Project summary:
Funding was awarded from English Nature’s Wildspace! to support the employment of a Local Nature Reserves Officer for Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. The Officer will support and advise the Council in the designation of five sites within the Borough as Local Nature Reserves.

The sites are scattered over the Borough but two are very close to each other, the largest of these being the River Darwen Parkway. When it is designated, this site will be the first Local Nature Reserve within Blackburn with Darwen.

The aims of the project include:

• Assisting the Local Authority in the designation of Local Nature Reserves, these have been selected with proximity to disadvantaged communities in mind. The local people living around the sites are being encouraged to use them and have a greater understanding of and participation in biodiversity issues.
• The sites are being used for local schools and community groups and the importance of utilising the areas for education has been stressed at every opportunity. The production of an education guide is currently underway and should be ready for use early next year.
• Other aims of the project include offering volunteering and training opportunities to local people. This has been launched by the production of a leaflet detailing ongoing projects within the Borough. The project lacks any ‘long-term’ literature and this is to be addressed in the near future.

Practical work on the sites has started and tasks including path clearing and improving the pond areas have been enjoyed by many local young people. The River Darwen Parkway has many areas of heathland within it, this was recently mapped and voluntary work will start on conserving and enhancing the areas very soon.

Currently there is one ‘Friends of.....’ group, this being for the River Darwen Parkway. The group meets monthly and are keen to raise awareness of the site. Work has been done to encourage another group to form for the Highercroft Woods site and an open meeting is to be held shortly.

The area is home to a diversity of habitats with 25 being recorded in the 1991 habitat survey. The site has been left unmanaged for several years, although it has had major restoration works carried out on it previously, it has been prone to vandalism and public perception is now very negative.

Highercroft Woods - This site touches the River Darwen Parkway at one corner but the sites are physically separated by the railway. The communities using this site differ to those who use the Parkway. There is increasing interest from the local people concerning this site and a meeting is to be held to encourage the formation of a ‘Friends of....’ group very shortly.

Highercroft Woods comprises a mosaic of habitats with 23 recorded in the 1991 habitat survey. The Woods has a brook running North to South throughout the site and is banked by some areas of relatively steep slopes. Where these are inaccessible and undisturbed some interesting species are supported.

Arran Trail - The Arran Trail at Shadsworth is a wildlife corridor covering approx 4ha and running alongside the Shadsworth housing estate. Knuzden Brook runs through the site and supports a range of habitats both planted and natural. Most of the area is semi-natural grassland and there are three man-made ponds within the site, which have developed into a significant wildlife area.

The site has well maintained paths that are suitable for pushchairs and cycles. The Wildlife Trust has worked with the local community to improve the area and encourage use by groups and local schools.

Pleasington Old Hall Woods - The reserve covers an area approx 4ha. It is bounded to the East by the main cemetery road, so the potential for visitors to the site is very high. The reserve has a walled butterfly garden, planted with a variety of trees, shrubs and grasslands to promote butterfly conservation.

It is intended that Pleasington will become an excellent outdoor resource for the local schools and would also provide a peaceful place for people visiting the cemetery. The site is in need of improvements including work to the pond and enhancement of the butterfly gardens.

Sunnyhurst Woods - The woods are in the North West of Darwen and cover approx 37ha. The area consists of broadleaved and mixed, semi-natural and planted woodland clough. To the South the site has a mosaic of acid/heath with scattered scrub.

There is a visitor centre which is well used by local people. Much more could be done with this site, and it lies close to a number of primary and two secondary schools. The ‘Friends of....’ group is extremely committed to the site and has made many improvements.