September is here, bringing with it cooler weather and shorter days - but this won't stop us making the most of the great outdoors and getting out into nature! Here are some of our top suggestions for things to see and do this month.
Come and join us at our pre-school sessions that let your little ones get in touch with nature and explore at Brockholes and Heysham Nature Reserve.
Our regular Nature Tots sessions are suitable for children aged 15 months - 5 years. Each session has a different theme and activities include nature art, story time, bug hunts, games, crafts and much more!
Autumn is a time of transformation in our woodlands, as the leaves begin to change to vibrant shades of yellow, orange and red. A clear early autumn day is the perfect opportunity to take a stroll through the woods and enjoy the vibrant colours of the season.
Dave Bennion
Join our Guided Walk Leaders for a fascinating insight into the flora of the Fylde Sand Dunes, where you'll learn how various wildflower species have adapted to this ever-changing landscape, the folklore attached to them, and the important role they play in supporting our coastal wildlife.
Our monthly photo competition theme for September is 'Tranquil Moments', with the winning photo appearing on our 2027 calendar.
On your next trip to one of our nature reserves, why not take a few mindful moments to pause and capture your surroundings? Whether it's peaceful lakes, serene autumnal woodlands or colourful sunsets, we can't wait to see your entries this month.
Dave Bennion
It’s all change in the bird world! With the arrival of autumn, many of our summer visitors like swifts, swallows, martins and ospreys leave the UK for warmer shores and are replaced by other migrant birds seeking solace from colder winters overseas. Learn all about who's coming and going at this busy time of year, and keep your eye out for some new visitors!
Redwing by Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography
As well as the changing colours of the leaves, another of autumn's most colourful and fascinating sights is fungi.
There are over 15,000 species of fungi in the UK, and many of these can be seen in our region - in fact, over 200 species have been recorded at Mere Sands Wood Nature Reserve.
Why not sign up for our free fungi ID course to help you identify the species you see? You'll receive daily emails over 7 days, each packed with fascinating fungi facts and identification tips for some of our region's most common species.
Lisa Naylor
Hedgehogs will be busily searching for food and nesting sites this month in preparation for their winter hibernation, which usually starts from around November. Download our free Help a Hog guide below to discover simple ways you can give your local hedgehogs a helping hand during these crucial autumn months.
Nick Upton
Join our Guided Walk Leaders for a free, fascinating historical tour of Brockholes and our links to the local area. We'll have tales of the Lancashire Witches and Cromwell's time spent in the area!
The walk is at a gentle pace, with lots of stopping to look at points of interest.
As well as our Fylde Sand Dunes wildflower walk, we have plenty more events taking place along our beautiful coastline this September.
Come along to our Wyre Sea Watch session in Fleetwood on Thursday 3rd September where we'll be looking out for whales, seals, seabirds and more; join our Discover the Dunes guided walk in St Annes on Sunday 6th September, or take part in a community litter pick at our Fleetwood Beach Care session on Saturday 26th September.
John Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography
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