Brockholes is a nature reserve near Preston, just off Junction 31 of the M6 motorway. It is owned by the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside.



Situated in the flood-plain of the river Ribble, Brockholes contains one of the largest strips of ancient woodland in the UK, a species-rich hay meadow, large wetland areas and the beautiful River Ribble running along the edge of the site. Which was previously a major quarry extraction site. Sand and gravel were quarried here from 1996 until 2007 when the land was bought by the Trust. Since then, it has been regenerated as a mosaic of key habitats such as pools, reedbeds and woodland; the reserve opened to the public at Easter 2011.



The reserve is aimed less at dedicated bird-watchers and nature lovers than the general public of the big cities.



Link documents the development of the land from a huge quarrying site to the nature reserve.