Brookside (Bury Meadows) Public Consultation

Following the purchase of the 87-acre Brookside site in Stanhill Village, Hyndburn Borough Council have partnered with the PROSPECTS Foundation, Lancashire Wildlife Trust, Stanhill Village Community Association, the Ribble Rivers Trust, and Proffitts CIC to transform the space.

We believe that Brookside has huge natural habitat value already and potential for wider public benefit. Our focus for the next 18 months is on creating a masterplan that could transform the space into somewhere local people can enjoy nature and outdoor activities, as well as tackle and achieve radical climate action changes by improving biodiversity, habitat recovery and carbon capture throughout the site.

Together with our partners and volunteers we will be:

Supporting volunteer activities and establishing a conservation group
Surveying the animals, plants, and fungi
Testing the soils around the site and water quality in the existing lodges and in Lottice Brook
Investigating ways to connect the site to existing paths and cycle routes
Removing invasive species to promote ecosystem health
Improving signage, fencing, and paths
Calculating carbon capture onsite and carbon footprint of activities
Consulting with disability groups to ensure that Brookside will be a space for everyone
Engaging with the local community, to make sure everyone can have their say on the plans

This 18-month project has been funded by the National Lottery Climate Action Fund, the Windfall Fund and Hyndburn Borough Council.

This is a long term project, but it presents an amazing opportunity to make real and lasting changes to the environment and the communities surrounding Brookside. As you can see from the draft plan below, the working group has already identified some key improvements that could help us do this but we would like to get your feedback and see if there is anything else that you think should be included.

Thank you for taking the time to answer these very quick questions and share your ideas. If you would like to see a larger version of the draft plan, and keep up to date with the project, you can do that here: PROSPECTS or here: Brookside Project Updates

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Brookside (Bury Meadows)

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* 1. Do you currently visit Brookside (Bury Meadows)?

Yes

If you answered yes, please tell us why you visit.
If you answered no, please tell us why you don't visit.

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* 2. If you do visit, please tell us how you reach the site.

Walk

Drive (Car or Motorbike)

Cycle

Use Public Transport

Other

If you selected Other, please let us know how you reach the site:

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* 3. Improvement works currently fall in to 5 key work groups (listed below). Of these groups, please let us know what your top 3 priorities for improvement would be.

Environment and Climate Action (this includes woodland management works, tree planting, meadow projects to improve biodiversity across the site and also the management of lodges, streams, and wetland areas for wildlife)

Visitor Activities (exactly what is possible will be advised by site condition surveys, but potential activities may include walk trails, better cycle routes, rock climbing, horse riding and the introduction of water based activities like fishing, canoeing and wild swimming)

Education (the provision of a forest school area and / or outdoor education spaces for children to learn about nature)

Heritage (projects to protect and promote the rich industrial heritage of the site. This may also include archaeology projects or practical workshops to teach heritage skills such as dry stone walling to volunteers )

Community (providing space for, and encouraging, the local community to use the site as an outdoor space for meeting friends and family, somewhere to meet their clubs and groups for outdoor sessions, and as a space for community celebrations and fun days)

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* 4. Do you think that anything else needs to be included in the plan for Brookside (Bury Meadows)? If you do, please tell us here. Your ideas can be related to the 5 categories mentioned above, or you can suggest something new that we should consider.

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* 5. Do you think that you / your family would use the Brookside (Bury Meadows) site more if it was improved?

Yes

Comments:

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* 6. During the development phase of the project, several community events will take place to introduce people to the site and help them understand how this space can help tackle climate issues locally. Activities include clean up events, bat box making, dead hedge building, ash dieback training, heritage walks and talks, family visits, and bug hunting sessions Do you think you / your family would be interested in taking part in these types of activities?

Yes

Comments:

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* 7. If you would you like to be kept up to date about the progress of the project, or if you would like to get involved in any way, please leave your email address below.

Please note that details will be kept for the purpose of this project only.

Email Address:

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Brookside (Bury Meadows)

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* 1. Do you currently visit Brookside (Bury Meadows)?

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* 2. If you do visit, please tell us how you reach the site.

Question Title

* 3. Improvement works currently fall in to 5 key work groups (listed below). Of these groups, please let us know what your top 3 priorities for improvement would be.

Question Title

* 4. Do you think that anything else needs to be included in the plan for Brookside (Bury Meadows)? If you do, please tell us here. Your ideas can be related to the 5 categories mentioned above, or you can suggest something new that we should consider.

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* 5. Do you think that you / your family would use the Brookside (Bury Meadows) site more if it was improved?

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* 7. If you would you like to be kept up to date about the progress of the project, or if you would like to get involved in any way, please leave your email address below.Please note that details will be kept for the purpose of this project only.

* 7. If you would you like to be kept up to date about the progress of the project, or if you would like to get involved in any way, please leave your email address below.

Please note that details will be kept for the purpose of this project only.