Our Parks

The lodges were originally dug out in the latter half of the 1800’s to supply water for steam trains using the Liverpool to Blackburn and Accrington line. The lodges are owned by SRBC, but the waters are leased out to Withnell Angling Club.

There’s been a Friends group at the lodges for at least 10 years with the volunteers doing regular litter picks and maintaining the footpaths by trimming back encroaching scrub and overhanging branches along the path. Work by the Friends enhances the areas ecology and biodiversity, helping wildlife and making it a better space for walkers. The Friends meet up on the 1st Tuesday of the month from 10.00 – 12.00

Farington Park is a small,4.52 hectares, well maintained urban park. It has a modern play area, playing fields, meadows and a small, wooded area with both mature and newly planted trees. The old mill pond is run in conjunction with a local angling club and is a haven for wildlife.

The Friends of Farington Park were formed in 2015 and are local volunteers who help maintain and improve the park. Depending on the season/weather the volunteers help by performing regular litter picks, cutting back undergrowth, coppicing small trees, planting bulbs, installing bird and bat boxes and some pond maintenance.

Hurst Grange Park is in Penwortham and was once the estate of Hurst Grange Mansion. Covering an area of 15.5 hectares the park features specimen trees, wildflower meadows, woodlands and ponds. The park also has a children’s playground and a café within the newly restored historic Coach House.

The Friends of Hurst Grange Park was initially formed in 2003, it consisted of 6 people and a dog. It slowly grew and in 2005 we were awarded our first “Green Flag Award “, and we have retained it every year since then. Over the last 10 plus years we have been fundraising for the restoration of the Coach House. It was a joint application with SRBC to the National Lottery Heritage fund and after jumping through many Hoops we were successful.

Longton Brickcroft Nature Reserve was developed in the early 1980’s on the site of the former Bentley Brickworks and was officially declared a nature reserve in December 1998. Over the years it has become a beautiful and treasured amenity within the borough of South Ribble. A notable feature of the reserve is the conservation of the flora and fauna, which is greatly appreciated by visitors. The reserve is managed by an onsite Officer employed by SRBC, with support from various services at SRBC and help from a dedicated team of volunteers.

Written records of volunteers supporting the Brickcroft date back to at least 1996. The Brickcroft has a diverse range of volunteers and there is rewarding work to suit everyone. The volunteers are led by an officer, who respects the knowledge, skills and abilities that they bring to the reserve, thus making everyone feel valued and appreciated. The volunteers enjoy working together and learning from the officer and fellow volunteers. New volunteers are always made very welcome.

What? A group of local volunteers who enjoy working on environmental projects.

Where? Between Pope Lane and Marsh Way Penwortham

The Friends of Marsh Way Pond (FMWP) group was founded in 2011 at the instigation of South Ribble Borough Council, who own and maintain it. In the first few years we looked after the pond only, as it was the target of littering and vandalism, but as membership increased, we took on the care of all this small park.

It is a mix of grassed areas and woodlands, with paths, two flowerbeds, shrubs, and an ancient pond. The two flowerbeds are maintained by the Friends, and we have planted flag iris and lesser reedmace in the pond margins. The pond is habitat for breeding frogs and newts and in the past has been home to moorhens, but for the last few years it is dominated by a variety of waterfowl, mainly mallard but occasionally visited by a pair of Mandarin ducks.

Paradise Park is part of a network of open spaces and footpaths that forms part of a circular walking and horse-riding route around the Moss Side area of Leyland. It is bordered by a disused test track to the north, now housing development, and an area of social and private housing to the south. Despite years of neglect wildlife in the area is thriving.

The Friends of Paradise Park was formed in 2013 after request from residents for some action to be taken to combat the antisocial behaviour that was occurring in the park. For the first 6 months, the Friends concentrated on cleaning up the park. We had two 6-hour volunteer days a month and work included cleaning out the pond, building a new dipping platform, clearing out the drainage ditches, renovating the bridges over the drainage ditches, improving sight lines across the park by layering hedges, crown raising trees, and some thinning of the glades.

The Friends of Strawberry Valley Park was set up in 2018, after an online petition ‘Bent Lane Needs a Playground’ gained hundreds of signatures. With just a tyre swing and battered football cage, the park could offer so much more.

The ‘Friends’ worked tirelessly with SRBC Officers to raise the money required for a new playground, and their dedication paid off.

The park is now home to a state-of-the-art playground and football/basketball cage – it’s brought so many children outside to play. It’s brought the area back to life. A lot of parents have commented on how their children would go straight from school and onto their computer games – now they want to be outside, on the park, instead. Outside play really is everything.

Walton Park is a series of woodland paths around a central pond located on land sandwiched between The Preston Junction Nature Reserve and the Walton Park housing estate. The main pond was dug around an existing stream to manage water run-off from the housing estate. Additional ponds around the site attract a wide variety of wildlife, especially newts, frogs and dragonflies.

The Friends of Walton Park was formed in 2006 and is largely responsible for the park as we see it today. Applying for various grants, Lottery fund, Lancashire Environmental Fund and local members grants, the ‘Friends’ have been able to achieve several projects, including viewing platforms, woodland path, bug hotel, raised flower beds, installing information panels around the park, building a hibernaculum and bog walk.

The volunteers meet up for 2 hours on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, 10.00 -12.00 and depending on the season or weather tasks can include litter picking, bulb planting, pruning, hedge laying, bird box making, pond management, path work and much more.

Recently given the Green Flag Award, at 15.8 hectares, Withy Grove Park is the largest green space in Bamber Bridge and is a major sports hub. A well-maintained urban park divided into two main sections.

The area around the leisure centre has the sports pitches and play area and beyond that is a mixture of wildflower meadows, 3 ponds and woodland consisting of both mature and newly planted trees.

The Friends of Withy Grove Park was formed in 2007 and meet up on the 3rd Saturday of every month, from 10.00 – 12.00. The various tasks carried out by the group include litter picking, bulb and tree planting, cutting back undergrowth, hedge laying, bird box making and pond management.

Worden Park is located on the outskirts of Leyland, less than a quarter of a mile from the town centre. The park offers more than 60 hectares of meadows, woodlands, playing fields, several natural ponds, a brook along its southern border and a range of attractions in its historic grounds. Some of the park’s features include a children’s playground, a model railway, a craft centre, Worden Hall, historic gardens, a hedge maze, a walled kitchen garden, an orienteering course, mini-golf, sports pitches and an arboretum.

The park has held the Green Flag Award since the scheme began in 1997, the only site north of London to have done so.

The Friends of Worden Park have been involved in the upkeep and enjoyment of the park since 2006. They complete a variety of tasks including planting, conservation and litter picking. They are also involved in several other activities including bat, bird and butterfly surveys.

If you are interested in joining any of our Friends Groups or just want to find out more about how you can help or get involved, then please complete and submit the form and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

For more information about the role please contact:

Email Us: info@friendsofsouthribbleparks.co.uk