Brockholes Nature Reserve
A nature reserve with a visitor village that floats on the lake. Genuinely floats. Easy flat trails, hides, a huge adventure playground and family crafts and events in the school holidays.
Turbary Woods Owl and Bird of Prey Sanctuary
- Cost
- Adults £12, children over 2 £7
- Ages
- 3 to 12
- Where
- Preston, Lancashire
- Weather
- Mostly outdoors
- Booking
- Just turn up
Turbary Woods is a non-profit owl and bird of prey sanctuary on Chain House Lane at Whitestake, near Lostock Hall on the south side of Preston. It is run entirely by volunteers, and the money from admissions goes on feeding the birds, vet bills and keeping the place open. There are more than 90 birds: owls, eagles, hawks, falcons, vultures and some less familiar species from further afield.
Tickets are £7 for children over two, £12 for adults and £9 for pensioners, and that includes joining in the daily flying display, which is the bit children remember. You pay on the door and there is no booking. The birds live in large open-fronted aviaries in sheltered woodland, so this is an outdoor visit whatever the weather. Coats and proper shoes, even in summer.
The catch is the hours. In summer, from April to the end of October, it opens 11am to 3pm, and from 1 November it drops to 11am to 2pm. That is a tight window, so it works best as a morning trip with lunch somewhere else afterwards. It is open seven days a week, which helps on an inset day when everywhere else is rammed.
What it costs: Adults £12, pensioners £9, children over 2 £7, including taking part in the flying display. Tickets are bought on the door; there is no pre-booking.
Know before you go
- From 1 November to 1 April it is open only 11am to 2pm, so aim to arrive at 11 rather than after lunch.
- Come dressed for the weather. The aviaries are open-fronted in a woodland setting and almost everything happens outside.
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