FESTIVAL BOWLAND 2020 A year round calendar of events celebrating the nature, landscape, culture and heritage of the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Bowland Butterfly Walk © Forest of Bowland AONB © Forest of Bowland Walk Butterfly Bowland Welcome Welcome Festival Bowland Festival Bowland is a year round calendar of events celebrating the nature, landscape, culture and heritage of the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The Forest of Bowland AONB Partnership has worked together with landowners, businesses, countryside staff and enthusiastic individuals to bring together a wealth of events and opportunities for people to explore the area’s special qualities and to share with others what makes this such a special place for people and nature. The Partnership is grateful to all those who have helped to make this events programme possible, with special thanks to Wyre Coast and Countryside Service. Cover image: Little Saplings © Forest of Bowland AONB Festival Bowland 2020 Wyre Coast & Countryside event, 2019 © K Lowe 2019 © K Lowe Coast & CountrysideWyre event, What’s Happening in 2020? Welcome Our Dark Skies Festival returns in February after Dark Skies Festival a very popular debut last year. Wild Spring spans Events are highlighted in grey two, packed weeks in late April/early May and we’ll be celebrating Landscapes for Life Week in Wild Spring September, along with AONBs throughout the Events are highlighted in green country. October half term is your chance to Get Creative, with everything from storytime to Landscapes for Life Week natural art. (Look out for highlighted events in the Events are highlighted in red programme.) And of course, in between, there Get Creative are a host of events designed to help you to Events are highlighted in blue discover this beautiful part of the country. If you have nature-loving youngsters (five years old or under) look out for the Pendle Hill Landscape Partnership Scheme’s Little Saplings programme. Taking place on the second and fourth Wednesdays of most months these free, pre-bookable sessions aim to nurture independent play in the outdoors. Find all the details at www.pendlehillproject.com/little-saplings www.forestofbowland.com Proddy Rugging © Forest of Bowland AONB Proddy Rugging © Forest of Bowland Information Important information l Information about how to book is l Please dress appropriately for the detailed with each event. A small location and weather. You will need number of events are “just turn up”, but sturdy walking shoes or boots, warm contact details for further information clothing and waterproofs for most are included with these events too. outdoor events. Please bring drinking l Children and young people under the water/hot drink and a packed lunch age of 18 must be accompanied by on all-day events. (You may want to an adult and some events may not be bring a drink and a snack on shorter suitable for children. walks.) On hot, sunny days, sun cream, a sunhat and sunglasses are l Dogs are accepted on some events, recommended. but not all. Please check at the time If you need medication, please bring it of booking. with you. If you have binoculars it’s definitely worth bringing them along. If you are not appropriately prepared, your leader may refuse to include you. This is for your, and the group’s, safety. Festival Bowland 2020 Foodie Foray Walk 2019 © Forest of Bowland AONB AONB 2019 © Forest of Bowland Walk Foodie Foray Terrain Guide Information l Most events, particularly those Our Terrain Guide aims to give you an outdoors, require a reasonable level of idea of the kind of ground covered fitness, with the exception of health during relevant events. This is a guide walks. Many events will involve walking, only and you should check with event often up slopes and over stiles, and organisers beforehand if you are unsure some involve all-day hill walking. Please about the suitability of a walk: take note of the information provided 1 Relatively flat ground, no stiles, suitable for each event. Overestimating your for wheelchairs and pushchairs. fitness may spoil the event for you and 2 Relatively level ground, fields, lanes the rest of the group. Events are led and tracks, possibly with some stiles at a pace to suit the whole group. and gentle slopes. For more information visit 3 Uneven ground, fields, lanes and tracks www.forestofbowland.com with some moderate slopes. Expect stiles. where you can also find details 4 Uneven ground, fields, lanes and tracks, with some steeper climbs. Expect stiles. of any additional events added to our on-line calendar. 5 Limited paths, rough walking, steep climbs. Expect stiles. www.forestofbowland.com Tramper Taster Day © Forest of Bowland AONB © Forest of Bowland Day Taster Tramper Information Useful information Tramper Friendly The Festival Bowland programme In addition to Tramper-friendly Festival includes a number of events suitable for Bowland events, Trampers can be Trampers. (A Tramper is a specially booked at a number of venues in and designed, all-terrain electric buggy.) around the Forest of Bowland, for use Please book in advance for these by on identified routes at those sites. using the contact information given in Tramper information is available from: the events listing. If you have not used a Wyre Estuary Country Park – Duty Ranger Tramper before, you should ask for an induction where you will be shown how 07976 650803 to use the vehicle safely. Visit Garstang Centre (Please note that some Tramper events 01995 602125 may only be suitable for people with Gisburn Forest Hub café previous experience.) 01200 446387 or go to www.forestofbowland.com/access-all Festival Bowland 2020 Agricultural Shows Flowers of the Dales Festival During the summer months you will find The annual Flowers of the Dales Festival, a number of agricultural shows within co-ordinated by local charity Yorkshire the Forest of Bowland and the Dales Millennium Trust, is an exciting surrounding area. These offer a great programme of 100 events from March opportunity to find out more about to November that celebrate the farming and rural life in this part of the Yorkshire Dales’ wonderful wildflowers, country. Agricultural shows are their habitats and the species that they traditionally held in the Hodder Valley, support. Now in its twelfth year, the Chipping, Garstang, Bentham and Festival has engaged more than 47,000 Goosnargh / Longridge. See local press people in wildflower and nature events. or individual show websites for 2020 This year the festival offers walks, talks show dates. and hands-on activities for all ages, run by passionate individuals and local Want to Get Involved? organisations. There really is something for everyone to enjoy. Information If the idea of doing something practical, For further information visit meeting new people and getting out in or call the fresh air appeals, you might like to www.ydmt.org take part in some volunteering. With 015242 51002. everything from hedge laying to path repairs and dry stone walling to balsam Public Transport pulling, these sessions are a great way to get involved in looking after the AONB. For public transport information call You can find out about countryside Traveline on volunteer opportunities with various 0871 200 2233 or visit organisations at the link on our website www.traveline.info below: Mountain Rescue In an emergency dial www.forestofbowland.com/ 999 and ask for the Police, then volunteering Mountain Rescue. Please note that, whilst all event details are believed to be correct, visitors are advised to contact individual event providers to confirm the information given. www.forestofbowland.com Lino print workshop © G Woollard Woollard Lino print workshop © G February Saturday 11th April l RSPB Moorland l Following the At a Glance Events Listings Glance Events At a l RSPB Moorland Walk Walk Thirlmere Aqueduct Monday 17th February l Springtime Wildlife l Pop-up Planetarium Tuesday 14th April Thursday 30th April around Nicky Nook l All Hallows Church Tour l Lapwings and Hares Tuesday 18th February Tramper Trek Monday 4th May l Tales from a Dark Wednesday 15th April l Amphibians and l Abbeystead Forest Night l Micro Safari Reptiles Reservoir and Thursday 20th February Thursday 16th April Marshaw Loop l l Free Family Nature l Free Family Nature May Abbeystead Circular Event – Creatures of Event – Minibeast Saturday 2nd May l Baby Bounce the Night Madness l Bowland and Rhyme Butterfly Walk l River Catchment Friday 21st February Sunday 19th April l Stocks Spring Walk l Bowland Dark Skies l Forest School Taster Bird Watch Film Screening – l Wednesday 6th May Introduction to l Garstang Area, A Grand Day Out Woodland l Arrow Bank Spring – Old and New source of the Wildflowers l Sunday 23rd February Garstang Health River Brock l Walk Forest of Bowland Thursday 23rd April l Beacon Fell and the l Dark Skies - Stargazing l Circular Walk, Garstang to the Brock Valley Slaidburn Fells and Back l Bleasdale People and April Sunday 3rd May Places Friday 24th April l Thursday 9th April l Bleasdale Skyline l Bluebell Walk Whimbrel Watch l l Free Family Nature l Crossing the Wyre Bleasdale Wildlife Event – Landscape Saturday 25th April through History Watch l Spring Walk l What Will You Find in l Curlews and Brown Fairsnape Fell the Deep, Dark Wood? Hares Spring Walk Evening Walk Festival Bowland 2020 l Navigation Day 1 – Wednesday 20th May Sunday 26th July Sunday 27th Basic Map Reading l Tramper Taster Day l Lancashire September at Beacon Fell Cheese