Local Nature Reserves in East Lancashire A Guide to 15 Nature Reserves in the boroughs of Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Ribble Valley and Rossendale, with directions on how to get there and what you can expect to find This front cover and other photographs were taken during a Summer Activities Programme with 23 children from Nelson & Brierfield at Lomeshaye Marsh Local Nature Reserve (LNR) in September 2003 organised by the Pendle Women’s Forum and Pendle Pakistan Welfare Association. 2008 Edition 2 What are Local Nature Reserves ? 3 Since 1949 over 1,260 Local Nature So far 28 LNRs have been designated Reserves (LNRs) have been designated in Lancashire with others in the process in England. They range from of designation in Lancashire. Collectively windswept coastal headlands, ancient these sites amount to over 375 hectares woodlands and flower-rich meadows (one hectare is 100 by 100 metres, to former inner city railways, long equivalent to a football pitch). abandoned landfill sites and industrial areas (see www.natural-england.org.uk) What Can I see when I visit? By nature we mean plants, animals and LNRs are not just for nature! They are the habitat or vegetation types in which not fenced off so people cannot get in they live. All the LNRs support a number and disturb the wildlife! In fact LNRs of habitat types varying from mature are just as much about providing woodland, young tree plantations, access for people and facilities to ponds or lodges, rivers & streams, encourage environmental education, marshy areas & heathland to different study and research. types of grassland and other vegetation. 2 3 The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside A Local Nature Reserve, or LNR for short, is a site designated as a nature reserve by the County Council, the District Council or a Parish Council under the provisions of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949. The site descriptions point out some Reserves for What? of the plants and animals you may see LNRs are nature reserves and are and the best times of the year to see managed to conserve and enhance the them. You can use the photographs habitats types and the variety of plants to help you identify the plant or animal and animals that live there including any but note that there is only one photo rare or important species. of each animal or plant even if it occurs at more than one site. So look LNRs are also statutory designations at the photos from the other LNRs to protected by law and the sites should check if the plant or animal you want appear on the Local Authority’s Local to see has a photograph included. Plan and have a policy affording them protection or exemption from The numbers of plants and birds development. recorded on each site is also given, where possible, together with other They are not only nature reserves but things to look out for. are also places for people to visit, enjoy and learn about. 4 Where are the Local Nature Reserves ? 5 LANCASTER Contents How to get there.....6-13 LANCASHIRE The Local M6 Nature Reserves...14-28 3 1COLNE CLITHEROE 13 15 9 7 12 The Reserves PRESTON 10 BURNLEY BLACKBURN 5 1. Alkincoates 11 2 ACCRINGTON Woodland M654 6 14 DARWEN 2. The Arran Trail CHORLEY 8 3. Cross Hill Quarry ROCHDALE M6 M61 4. Darwen Parkway MANCHESTER 5. Deer Pond 6. Foxhill Bank MERSEYSIDE 7. Greenfield Road 8. Healey Dell 9. Lomeshaye Marsh There are 15 LNRs designated, or in the 10. Lowerhouse process of being designated, in East Lodges Lancashire (Blackburn with Darwen, 11. Pleasington Old Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Ribble Valley & Hall Woods Rossendale) 12. Quarry Hill 13. Salthill Quarry The following site descriptions tell you how 14. Sunnyhurst Woods to get there on foot, by public transport, on 15. Upper Ballgrove a cycleway or bridleway, by car/motorcycle Lodge or by boat via the Leeds & Liverpool canal, where relevant. For further details of how to get there on public transport you can ring the relevant information service or Tourist Information Centre: Burnley Bus Station Pendle TEL: 01282 423125 TEL: 01282 698533 Clitheroe Rochdale/ Interchange Rossendale TEL: 01200 429832 TEL: 01706 244678 Bistort 4 5 The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside Tourist Information Centres If you want to help • Join in with practical conservation tasks throughout the year • Have your say by attending management committee meetings • Become a Volunteer Ranger photo: Bronwen Earnshaw photo: Bronwen Sunnyhurst Woods Visitor Centre • Attend the guided walks and other events that are organised Accrington Clitheroe Town Hall, Corner of York Street • Send in your observations of Blackburn Rd. & Wellgate. flora and/or fauna to the Wildlife Trust Tel: 01254 872595 Tel: 01200 425566 [email protected] Pendle • Help with recording and The Bus Station monitoring work on the sites Blackburn Broadway Nelson 50-54 Church St Tel: 01282 698533 A manned Visitor Centre is Tel: 01254 53277 [email protected] present at Healey Dell, Healey Hall Mills, Shawclough Road. [email protected] Ribble Valley Rochdale. OL12 6BG. Tel 01706 [email protected] 350459 Burnley Rossendale Mechanics An unmanned Visitor Centre is 41/45 Kay Street Manchester Road present at Lomeshaye Marsh Rawtenstall Tel: 01282 664421 but can be booked c/o Pendle 01706 244678 Community High School, Oxford [email protected] rossendale_leisure@ Road, Nelson compuserve.com For further details of the cycleways and bridleways contact the relevant Local Authority’s Public Rights of Way Officer: Burnley Pendle Rossendale 01282 425011 01282 661059 01706 874333 Blackburn Ribble Valley 01254 585585 01200 887220 Hyndburn Rochdale 01254 388111 01706 647474 6 How to get there 7 Alkincoates - Off Harrison Drive, Colne. BB8 9SF On foot: There are access points from Alkincoates Park, Stag Lane, Red Lane (northeast and northwest entrances) and off the footpath along the eastern edge. Public Footpaths nos 150 & 151 pass through the site. photo: Chris Beaton Train: Nearest station is Colne at the end of the Preston to Colne line. The nearest entrance is 500m north of the station. Bus: From Colne bus station Nos 94 and 94A at 15 and 45 mins past the hour. Cycleway: The Lancashire Cycleway runs down Stag House Lane. Cycling is only permitted on the bridleways in the LNR. Bridleway: Bridleways 152 and 229 pass through the site. Leeds/Liverpool Canal: Approx 650m to the southeast of the canal from the southern end of the Foulridge Tunnel. Road: From the end of the M65 turn left onto Vivary Way and continue through a set of traffic lights to a roundabout. Turn left onto Harrison Drive and continue up to a mini-roundabout going straight on and take the right fork in the road up to the rugby club car park. The Arran Trail - Off Arran Avenue or Shadsworth Road, Blackburn. BB1 On foot: Access off the east side of the Shadsworth Road (B6130), south of Bank Lane/ Haslingden Road (A677), from Garsden Avenue and south of Arran Avenue Train: Nearest station is Blackburn, approx 2km to the northwest of the LNR Bus: From Blackburn Boulevard Nos. 8 or 9 (every 20 minutes) to Queens Park High School on Shadsworth Road or the community centre on Rothesay Road Cycleway: From Blakewater College on Shadsworth Road to the junction of Fecitt Brow and Bank Lane Road: Follow the Haslingden Road (B6232) from Blackburn centre or from junction 5 of the M65 towards Blackburn, taking the Shadsworth Road (B6130) north towards Shadsworth, the entrance being approx 500m on the right-hand/east-ward side The LNR is approx. 1.5km to the photo: John Lamb Leeds/Liverpool Canal: southeast of the canal at Bennington Street/Lower Audley Street (A679) 6 7 The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside Cross Hill & Salthill Quarries. Cross Hill - Off West Bradford Road, Clitheroe. BB7 4QF On foot: From Clitheroe Interchange to Salthill turn left heading north & at the B6478 follow the road right to the 1st photo: Phil Dykes roundabout, carry straight on to the 2nd roundabout on the A671 (Chatburn Road/Waterloo Road/York Street junction). Follow Waterloo Road south for a few yards then turn left onto Salthill Road which leads to a small playing field with the LNR at the far side. From Clitheroe Interchange to Cross Hill, turn left heading north & at the B6478 turn left onto the Waddington Road (under the railway bridge) pass the cemetery on the left & enter Brungerley Park on the right. Follow the paths through the park to the LNR. Both LNRs are on the Clitheroe Geological Heritage Trail (leaflet available). Train: To Clitheroe Interchange via Blackburn, Settle or Skipton (via Hellifield) Bus: To Clitheroe Interchange from Preston - 280 (via the A59), 210 (via Longridge). From Blackburn 225. From Accrington - X1, X2 & Z31. From Burnley 22, 27, 28 & 257. Cycle & bridleway: No special routes hence use roads but note cycling & horseriding are not permitted within the LNRs. Road: Follow the black industrial signs on the A59(T) towards Clitheroe. Turn onto the Pimlico Link Road (towards West Bradford). For Salthill take the first road on the left (Lincoln Way) & a parking area exists on the right at the start of the industrial estate. For Cross Hill stay on the link road, carry straight on at the roundabout, go over a railway crossing and as the road descends there are 2 entrances into the LNR on the left before the Castle Cement works on your right, but parking on the West Bradford Road is limited. photo: The Arran Trail John Ryden photo: The Arran Trail 8 How to get there 9 Darwen Parkway - Off Wolseley Street, Blackburn.