Best Nature and Wildlife Areas in Ashton-on-Ribble

"Although it may feel a million miles away from Blackpool’s bustling Promenade, the beautiful and tranquil nature reserve at Marton Mere is just a 20-minute drive from the town centre. A lovely place for all the family to visit, the reserve is free to enter and open all year round. The terrain is flat and features open water habitats, reed beds, and grassland."

"If you want to get away from the loud entertainment, this local nature reserve is the perfect place for you. The Marton Mere Local Nature Reserve is a big lake which is surrounded by grasslands, scrubs, and pockets of woodland. It is the best place to wine down and be engulfed in the sights and sounds of nature."

"Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve is a place brimming in an abundance of the many wildlife that you can find in this area. A nature reserve consisted of wetlands and tillable land, this is certainly the best place to be closer to nature with the thriving population of different birds and water voles. From spot marsh harriers, barn owls, sparrowhawks and peregrine falcons, as well as, lapwings, redshank, dunlin and oystercatchers you would certainly feel amazed exploring the place and the wildlife known in the area."

"Nestling alongside the River Alt, Lunt Village is home to this peaceful haven of wildlife and tranquility. You’ll find an assortment of inhabitants at this bird-watching site; from water birds to barn owls, geese and kestrels, as you make your way around signposted paths at this wonderful wetland nature reserve. Further details here"

"A post shared by Miš Lov (@mish_lov) on Jul 16, 2018 at 8:07am PDT. Lunt Meadows is a little-explored, quiet wetland reserve perfect for kids, walkers, and twitchers. There’s even a chance to explore an active archegonial site, woodlands, and go for a stroll along the banks of the River Alt."

"Treat the family to a day out at Brockholes, boasting the UK’s first floating visitor village and the 250-acre Lancashire Wildlife Trust nature reserve. Whilst you’re ambling along the River Ribble and the nearby lakes, keep your eyes peeled for wildlife. What’s more, you’ll be able to visit year-round with free admission!"

"The Trafford Ecology Park is tucked away in the industrial Trafford Park behind an oil depot and is a registered Biological Important site and a true oasis of wildlife. The park is spread across an area of eleven acres and is a true delight for a nature enthusiast."

"This Welsh doughnut shop in the Northern Quarter offers melt-in-your-mouth doughnuts made on-site by Blawd bakery including inventive flavours such as apple crumble, maple pecan glaze, cherry bakewell and strawberries and cream. For National Doughnut Week there are rhubarb, vanilla and raspberry fills all week long, or try their mango lassi edition –  a special collaboration with indian street food specialists Bundobust. This unique cardamom doughnut sandwich with an Alphonso mango cream is glazed and topped with candied fennel seeds, and all proceeds go to The Children’s Trust."

"Blawd bakery made a name for itself making some of the best cakes and doughnuts in Manchester. Previously working from a basement kitchen in Common, the superstar bakers have expanded with the launch of their first cafe, SiOP SHOP. Owned by Iwan Roberts and Lucy Jackson, the bakery and café on Tib Street is set to launch soon, serving a range of breakfast and lunch dishes alongside their famous bakes."

"The Creameries’ chef-patron Mary-Ellen McTague has been a well-loved force in the Manchester food scene for a number of years now. The Creameries is situated down in Chorlton and is open from lunch to dinner serving up freshly baked breads, homemade charcuterie, local cheeses and fine wines. Oh, and that’s just the start of it."