Best Nature and Wildlife Areas in Blackburn

"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."

"Another Instagrammable spot in Manchester that is located in the heart of the Northern Quarter is Evelyn’s. Evelyn’s is a perfect place for brunch and it has a wide variety of dishes with a twist and a big plant-based section. I don’t know if I already told you in the previous posts, but Manchester is actually a vegetarian capital of the UK, so if you’re a vegan or a vegetarian, you will love going out in Manchester!"

"Breakfast with a twist, Evelyn’s serves menus for every meal in their all-day neighbourhood restaurant. The chefs take full advantage of the spot’s global influences, in particular Asian, infusing things like Kimchi and tandoori with American-style dishes. The vibrant spot is incredibly pretty, with whitewashed wood and a whole lotta plants decorating every free bit of wall space."

"If one place personifies the bohemian feel of Manchester's Northern Quarter, Evelyn’s Cafe Bar is it. With extensive breakfast, day, evening and Sunday menus, one visit won't be enough to enjoy all the amazing food available here. All produce is prepared with fresh ingredients, including a plethora of vegan and and gluten free options."

"Based in Prestwich, The Cheesefake Company makes vegan cheesecakes for collection from their HQ daily and from the city centre on Wednesdays. Toppings include Biscoff, Chocolate Orange, Oreo, Banoffee, Black Forest, Lemon Meringue and Jammy Dodger. Visit their website for details on how to order: cheesefake.co.uk/shop."

"Contemporary Six – The Gallery is a leading independent art gallery located in the heart of the city centre of Manchester opposite the beautiful Town Hall. Established in 2010 by Alex Reuben, the gallery is known for offering a warm and friendly welcome to art enthusiasts, collectors, and new visitors and explorers to the city. Specialising in original paintings, landscapes, portraits, abstracts handmade prints, sculptures, and ceramics."

"From Darrell Evanes’ scrap metal sculpture to Matthew Bourne’s natural abstracts, Contemporary Six’s repertoire is all encompassing. Having outgrown its former location of Royal Exchange Arcade, the gallery - founded by Alex Reuben in 2010 - now occupies an airy space on Princess Street, where it represents around 40 artists. Best feature: Contemporary Six offers the Own Art Scheme, which allows buyers to pay in monthly instalments"

"CFCCA is the UK leader in Chinese visual culture, with a reputation for debut solo exhibitions and a roster of internationally-renowned artists; impressive considering that, three decades ago, it was just a series of events in Manchester’s Chinatown. As Manchester’s Chinese population is second only to London’s, the centre’s heritage is particularly important; now represented in a new archive and library. Best feature: A vibrant events schedule, spanning film screenings to workshops and even Mandarin lessons"

"Centre For Chinese Contemporary Art is a unique art gallery with a year-round programme of socially engaged exhibitions, events, and artist residencies. They have over 30 years experience of working with emerging and established artists to provide a space for conversation, debate, and cross-cultural exchange. They are the go-to place to discover new artists and explore relevant global issues from different international perspectives."

"Manchester's Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art will reopen both of its galleries on Wednesday May 19. Exhibitions Multiplicities in Flux and Autopsy of a Home, which originally opened in October, will be back until June 13. Booking is advised at cfcca.org.uk but walk-ups are welcome."

"A superb collection of British art and a hefty number of European masters are the highlights at the city's top art gallery. It's home to the best assemblage of Pre-Raphaelite art as well as a permanent collection of pre-17th-century art, mostly by Dutch and early Renaissance masters. It also hosts exciting exhibitions of modern and contemporary art. The gallery runs a free hour-long highlights tour from 2pm to 3pm Thursday to Sunday."

"Fresh from a £35m renovation, Manchester Art Gallery is well worth a visit for art lovers, and the merely curious. Manchester Art Gallery Exterior. With more than 25,000 objects in their collections, including 13,000 pieces of fine art, and another 13,000 in the craft and design collection - there’s certainly lots to enjoy."

"The Ale Inventory at The Botanist MediaCityUK features Munich Gold, Daura Damm, Asahi Super Dry, Hells Lager and Alhambra Reserva 1925. And on the cocktail menu, you'll find a range of inventive cocktails inspired by British flavours. Drinks include English Mojito made from Bombay Dry Gin, apple liqueur, vanilla syrup, cucumber and fresh mint with apple and lime juices; Smoked Birch Old Fashioned made from Money shoulder whisky, Freya Birch spirit, fir tree liqueur, orange bitters and demerara sugar; and Poppy and Pomegranate Martini consisting of Ciroc red berry vodka, poppy and raspberry liqueur, basil syrup, pomegranata and lemon juice."

"A ‘secret garden of food and drink’ set in the centre of MediaCityUK, The Botanist is opening its terrace for bookings and walk-ins from 15th April. From kebabs to bottomless brunches, along with gorgeous views of the Salford Quays, The Botanist has it all."

"The Botanist have a fresh new offering for brunch that you can upgrade to bottomless brunch if you would like (and what’s not to like?). You choose a dish from six different sections of the menu – each section has three options."

"FoodWell is a Californian inspired restaurant with a 'mindful' menu that offers colourful plates of feel good food. For breakfast and brunch, guests can choose dishes like winter spiced granola brown with mulled poached pear and burnt orange, sweet miso granola and coconut yogurt. The restaurant also offers its own take on a Full English breakfast - featuring smashed avocado, onion, jalapeño and lime spread on toasted charcoal sourdough with your choice of poached eggs, streaky bacon, grilled halloumi and smoked salmon."

"Bringing a slice of sunny LA to Manchester, FoodWell is a unique concept restaurant based in Salford. The large warehouse space isn't just about food, though don't miss out on its all-day menu of healthy bites, as it offers experiences like reggae yoga supper clubs and sensory high teas."

"Your place for a guilt-free healthy breakfast is at FoodWell in Manchester. Inspired by the Los Angeles wellness culture, this restaurant is serving up delicious meals with health in mind. They have a separate menu for anyone that wants to enjoy a plant-based meal."

"The Allotment’s Matt Nutter won the title of Chef of the Year at the Manchester Food and Drink Awards 2017 for his sophisticated take on vegan cooking at this simple Stockport bistro. The ten-course tasting menu is packed with creative dishes, including signature shiitake mushroom parfait and a hibiscus, fennel and beetroot dessert."

"If yiou fancy a country escape but can't get out of the city, this is the quirky restart in Manchester for you. Join Allotment for botanical-inspired cocktails and rustic British plates while relaxing against a backdrop of foliage, wooden plots and gardening tools."

"Allotment is just a really cute place to have a meal and take a few snaps as you recline in rustic interiors surrounded by beautiful botany."