A round of applause for Brookside volunteers Graeme and Gordon, who both passed their LANTRA Strimmers and Brushcutters assessments last week. Now qualified, they will be able to put their skills to use at Brookside this summer! This work is possible due to funding from the Windfall Fund, the National Lottery Climate Action Fund, and […]
The Brookside Restoration Spring Newsletter is Out!
The latest edition of the quarterly Brookside Restoration is out! This issue crowns our latest star of the season, gives an exciting round-up of all that has happened over Winter, and gives you a first look at the plans for Spring 2025. If you didn’t get a copy by email, you can sign up HERE.
Hyndburn’s Nature Reserves April 2025 Newsletter
HNR Newsletter APRIL 2025
Brookside’s Thursday Gang Unearth Hidden Paths and Farm Foundations Under 20 Years of Turf
The Brookside volunteer group (colloquially known as the Thursday Gang in Ossy) have been hard at work restoring the old paths around the site. These were installed in the early 2000s but have since degraded until they were almost hidden. Armed only with spades and rakes, the gang have completely transformed the access around the […]
Hyndburn’s Nature Reserves March 2025 Newsletter
HNR Newsletter MARCH 2025
Over 300 Trees Planted at Knuzden Recreation Ground
Over 300 Trees Planted at Knuzden Recreation Ground A dedicated group of 40 local residents planted over 300 trees on Saturday 8th February 2025 at Knuzden Recreation Ground. The newly planted trees will create a woodland edge alongside the site’s motorway fence, enhancing the site’s aesthetics, reducing waterlogging on the main field, increasing biodiversity in […]
Citizens gather for the first of our Climate Action & Me events!
Concerned citizens from across East Lancashire gathered in Oswaldtwistle last Thursday evening for a workshop all about climate change and how the local community can take action. Councillor Mike Booth, Mayor of Hyndburn, attended the event. The evening began with a talk about the science behind climate change, before moving into several interactive activities, all […]
Hyndburn’s Nature Reserves February 2025 Newsletter
HNR Newsletter Feb 2025
Tuesday 28th January – Woodnook Vale LNR
On Tuesday 28th January The Hyndburn’s Woodlands Volunteers were at Woodnook Vale LNR for a different kind of session! This week, we were joined by Imogen, from Imogen Storey Gardens, who kindly offered her expertise on live Willow structures! Imogen showed myself and volunteers how to correctly weave live Willow into a desired shape so […]
Oak Sapling Rescue Success! (January 2025)
On Monday 20th, the TreeACTION Project teamed up with Hyndburn’s Nature Reserves Project to rescue some small oak saplings at Peel Park & the Coppice LNR. These little trees are planted accidentally by Jays when they forget the location of their acorn cache! As the heather is a vital habitat, they would eventually have been […]
Tuesday 17th December 2024 – Whinney Hill
On Tuesday 17th December the Hyndburn’s Woodlands Volunteers were back at Whinney Hill woodland! This week, we found a new ‘treasure trove’ of fly-tipping that was previously unknown to us. Throughout the session, we removed bags of old clothes, building waste, settee cushions, fencing mesh, and plenty of garden waste Overall, we removed well over […]
Tuesday 10th December 2024 – Tree Nursery Allotment
On Tuesday 10th December the Hyndburn’s Woodlands Volunteers lent their hand to the TreeACTION Project’s newest site, the tree nursery allotment! This site, once it is up and running, will be used to grow native provenance species which can be used around the district of Hyndburn for tree planting sessions! Trees with native provenance means […]
Hyndburn’s Nature Reserves December 2024 Newsletter
HNR Newsletter December 2024
Bullough Park Community Plants ‘Family Trees’ for the Future
Residents of Accrington came together on 15th and 16th November 2024 to breathe new life into Bullough Park’s old bowling green by planting 35 ‘Family Trees.’ Ranging from resilient Alder and Birch to fruitful Bramley Apple and Plum, the trees were planted as heartfelt dedications—many in memory of loved ones or as gifts to future […]
Saturday 16th November 2024 – Festive Crafts
On Saturday 16th November 2024 we held our ‘Festive Crafts’ event at Accrington Cricket Club! The session was led by the talented Gareth Muir of Crag Moor Bushcraft. Participants learned safe knife handling skills, proper whittling techniques, and crafted their very own Winter Wonderland display! Participants used whittling knives to make different tree models from […]
Tuesday 12th November 2024 – Huncoat East
On Tuesday 12th November 2024 the Hyndburn’s Woodlands Volunteers were back at Huncoat East woodland continuing with the pathway maintenance started in September. This involved using spades and shovels to clear back vegetation that had encroached onto the paths. The vegetation covered around 3/4’s of the entire path! We are happy to say the paths […]
Peel Park Pollinator Survey Results 2024
Throughout 2024, PROSPECTS has been carrying out pollinator surveys at Peel Park and the Coppice LNR. Measuring the abundance and distribution of species is vitally important for monitoring species health, climate change, and the effectiveness of conservation actions. Nationally, surveys provide data which allows climate scientists, conservationists, and insect experts to get a greater understanding […]
Tuesday 5th November 2024 – Jubilee Meadow
On Tuesday 5th November the Hyndburn’s Woodlands Volunteers were back at Jubilee woodland to continue with the meadow maintenance that we started the week prior. Much of the scything had already been carried out, so this session primarily focused on raking off the cuttings to reduce the nutrients present. Once the last bit of scything […]
Tuesday 29th October 2024 – Jubilee Meadow
On Tuesday 29th October the Hyndburn’s Woodlands Volunteers were hard at work at Jubilee woodland continuing with the meadow management that has been going on for 3 years. This involves using scythes to cut as much of the grassy material as low to the ground as possible, the cuttings (arisings) are then raked off the […]
Friday 25th October 2024 – Fairy Door Making
On Friday 25th October The PROSPECTS Foundation held their first ‘Fairy Door Making’ activity at Accrington Cricket Club. Participants used natural material such as bark, berries, wood chippings and twigs to create their very own fairy doors and fairy houses, with accompanying furniture! Everyone crafted some spectacular creations that our mystical friends will no doubt […]