TreeACTION, News

More than 50 local residents rolled up their sleeves on Sunday, December 7, as the Prospects Foundation hosted a large-scale community tree planting event at Bullough Park in Accrington, marking a major milestone in the park’s ongoing transformation.

The Forest Fun Day, organised by the Prospects Foundation and supported by Hyndburn Borough Council, invited volunteers of all ages to help plant the final trees of a 3,600-strong woodland creation scheme funded by the Forestry Commission.

Thanks to the enthusiastic turnout, all 600 trees allocated on the day were successfully planted, meaning the full woodland, over 3,600 trees in total, has now been completed within just one week.

Alongside tree planting, families enjoyed a programme of woodland crafts, finger painting, and the burial of a ‘Future Forest’ Time Capsule. The capsule, filled with wishes and predictions for the next 25 years, was lowered into the ground by the Mayor of Hyndburn, Cllr Josh Allen, who also read a poem written by students from Mount Carmel High School’s Eco Club titled “A Walk in Bullough Woodland in 2050.”

Acorn planting and tabletop crafts were available for those with limited mobility. Volunteers were kept warm with free hot chocolate, while festive tunes added to the cheerful atmosphere throughout the day.

The Mayor of Hyndburn, Cllr Josh Allen, said: “What the Prospects team are doing is truly inspiring and their dedication and work is not only helping our borough right now but is helping to protect and preserve the borough’s wildlife and environment for future generations. As a borough, we owe a lot to the Prospects Foundation.”

The woodland creation is one of many improvements within the Bullough Park project’s second phase. New paths and steps have already been constructed to improve site access. A large wildlife pond has also been created to increase wildlife success.

In 2026, a wildflower mini-meadow will be created, and new benches and interpretation panels will be installed, establishing a more accessible and vibrant green space for the community.

Helen Earnshaw, TreeACTION Project Officer at the Prospects Foundation, added:

“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who turned out to help plant the final trees. The community spirit has been fantastic, and Bullough Community Woodland will be something local people can be proud of for decades to come.”

The organisers thank all volunteers, project partners and local businesses who contributed to the day’s success.

Read the Lancashire Telegraph article HERE

For further information about the project or upcoming events, please contact: helen.earnshaw@prospectsfoundation.org.uk

Project Partners: Prospects Foundation, Hyndburn Borough Council, and Proffitts CIC - Investing in Communities

Helen teaching volunteers how to plant trees

'Future Forest Time Capsule' with Mount Carmel Eco Club members with Mayor and Mayoress of Hyndburn

Young volunteer plants first tree

Bullough Community Woodland 'Forest Fun Day' Tree Planting 600 trees with Prospects Foundation

Free Hot Chocolates were served to volunteers all day

Green Spaces Team reunion!

Volunteers make Christmas star decorations

Fingerprinting crafts such as Christmas tree cards to take home

Locally coppiced hazel Reindeer workshops

Site improvements (March > December 2025)

Tuesday 16th December – Whinney Hill Litter Pick

Posted on 16th December 20255th January 2026Posted in Hyndburn's Woodlands - Phase 2, News, Whinney Hill

On Tuesday 16th December the Hyndburn’s Woodland’s Project finished off the year with our usual litter pick (we do so to try and leave the woodland looking tidy over the Christmas holidays). Although we (thankfully) didn’t collect quite as much litter as we have done in previous years, we still managed to collect over 10 bags worth! We also managed to find quite a few oddities, including an abandoned pram, a quite old jerry can still containing some fuel, and an old fire extinguisher! The pram actually came in quite handy for moving everything around in!

Thank you to our lovely volunteers who braved a cold morning to help us keep Hyndburn’s Woodlands tidy

As always, thank you to our funders at Lancashire County Council, Hyndburn Borough Council, and the Windfall Fund for making it all possible

Annual Overview of the Northern Gateway @Peel Park & the Coppice LNR

Posted on 15th December 2025Posted in Hyndburn's Nature Reserves, News, Peel Park Pollinators at Peel Park and the Coppice LNR

Ox-eye Daisy

Common Bird's-foot-trefoil

Yellow Rattle (w/ Common Carder Bumblebee)

Black Knapweed (w/ Small White Butterfly)

Meadow Crane's-bill

Garlic Mustard

Common Vetch

Sneezewort

Wild Marjoram

Tufted Vetch (w/ Six-spot Burnet Moth)

Wild Turnip

Red Campion

Self-heal

Corn Marigold

Wild Chamomile

Wild Radish

Meadow Buttercup (w/ Tree Bumblebee)

Creeping Thistle (w/ Nettle Tap Moth)

Clearing Vegetation

Monitoring Disturbed Ground Next to Steps

In the autumn we carried out our annual cut & collect. With help from volunteers, the banks were strimmed and the parks team took all the cuttings away to prevent nutrient build-up.

Volunteers once again helped in winter to remove moss from the paths and tidy up the edges, greatly anticipating the even bigger and better wildflower blooms next year! The Friends of Arden Hall & the Coppice helped clear 5 barrows full of bramble from the hedgerow to make more room for the growing trees and to open up some light for future wildflower seed sowing.

All management done this year will be continuing into 2026, meadow creation/restoration/management is a constant process, but the results have already been spectacular! We are looking forward to an even better wildflower patch next year.

Scraping the paths has revealed there is still an issue with water pooling on the lower path, we are looking into fixing this issue permanently but for the short term we have increased the size of the drainage ditch.

If you would like to get involved with meadow management at Peel Park & the Coppice then please get in touch: robert.gabryszak@prospectsfoundation.org.uk or 01254 230348.

Saturday 13th December – Bank Mill House

Posted on 13th December 20255th January 2026Posted in Hyndburn's Woodlands - Phase 2, News

The Hyndburn’s Woodlands Project returned to Bank Mill House this year to host our annual ‘Christmas Reindeer’ making session. Warm refreshments were served with biscuits, and an attendee even brought in home baked goods for the session!

This year, participants created their deer from premade kits, this was to save time as we had booked the session the same day as a Christmas Fair in Great Harwood, so we wanted everyone to be able to get there quickly!

Participants assembled their deer from premade kits, chose their own antlers from a pile of varied twigs (Alder, Corkscrew Hazel, regular Hazel), once everything was in place participants could decorate their deer how they wish

Overall it was a great session and we are grateful to everyone who turned up!

As always, thank you to our funders at Lancashire County Council, Hyndburn Borough Council, and the Windfall Fund for making it all possible

Willow Coppicing & Festive Crafts @Hyndburn’s Nature Reserves

Posted on 4th December 2025Posted in Hyndburn's Nature Reserves, News, Peel Park Pollinators at Peel Park and the Coppice LNR

The Hyndburn's Nature Reserves project has had a busy past few weeks! The HNR VOLS have been coppicing willow trees that are encroaching on to the path above Pleck Meadow. The trees were traditionally coppiced which will encourage new growth that is perfect for crafting.

These woodland edges are too densely overgrown with willow which is creating dark and damp conditions, making it unfavourable for woodland flora. They also have a habit of leaning and falling on to the path, so coppicing these willow is good for site users and for wildlife! Some willow was also collected from Jackhouse Nature Reserve, which was encroaching on the meadow bordering the lodge. Volunteers bundled up the willow stems to be used in festive crafts, primarily wreath making!

The project held 3 natural wreath-making workshops and engaged with over 50 people over the past couple weeks to make festive wreaths, including with the Cambridge St Ladies Group and St Christopher’s Eco Group. This produced some beautiful wreathes, perfect to celebrate the festive season! Participants were taught about the conservation ongoing at Hyndburn's Nature Reserves and how to make a completely natural wreath, free of plastic, that could be put directly into the compost bin after the season is done. The evergreen foliage was also harvested from local green spaces, in areas that were getting too dense with growth. Evergreen trees can block out too much light, starving low-growing woodland flora. So cutting them back will also encourage a more varied woodland floor!

Want to get involved with conservation or crafting activities? Robert hosts volunteer sessions every Monday & Wednesday, which sometimes produces materials for crafting workshops. Contact robert.gabryszak@prospectsfoundation.org.uk to find out how to get involved.

Annual Wreath-making Workshop @PROSPECTS Shop

Making Brash Piles with Unusable Willow Branches

Wreath Making w/ St Christopher's Eco Group

Abundant Evergreen Foliage to Choose From!

Wreath Making w/ Cambridge St Ladies Group

Natural Festive Wreathes!

Before and After Woodland Edge

Oak Moss Lichen

Before and After Willow Tree

Natural Festive Wreathes!

Hyndburn’s Nature Reserves December 2025 Newsletter

Posted on 1st December 20251st December 2025Posted in Hyndburn's Nature Reserves, News, Pleck Meadow

Brookside x Stanhill Club Wreath Making Fundraiser

Posted on 1st December 20252nd December 2025Posted in Brookside, News, Oswaldtwistle Local Panel

Tuesday 18th November 2025 – Tree Nursery

Posted on 18th November 202518th November 2025Posted in Hyndburn's Woodlands - Phase 2, News

On Tuesday 18th November the Hyndburn’s Woodlands Project assisted the TreeACTION project with the new tree nursery! Our volunteers braved a very wet and very muddy day to help get the site tidied up!

We started working on the beds, turning the soil and removing roots (mainly Geranium), to provide a clean substrate for our locally grown trees to be heeled into!

Then we did a little bit of work around the paths, clearing mosses and various plants which were encroaching, this will hopefully make access a little bit easier.

Thank you to our wonderful volunteers who braved the day to help us with this important project, the future trees of Hyndburn will thank you!

As always, thank you to our funders at Lancashire County Council, Hyndburn Borough Council, and the Windfall Fund for making it all possible

FOREST FUN DAY 7th December 2025

Posted on 13th November 2025Posted in Community TreeACTION, News

Join us at Bullough Park on Sunday 7^th December, 11am – 3pm and be part of a special day of tree planting and festivities!

Bullough Park is transforming thanks to a woodland creation scheme funded by the Forestry Commission, with new paths, steps, and a large pond already in place. In the new year, there will be a wildflower mini-meadow, benches, and new interpretation panels to make the park even more beautiful and accessible for everyone.

This December, we’ll be planting over 3,500 new trees, and we’d love for you to help us!

What’s happening at the FOREST FUN DAY:

🌱 Tree planting for all ages

🪵 A variety of woodland crafts, including making your own reindeer from locally coppiced hazel!

✨ Bury a ‘Future Forest’ Time Capsule with wishes, drawings, and predictions for the next 25 years

☕ FREE hot chocolate, coffee, tea & hot Vimto from the brilliant BACKUP Northwest van to keep everyone warm and happy

🚻 Our friends at The Globe Bowling Club are kindly opening their doors for volunteers to use their toilets

Get your wellies on, plant a tree, make memories, and help grow the future of Bullough Park! 🌳

📍Enter from Bullough Park Car Park, Willows Lane 'Top Shop' or Woodview Drive and follow direction signs to the event, look out for a big green gazebo with the Prospects Foundation logo!

If you have any questions about this event, please email helen.earnshaw@prospectsfoundation.org.uk

Project Partners: Prospects Foundation, Hyndburn Borough Council, and Proffitts CIC - Investing in Communities

Tuesday 11th November 2025 – Habitat Pile Making

Posted on 11th November 202511th November 2025Posted in Hyndburn's Woodlands - Phase 2, News, Whinney Hill

On Tuesday 11th November 2025 the Hyndburn’s Woodlands Project was back at Woodnook Vale LNR creating habitat piles for wildlife! Due to the recent felling works that have been carried out on the site (predominantly Ash suffering from Dieback) there is currently a large amount of brash present on the vale. We decided to put this to good use and create habitat for overwintering wildlife, this will provide shelter and foraging sites for a good range of animals and will help to keep the site looking tidy!

Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers who braved a very cold and very wet day to help us improve biodiversity along the Vale!

As always, thank you to our funders at Lancashire County Council, Hyndburn Borough Council, and the Windfall Fund for making it all possible

UKBMS Survey Results 2025 @Peel Park & the Coppice LNR

Posted on 7th November 20258th January 2026Posted in Hyndburn's Nature Reserves, News, Peel Park Pollinators at Peel Park and the Coppice LNR

Map showing the butterfly transect around Peel Park & the Coppice.

Throughout 2025, Project Officer, Robert Gabryszak, has continued with weekly UKBMS surveys at Peel Park & the Coppice LNR. The walk, or transect, starts at Pleck Meadow and continues through multiple habitats at the site, finishing on the heathland. 2024 was a devastating year for pollinator populations, sparking a Butterfly Emergency Declaration from Butterfly Conservation, with several other invertebrate charities supporting the urgency for immediate change to prevent further decline.

2025 has offered a much more optimistic outlook, as sunnier weather has resulted in a significant uptick. However, the main threats to invertebrate populations are still at play; habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change are continuing to impact UK butterflies negatively. Additionally, the numbers are still lower than previous years, showing that some species have yet to recover.

There were some great positives revealed from the transects:

Green Hairstreak and Common Blue have been absent in previous years but have made their presence well known this year. The foodplant of Common Blue, Bird’s-foot-trefoil, has seen a massive increase in abundance at Pleck Meadow thanks to the management there, which may be the reason for the observation of male and female individuals.
It has also been the best year for white butterflies (Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, and Orange-tip,) something which has been reflected in the Big Butterfly Count 2025’s data. All four of these species feed on plants in the Brassicaceae family which contains a variety of crop and wildflower species such as Cabbage, Broccoli, Radish, cresses, Garlic Mustard, Cuckoo Flower, and many more. Their success this year could be related to favourable conditions for their foodplants. This could be seen at the Coppice as there was an abundance of Cuckoo Flower and Wild Radish.
Small Skipper, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, and Small Heath have all shown an increase after a 3-year decline.
Lastly, Small Tortoiseshell have made a great recovery after a complete absence from the transects and having its worst Big Butterfly Count ever last year. Miraculously, they’ve had their best year on record at the Coppice. Decline in the species has been linked to a parasitic fly from mainland Europe arriving in the 90's.

Small Skipper - July

Large Skipper - June

Large White - August

Small White - August

Green-veined White - July

Orange-tip (male) - April

Green Hairstreak - April

Small Copper - July

Common Blue (male) - August

Common Blue (female) - August

Holly Blue - August

Red Admiral - September

Painted Lady - August

Small Tortoiseshell - June

Peacock - July

Comma - September

Speckled Wood - April

Gatekeeper - July

Meadow Brown - June

Ringlet - June

Small Heath - July

We will continue to protect, create, and restore habitat for pollinators and all wildlife across Hyndburn's green spaces in our Hyndburn's Nature Reserves project. PROSPECTS has been carrying out conservation work at Peel Park & the Coppice LNR for past 3 years during the HEAL, Peel Park Pollinators, and Hyndburn's Nature Reserves projects. See below for some of the work we have been doing to benefit butterflies:

Want to help? Please contact robert.gabryszak@prospectsfoundation.org.uk if you would like to involved with habitat restoration or survey work. Alternatively, call 01254 230348 or pop into our shop at 54 Broadway, Accrington, BB5 1EW.

If you would like more information on the survey data then please contact Robert.