Brockholes

Brockholes Visitor Village

Brockholes Visitor Village by Bentham Imaging

Home to your #NatureMoments

250 acres to explore
Floating Visitor Village
Just off the M6
Accessible trails

Start your wild adventure!

Brockholes is Lancashire Wildlife Trust's flagship nature reserve, a former quarry that has been transformed into a haven for birds, insects, mammals, plants and amphibians.

Now a mosaic of wetland, woodland and grassland habitats and located straight off junction 31 of the M6 at Preston, Brockholes is designed to introduce people to wildlife, educate the next generation and bring you closer to the nature on your doorstep.

Brockholes by Michelle

Brockholes by Michelle

Explore

There are plenty of trails to explore, from our beautiful lakes and woodland to riverside rambles.

http://www.brockholes.org/wildlife/reserve-map/

Play

Children can swing, climb, balance and bounce whilst you relax on one of our picnic benches. 

We were looking for a nice cup of tea. Then we found our #naturemoments
Call it family time, call it exercise. I call it the perfect #naturemoments

Do you have a question about Brockholes?

There's a good chance you will find the answer here!

Do I have to pay to visit?

There is no entry fee at Brockholes but we do operate car parking charges. All profits from this are reinvested into the reserve, so when you pay you are helping to look after our reserve and the wildlife that calls it home!

Do I have to book to visit?

There is no need to book to visit Brockholes for the day. Just turn up and enjoy your day. We only take bookings for events.

The car park is very big but there is still a chance it could fill up to capacity during the summer months. If this happens we will put signage at the entrance and will have a 'one in one out' system in place. We will also put information on our social media platforms should the car park fill up, so we recommend checking these before you set off.

Can I bring my dog?

Brockholes is a special nature reserve home to rare, threatened and sensitive wildlife and plants. It has taken us many years to transform this former quarry into an important wildlife refuge, with much more work left to do.

This is why we ask you not to bring your dog to Brockholes Nature Reserve.

Leaving your dog at home will help us stop the spread of invasive plant species that may attach seeds to your dog's fur, helps us keep our grazing animals calm, and limit wildlife disturbance as much as possible. Instead, you can take your dog to one of our dog-friendly nature reserves, where they can enjoy an adventure on their lead.

Find a dog-friendly nature reserve

Can I bring my own food?

Yes! Brockholes is the perfect place for a picnic! We have a number picnic tables around the reserve for you to enjoy. We ask that you don't use the tables and chairs on the Visitor Village for your own picnic as these are reserved for those buying food from the Kestrel Kitchen. Be sure to check out the Kestrel Kitchen for a delicious snack, hot drink, or a yummy ice cream!

Please remember to put your rubbish in the bins provided or take it away with you and always recycle.

Please note barbecues and fires are not allowed as they damage our nature reserve and can harm wildlife.

Will it be muddy?

The paths around the car park and Visitor Village should be fairly dry, but Brockholes is on a flood plain and is prone to be soggy underfoot all year round so pack your wellies just in case!

Please note, whatever the weather, we advise you to wear sturdy footwear while exploring the reserve.

Can I feed the birds?

Unfortunately not. Larger gulls know it’s much easier to find food when we leave it lying around rather than finding their own lunch. Here at Brockholes we have lots of species breeding with us, including little ringed and ringed plover, lapwing, oystercatcher and redshank.

Unfortunately the gulls will eat these chicks, so if we feed them (thus encouraging them to stay), this increases that likelihood. Therefore we ask you do not feed the birds and take any leftovers away with you.

Is fishing allowed at Brockholes?

No, fishing is not allowed in the lakes on the reserve.

in focus - The Binoculars and Telescope Specialists

Meet in focus: The Binocular and Telescope Specialists

in focus are set up in The Lookout hide overlooking Number One Pit, ready to help you find your perfect pair of bins or that special scope. With floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the lake, there's no better place to try before you buy!

in focus opening hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 4pm.

Find out more