Village life provides the focal point for communities living in Bowland, with school, church and pub often at the centre. These hubs draw from the surrounding scattered farms and more isolated settlements, providing services, social contact and support.
Communities are self-sufficient in many respects, and much time is given voluntarily in order to help village life thrive. Flourishing local groups offer everything from amateur dramatics and craft classes to garden clubs and history societies, and much pride is taken in caring for village facilities.
Some villages may have shops, schools and access to GP surgeries, but this isn't always the case and, where residents need to travel further afield, there is a reliance on private cars. The lack of public transport can be an issue for some. Parish councils are a vital layer of local government: often absorbing pressures with no additional funding.
Larger settlements around the periphery – Garstang, Clitheroe and Settle, for example – provide a much wider range of services. They also act as gateways to the National Landscape, offering ideal locations from which to share information with visitors. They tend to be much more easily reached by bus and train.
High on the annual calendar of events are the traditional agricultural and horticultural shows, some with histories reaching back over a century. Important social gatherings for local communities, they also provide a living snapshot of rural life for visitors.
