Visitors flock to new Brockholes centre

There were 12,000 visitors to the Brockholes wetlands nature reserve in the first weeks three after opening at Easter, according to Lancashire Wildlife Trust. (GALLERY)

Brockholes was created in a former gravel quarry in Salmesbury, near Preston, on junction 31 of the M6. The site was already popular with migrating birds following the River Ribble inland from the Irish Sea for its diverse grassland, meadow and wetland habitats. There are over 50 breeding species of bird and 100 wintering species recorded on site each year at Brockholes.

The 260-acre reserve now features a floating visitor centre of five wooden barn-like buildings on a pontoon, designed by London-based architect Adam Khan.

The £8.6m visitor centre project was funded by the North West Development Agency, landowner Lancashire Wildlife Trust and the Forestry Commission. The separate buildings contain a shop, restaurant, classroom and conference room. Mansell Construction and Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering were the main contractors.

• See the Brockholes website for more details

Images by Jason Lock

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