At thirteen hectares, Scutchers Acres is a nature reserve made up of a rich mosaic of habitats including woodland, meadow, hedgerows, river habitat and a traditional orchard. Once a tree nursery, the site has been transformed into a haven for wildlife and an important piece of the local landscape.
Reserve of the month - Scutchers Acres
Apples at Scutchers Acres - credit Jenny Bennion
A special place where nature, people and a lasting legacy come together. Tucked away near Burscough in West Lancashire, the reserve is a special place for wildlife.
The reserve is a space purely for wildlife
The reserve is a privately owned site where Lancashire Wildlife Trust supports conservation land management. Its protection and management have been secured as part of a living legacy, demonstrating how an individual's passion for nature can help safeguard a special place for generations to come.
It is a wonderful example of how conservation doesn't always have to mean creating somewhere for thousands of people to visit. Sometimes the greatest gift we can give wildlife is simply to give nature the space, time and care it needs to thrive.
One of the apple trees at Scutchers Acres - Jenny Bennion
From tree nursery to wildlife haven
Scutchers Acres has a fascinating history. The land was formerly used as a tree nursery, but today it supports a diverse mixture of habitats. Its woodland provides shelter and nesting opportunities, while the meadow and hedgerows offer valuable habitat for insects, birds and mammals.
One of the site's most distinctive features is its traditional orchard. Established in 2011, the orchard contains more than 70 fruit trees, including apples, pears, plums and damsons. Many of the trees are now well established and can produce substantial quantities of fruit.
The orchard sits within a wildflower meadow, creating a wonderful combination of food production and wildlife habitat. When the trees are flowering, they provide an important source of nectar and pollen for pollinating insects, while the surrounding meadow supports a much wider variety of plants and invertebrates.
Swin harvesting apples at Scutchers Acres to be donated to local foodbanks - Jenny Bennion
A harvest that helps people too
The story of Scutchers Acres doesn't stop with wildlife. Each year, volunteers help harvest fruit from the orchard, with a large quantity of fresh, locally grown produce being made available to people who need it.
Fruit from the orchard has been donated to food banks and community organisations across West Lancashire, helping to turn a conservation project into something that also benefits the wider community. It is a beautiful illustration of what can happen when we allow nature and people to benefit from the same piece of land.
Volunteers Bev, Dot & Ann, along with Swin, at the Burscough Food Bank ready to share donated apples from Scutchers Acres - Jenny Bennion
What is a living legacy?
A living legacy is a way of making a meaningful contribution to wildlife during your lifetime, while helping to secure benefits that can continue long into the future. For someone who loves wildlife, it can be incredibly rewarding to see the difference their generosity makes now.
Scutchers Acres demonstrates how this kind of support can help protect and manage land over the long term. The Trust has previously described the site as a legacy site, working alongside the landowner to support its management, with dedicated resources helping to ensure its future.
If you would like to explore how you could create your own living legacy for Lancashire's wildlife, you can find out more about leaving a gift to the Trust or contact the fundraising team here to discuss your wishes.