Every summer I can remember, Brockholes nature reserve was a visit I treasured. The fields filled with flowers, the trees lush with leaves, and birdsong filled the air.
But I wondered whether the wetland and woodland nature reserve, previously a sand and gravel quarry, would hold its charm during the winter.
But I wondered whether the wetland and woodland nature reserve, previously a sand and gravel quarry, would hold its charm during the winter.
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00:00Hi, my name is Samaya for the Lancashire Evening Post and today I'm going to be going to Brockholz,
00:05a nature reserve in Preston, to see what it's really like during the winter.
00:09I think it's a common misconception that during the winter you can't really enjoy nature or go out on walks
00:14and see the full wildlife opportunities that Preston has to offer, but I disagree.
00:21And today I'm going to try and prove it.
00:24I'm currently on my way to Brockholz. It's a lovely sunny day, about six degrees,
00:29and I'm really excited.
00:32After a short bus journey which dropped me off at the Macdonald Tickle Trout Hotel,
00:37I began the 30-minute walk along the River Ribble, following Love Rose Way.
00:43Although the walk was long, it was incredibly picturesque, with views of the river,
00:47vast farmland and people fishing on the banks.
00:51There is a £5 charge for people driving to Brockholz who wish to park there,
00:56but entry itself is free, so after following signs, I walked into the reserve.
01:03There are several walking trails around Brockholz.
01:06One circles the Visitor Village and Adventure Play Area, which I loved as a child due to the thrilling zipline,
01:11but there are also trails around Ribbleton and Nook Pools, the Number One Pit Lake and the Meadow Lake.
01:18This here is the Meadow Lake with the Visitor Centre.
01:21The lakes are filled with swans and aquatic life
01:24around muddy islands implemented to encourage wildlife habitats.
01:34I took the trail around the Number One Pit Lake to see the view from the lookout centre.
01:39Unfortunately, the glass was a bit fogged up,
01:41so I ventured back outside to take pictures of the swans, which I love.
01:47I'm in Brockholz now, and it's just so nice to be able to stand and sit in nature,
01:53just listening to the birds, watching the swans, so, so gorgeous, and the sun is shining.
01:59It's cold, it is cold, I won't lie, but it's so nice just to be out in the winter sun
02:06and to get your kind of vitamin D as much as you can.
02:09I think also living in the city of Preston, you kind of forget that there is no winter sun,
02:14you kind of forget that there is nature all around you.
02:17There's like a teeny little bird up in that tree over there.
02:26Now I'm gonna head over to their Visitor Centre and see what they've got going on over there.
02:35The sun is just insane right now, I'm actually loving it.
02:39Behind me is the Visitor Centre, and I guess the selling point of the Visitor Centre,
02:43as you'll see in a bit, is that it looks like it's floating on water,
02:48which makes it a really nice destination for weddings and parties and that sort of thing.
02:53In the Visitor Centre, which is built on the Meadow Lake, there's a pier overlooking the
02:57wildlife, as well as a restaurant cafe, activity centres, conference rooms and children's playrooms.
03:05As you can see, the lake is filled with aquatic life, and again, swans, and I love swans,
03:11but after a bit of meandering, I did have to get home, so I began the 30-minute
03:16journey across the field and around the river, which was a beautiful walk.
03:20All in all, Brockholes was a 10 out of 10 winter day experience, and I cannot
03:25wait to return in the spring when everything's blooming and gorgeous again.