News

New Interpretation for Bowland’s Villages

Martin first began discussions with Eldroth village to the north of the AONB, almost two years ago. He agreed to help the local community create two interpretation boards – one for Eldroth Village Hall and one for Dalesbridge (an accommodation provider near Austwick, offering camping and group accommodation) that would feature a walk between the two taking in some great views and rare boggy habitats. Why not take a look at the new boards and enjoy a walk in this beautiful part of Bowland.

Linked to the Chatburn Village Leaflet produced last year which includes a wonderful circular walk starting there and heading over to Downham, are new interpretation boards. Look out for the boards promoting the walk at the start in Chatburn which highlight the geology of the Pendle area – this project couldn’t have materialised without the commitment of John Ridgeway from the village hall.

Stone Carving Mark Site of Quaker Burial Ground

Also in the Pendle Forest area, look out for the Quaker burial ground at Twiston. A grant from the Sustainable Bowland fund has enabled them to buy a simple engraved stone stating that 50 burials took place there between 1667 and 1807.

Sheep Washes Publication

When Martin recently spent the day hedge laying near Stocks reservoir he was asked if he could assist in getting a book on sheep washes published. It had rained hard all morning and it struck Martin as odd that sheep could possibly need any further washing! but he felt it to be an interesting project. And so emerged the magnificent booklet ‘Sheepwashes of Bowland and Chipping’ written by Frances Marginson and Helen Walbank which explains it all, including some wonderful photography. Copies can be purchased from various Tourist Information Centres and book shops in the area.

 

Conservation Volunteers Undertake Further Hedge Laying

Martin spent another wet day between Christmas and New Year hedge laying at Barnacre. The conservation holiday was fully booked with volunteers even working on Christmas Day. Jean and Robert Miller of Lower Lingart Farm were friendly hosts and the volunteers bade farewell (in a hail storm) vowing to return in better weather. Look out for other conservation holidays taking place in Bowland throughout the year via our website.

Business Network Meeting

20 people attended the Sustainable Tourism Business Network meeting on March 5th at Barley Village Hall and 15 for the same meeting on March 17th at Cobble Hey Farm & Gardens. The meetings included discussions about Visitor Payback schemes and a presentation to the website competition winner.

For Network members there is also a new proposed project to support further businesses in achieving Green Tourism Business Scheme Accreditation during 2008. This has not yet been finalised but the proposal is for funding to subsidise the fees to achieve the Green Tourism award. We are holding a training day on 20 May for anyone interested in achieving the Green Tourism accreditation, if this is something you are interested in learning more about, please contact Mike Pugh.

For more detailed information about these businesses visit the Business Network pages.

Website Competition

A website competition was launched in the New Year to encourage businesses in the Network to develop their websites to show their commitments to sustainable tourism in the Forest of Bowland AONB. There were some excellent entries and good examples of how businesses are working towards a more sustainable approach. These included: Bleasdale Cottages, Calderbank Country Lodge, Off the Rails, Parkers Arms, and Wolfen Mill Country Retreats.

The winner was Bleasdale Cottages which was selected because of the incorporation of key messages about the AONB that run through the whole of their web site; In particular useful information relating to walking, wildlife and sustainable tourism, so well done to them! Why not have a look at these websites, all of them make good use of the Sense of Place toolkit to incorporate important messages and images about the AONB and highlight their commitment to sustainable tourism.

Creative Marketing and a Sense of Place
Training Day, 27 February at Hornby Institute

We held the last of our current series of training days at Hornby, focussing on creative marketing and Sense of Place, and were lucky to have Wendy Davison as our trainer for the day, brought in by the Tourism Centre team from Lancaster University.

Wendy provided lots of practical tips on how to make your business stand out from the rest. This advice was backed up by the AONB Sense of Place toolkit, which helps businesses to sell themselves as a part of the Forest of Bowland, and its special qualities.

Feedback from participants was excellent, so we hope to run this course as a regular event in the future. If you are interested in attending, please get in touch!

Cycle Adventure

Cycling enthusiast Stuart Jones has recently embarked on a new business venture, offering cycle hire, tours and guiding across the Forest of Bowland AONB. Stuart’s business developed from the realisation that the Forest of Bowland offers a diverse range of stunning landscapes including quiet lanes and forest ways, to exciting tracks and trails in a peaceful undiscovered part of the countryside, with routes to cater for a whole range of abilities:

‘The Forest of Bowland offers a great opportunity for cyclists of all ages and abilities to enjoy a fun and healthy day out in tranquil surroundings, with spectacular views around every corner.’

Cycle Adventure is offering a variety of cycling options including an inclusive flexible cycle hire service with free delivery and collection to any location in the Forest of Bowland, with a choice of route sheets for all abilities including helmet, lock, puncture resistant tyres, map holder, pump and expert route advice. Cycle hire includes Trek front suspension mountain bikes with disc brakes and a choice of children's bikes and equipment.

For those wanting to stay longer, Cycle Adventure offers a variety of tours staying in quality Farm House or luxury Country House Hotel accommodation. With luggage transfer, vehicle support and all the equipment and accessories you'll need, all you'll have to do is pedal! You can also hire a qualified guide to take you straight to the heart of best cycling in Bowland with skills coaching and bespoke guiding packages available.

Stuart acknowledges the obvious benefits of cycling over other forms of transport, particularly the contribution made to help reduce carbon emissions. To help further demonstrate their commitment towards helping reduce their carbon footprint, Cycle Adventure has made the following commitments to a more sustainable approach to tourism:

• Every journey made to collect cycles from Cycle Adventure using car or public transport will have its carbon production off-set. A contribution for each journey will be made to a certified carbon off-set scheme. For more details visit www.carbon-clear.com
• They will also reduce the hire price by £1 for each customer who arrives by public transport to encourage use of more carbon efficient modes of transport.

For further details of Cycle Adventure please contact Stuart Jones on 07518 373 007, text 'ca' for call back or visit www.cycle-adventure.co.uk for bookings and more information.

Greenhall Riding Centre

Greenhall Riding Centre is owned by mother and daughter team Jean and Rachael Easterby. Both have had a passion for riding for many years and recently decided to expand their livery yard to a business which includes a riding centre, to make full use of the 18 stables and outdoor arena. This is an exciting venture as this will be the first trekking centre to be set-up within the Forest of Bowland AONB. The Centre is in the north of the AONB set in a spectacular and remote location in the midst of the fells surrounded by heather moorland. With riding that offers panoramic views over the Bowland countryside there is no better way to experience all the area has to offer than the peace and tranquillity offered by horse back!

Greenhall Riding Centre offers a full range of facilities for the general public and visitors to the area including riding lessons, hacking, children’s rides and a livery service. Take advantage of their beautiful rural location by hacking through fields, fells and moorland.

Jean and Rachael pride themselves on a friendly, informal yet professional attitude. Their horses have been especially selected for their temperaments and they will have one to suit all needs and abilities.

For further information visit the Greenhall Riding Centre website. Both of these new businesses are an excellent offer to visitors staying in the area. Why not publicise cycle hire and horse riding to visitors when they book your accommodation?