The Hyndburn’s Woodlands were back at Jubilee Meadow on Tuesday 1st April! We were continuing with the meadow maintenance that has been ongoing for 3 years. In previous years, we have hand scythed the meadow. This time round, we hired a contractor who used a tractor to give the meadow a really good mow! This […]
Saturday 15th March – Woodnook Vale LNR
On Saturday 15th March 2025 the Hyndburn’s Woodlands Project teamed up with the Hyndburn’s Nature Reserves Project to deliver a ‘dawn chorus’ bird walk at Woodnook Vale LNR, with the session being led by Dave Bickerton of the Lancashire and Cheshire Fauna Society! The walk started at 7:00 (much later than a proper dawn chorus […]
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
Tuesday 11th March 2025 – Woodnook Vale
On Tuesday 11th March 2025 the Hyndburn’s Woodlands Volunteers were back at Woodnook Vale LNR carrying out some Invasive Non-Native Species management. This time, it took the form of Small-leaved Cotoneaster removal. The coverage of this shrub was quite extensive as it had been allowed to grow for many a year. The main issue with […]
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 […]
Tuesday 25th February 2025 – Bat Box Making
On Tuesday 25th February 2025 the Hyndburn’s Woodlands volunteers had a change of pace from our usual activity session! Today, we created 9 bat boxes from scratch that will be installed around Whinney Hill woodland to create habitat space for bats! We followed The Wildlife Trust methodology for our boxes, which is available to view […]
Free Wildflower Seeds for EcoFest 2025!
To get ready for EcoFest 2025 in Accrington Town Centre on Saturday 14th June 2025, PROSPECTS will be handing out free wildflower seeds. We will be handing them out at events and in our shop at 54 Broadway, BB5 1EW. Be sure to keep updated on our events by checking our calendar or signing up to […]
Tuesday 11th February 2025 – Whinney Hill
On Tuesday 11th February the Hyndburn’s Woodlands Volunteers were back at Whinney Hill woodland carrying out some Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) removal. This took the form of removing 3 large Cherry Laurels from the site, along with a few much smaller Japanese Spotted Laurel (Variegated Laurel). Volunteers first used loppers to clear away much of […]
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
2024 happenings at Miller Fold Allotment
In the last garden session of the year in December, our volunteers at Miller Fold Allotment pruned our grape vine which had happily sprawled across half the polytunnel during the growing season. Grape vines are best pruned around the winter solstice as their sap starts to rise early in the spring and thinning them out […]
Friends Of Arden Hall & the Coppice – March 2025 Meeting
As part of the new Hyndburn’s Nature Reserves project, PROSPECTS is looking to kickstart the return of the Friends of Arden Hall & the Coppice community group with the support of local project officer, Robert. The group has been responsible for a number of improvements at the site since its conception and will do so […]
Tuesday 28th January 2025 – 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 […]
Climate Action & Me – A Community Workshop
Concerned about climate change? Join the PROSPECTS Foundation for a free, interactive workshop all about climate action. We will be busting common climate change myths, giving out top tips for having climate conversations, and discussing the very best ways that we can ALL take action. Get your free tickets here: TICKETS
Happy Holidays from PROSPECTS! 2024
We hope everyone has a wonderful festive season and a happy new year. Here are some of our highlights from 2024, see you in 2025!
2024 Volunteer Christmas Celebration!
On Tuesday 17th December, PROSPECTS held a volunteer celebration at Accrington Cricket Club. Any volunteers who helped out in 2024 were welcome to attend. We celebrated with sausage rolls, chocolate, and mince pies! (All with vegan options available) Our Outdoor Learning Officer Sonja worked hard to construct a PROSPECTS quiz for everyone to take part […]
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 […]