Volunteers play a vital role in ensuring the Forest of Bowland remains the beautiful, vibrant, diverse ecosystem we all know and love.
Quite simply, without a small army of volunteers, the National Landscape team would not be able to perform many of the important functions that ensure the landscapes of the Forest of Bowland remain open and accessible to the public.
From keeping up with footpath maintenance and keeping on top of non-native invasive species to conducting wildlife surveys, hedgelaying and dry stone walling, there is a never-ending list of jobs our volunteers help out with.
If any special skills are required, we can usually offer training and virtually all of our volunteering sessions are directly supervised by a member of the National Landscape team or associated professional.
We always make sure our volunteers are safe and have access to the appropriate tools and protective equipment and volunteers can commit as much as little time as they feel able to.
If you are interested in conserving and/or learning about the Bowland landscape and its wildlife and flora then we would be delighted to welcome you to our regular events and practical tasks. (The logo of the Friends of Bowland shows the flower Myosotis x bollandica – a variety of forget me not that was first identified in Bowland).
The Friends of Bowland plan to have at least one event every month, apart from December and January. We aim to have at least one task day every month – apart from Dec. We have walks and outdoor wildlife events in the spring, summer and autumn and talks as the days shorten. Both members and non members are welcome.
Practical tasks
We aim to have a pleasant day out doing some useful practical work. Tea/coffee, biscuits in the morning and soup and rolls provided for lunch on some tasks. Tools and gloves provided. All are welcome. We work till lunchtime – sometimes to 3pm but no problem if anyone wishes to come later or leave early. Task dates are generally the last Thursday of the month. Contact Martin Charlesworth for further details 01772 784692 or email friendsofbowland@gmail.com.
Alternative Adventure and Outdoor Activities Service
We deliver professionally run outdoor education and outdoor pursuits activities for the widest possible range of groups. Venues used are around the Lancashire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester area. This includes corporate events, management groups, Over 50's clubs, hen parties, stag ...
Bentham Golf Course is a picturesque, family-run 18 hole golf course situated at the foot of the Yorkshire Three Peaks. Previously described as ‘a Diamond of the Dales’, Bentham offers a challenge to golfers of all abilities and visitors are ...
As the Forest of Bowland’s reputation for artisan food spreads across the country, Katie Wilson at Bowland and Bay is showcasing some of Lancashire’s best artisan food and drink After 30 years in various tourism and buying roles, the pandemic ...
Nestling beside the River Hodder in a remote valley beneath the rugged ridgeline of the Bleasdale Fells, Bowland Wild Boar Park maintains a tradition dating back to the middle ages – along with a host of fun activities for the ...
The Parker family has been associated with the Forest of Bowland for more than five centuries and their family seat of historic Browsholme Hall is the oldest family home in continuous occupation in Lancashire. Browsholme Hall is a magnificent Grade ...
I’m a watercolour artist and illustrator and I also have a lovely little shop/studio at Wyresdale Park, where I sell my artwork and also hold watercolour workshops. I specialise in nursery and children’s artwork, inspired by animals, nature and all ...
Michelin-trained chef Dominique Ashford has tuned into the slower rhythms of nature after swapping the top end restaurants of London for wild food and foraging in the Forest of Bowland For a really wild adventure in one of the most ...
Richard and Rachel Trenchard were quietly building a widely admired brand of artisan gin, distilled and rooted in the landscapes of Bowland – and then the Hairy Bikers dropped in for a quick G&T… After developing an interest in handcrafted ...
Experienced naturalist and active conservationist Gemma Wren leads small groups on bespoke nature tours of Morecambe Bay and its diverse range of habitats. Owned and operated by practising environment consultant Gemma Wren, NaturesGems Tours offers immersive wildlife experiences in some ...
Based in Dunsop Bridge in the heart of the Forest of Bowland, Ribble Valley e-bikes has a fleet of electric bikes available for visitors to hire and explore Bowland straight from the shop. Ribble Valley E-bike Hire is based in ...
Conveniently located just a 200m walk from Silverdale station, Leighton Moss is one of the RSPB’s most accessible reserves and home to a host of spectacular wildlife, from marsh harriers and ospreys to red deer and otters. Conveniently located just ...
Smelt Mill provides accommodation for groups in the heart of the Forest of Bowland National Landscape. It is ideally located for outdoor activities such as walking, mountain biking and bird watching. Rooms – 5 x 2 beds, 3 x 4 ...
The finest cheese - delivered to your door. It's no wonder The Daily Telegraph lists The Courtyard Dairy as one of the Top 10 Cheese Shops in the World. The Courtyard Dairy is a truly special cheese maturer and shop. ...
After returning to her childhood home, natural therapist Helen Leece established a centre for wellbeing and renewal high among the hills on the western fringe of the Forest of Bowland. The Gathering Fields is a rural Retreat centre teaching Yoga, ...
For big skies, wide open spaces and the perfect environment for rewilding yourself, head over to the windswept salt marshes of the Lancashire coast, where the Forest of Bowland meets the sea! After travelling the world with a high-powered job ...
Deep in the heart of the Forest Bowland’s famed ‘Lancashire cheese triangle’, a traditional dairy farming family are ploughing their own furrow by producing a distinctive artisan gin with deep roots in the local landscape Founded in 2019 as part ...
Our family have farmed here for over 100 years. It is a traditional hill farm, with beef and sheep, set in the beauty and tranquility of this unspoilt area in rural Lancashire. We believe in preserving the best of traditional ...
