Spring watching in South Ribble
Spring officially begins on 20 March this year - and noticing the change of the seasons is one of life's greatest natural pleasures.
In South Ribble, we're blessed with beautiful natural landscapes - so when it comes to places to spring watch as the days get longer and the air gets warmer you're spoilt for choice.
Here are some of our suggestions to enjoy the joys of spring...
Park yourself at Cuerden
Cuerden Valley Park has over 650 acres of green land for you to enjoy watching nature and its beauty.
Known locally as Cuerden, the park is owned and managed by the Cuerden Valley Park Trust that are committed to maintaining the beauty and safety of the landscape.
The river Lostock flows through the park and has already welcomed a lesser spotted animal this year - the Chinese goose, spotted in the park at the start of February 2023.
It's the flowers of Cuerden that take centre stage during the spring, as the woods begin to flex their beauty with primroses, daffodils, and a carpet of bluebells.
Towards the end of spring, you'll be able to spot the bee orchids appear in the meadows and the cuckooflowers in the hedgerows.
The immergence of these flowers indicates the impending arrival of the orange tip and common blue butterflies on the hunt for nectar.
Community health walks happen every Tuesday and Thursday at 10am if you want some company on your spring watch, just meet at Berkley Drive car park near the sun dial.
When you've taken in enough off the park's serenity, head over to the café in the visitor centre for a sandwich, a coffee or even some Walling's ice cream. It will be spring after all.
Reserve your spot at Longton Brickcroft
Longton Brickcroft Nature Reserve is a dream location for nature lovers all year round and the arrival of spring makes it a great spot to witness the seasonal migration.
The range of birds, insects, and fish on display at Brickcroft is mesmerising!
Geese, ducks and waterfowl brave the cold winters and enjoy the nature reserve all year round, but some birds spend the colder months by the coast or in mainland Europe (lucky).
The great crested grebe spends the winter in more coastal areas of the country but has begun to reappear for breeding season.
February saw some brilliant shots of birds, including the black headed gull and a reed bunting spotted by a visitor. Send some nature shots to the Discover South Ribble Facebook pages. We'd love to see and share them.
There are several events put on by the reserve and the local community to teach people about the natural phenomena like animal migration, with the 'High Tide Walk' set for March 24 - just after the official start of spring.
Wildlife sanctuary
Worden Park is a sanctuary for wildlife due to the range of terrain and environments within the grounds.
The 148-acre park has vast green lands full of wildflowers and timeless trees, sat alongside a deep woodland with a stream running through it.
Worden's greenery is a hit with all canine visitors thanks to its expansive and well-maintained land.
This eclectic blend of nature encourages wildlife like ducks, frogs, and toads to share the marshier land - so for those pooches who like to paddle, there's a dog rinsing station as you leave the park!
Our favourite way to notice the seasonal progression of the park is the woodland.
The natural makeup of the park allows pathways to pass under rows of trees, immersing you in the woodland walkway for a brief period or in an extended capacity.
Across the next few months, you will be able to see spring springing as the woodlands regain their leaves for the year.
All of the listed South Ribble spring watching spots are accessible to dogs and bikes, so get yourself out there and watch the world change in real time.
If this blog inspired you to go spring watching, tag @discoversouthribble on Facebook and Instagram in your best wildlife shots!