Your Brockholes Moments

Thank you for your moments header
Brockholes Moments

Joanne's Moment

"I ended up on the track by the lake where I shouldn't have been. All was quiet and a hare appeared, hopped along the track, then disappeared into the long grass.

"Two steps later a deer jumped onto the track, looked at me, then jumped off into the grass on the opposite side of the track.

"I had never been so close to either animal...magical."

Amy's Moment

Amy's Moment

"My memory comes from 2017. I particularly remember going to the Stick Man story afternoon, hosted by the education team, then exploring the woodlands as part of the activities.

"It was the first time we had visited, and we loved it"

Lewis' Moment

Lewis' Moment

"Out Of The Blue best describes how I discovered Brockholes in September 2020 looking to escape a busy home urban environment.

"I hired a bike that day and set off from Avenham Park not sure where I would end up. I found a refuge and something special that speaks to your sout.

"Nature heals pain and sooths the mind. I returned home happy I had found something wonderful."

Pauline's Moment

Pauline's Moment

"Throughout 2020 and the beginning of 2021, in the depth of the lockdown and winter, the creatures in wildlife and nature just carried on, like this heron on Number 1 Pit Lake in January 2021."

Emma's Moment

Emma's Moment

"My memory is from 2017. I remember fondly how much my children, especially my eldest, who is now 7, absolutely loved coming to Nature Tots every Friday morning."

Susan's Moment

Susan's Moment

"We absolutely loved our weekly pram walks.

"We went every single week through the wind, hail, rain, snow, cloud and sunshine.

"I still bring my son now, though he zooms round on his balance bike that is pushing him!"

Lauren's Moment

Lauren's Moment

"It was my first ever time visiting Brockholes in 2020 as I’ve recently taken up wildlife photography as a hobby and aspire to be a conservationist.

"First visit and saw so many new birds I’d never seen before. Dunnock, Reed bunting, tufted ducks, wigeon and lapwing just to make a few. I had an amazing day out and have visited multiple times since.

"Can’t wait for this summer to see all the butterflies and other insects as well as birds that call the reserve home."

Geoff's Moment

Geoff's Moment

"I enjoyed a lovely Bank Holiday day out, seeing a mouse amongst a stack of wood, a hare very close to the cafe, and spotting a grey heron."

(Huge thank you to Geoff for painting this stunning photo of the Visitor Village.)

Trevor's Moment

Trevor's Moment

"As a regular visitor to Brockholes with my camera for a number of years I have experienced many memorable nature encounters.

"However there remains one stand out sighting which will be forever imprinted in my memory. Probably a once in a lifetime encounter watching three members of a Stoat family playing in the morning sunshine in August 2019.

"Turning to look, there on the wooden boardwalk which surrounds the pool were the Stoats. Three of them, possibly Mum with youngsters dashing around, play fighting and hunting. They were really enjoying themselves and didn’t seem to notice me.

"I was still a fair distance from them but couldn’t risk moving for fear of spooking them. I watched them for almost 20 minutes, now and again one would look in my direction and I’m almost certain they knew I was there, eventually they disappeared into the long grass ending what was a truly amazing nature moment and one I was so lucky to experience."

Caroline's Moment

Caroline's Moment

"My Brockholes Moment is getting married at Brockholes on 28th August 2016.

"The staff made everything perfect. Friends and family still talk about it now, how unique and beautiful the setting was."

For more about Brockholes' Weddings click here

Paul's Moment

Paul's Moment

"2020 and the start of 2021 was a depressing time for me, as it was for many people. No need to explain why....

"My mental health has been challenging to say the least, but what kept me sane was to visit places like Brockholes with my camera were you can release that depression, finding peace.

"Watching wildlife for me allows you to be part of the wildlife family in away, nothing beats being out there surrounded by nature."

Charlene's moment

Charlene's Moment

"My moment is from April 2021 - den building with my children on a early Saturday morning.

"The air filled with bird song in every direction. A lovely morning was then ended in the cafe, enjoying a sausage sandwich and apple juice while watching the swans swim by."

Cat's Moment

Cat's Moment

"I got married to my wonderful husband Stuart on a beautiful sunny day in July 2016.

"The first time we visited Brockholes we knew it was the perfect setting to say 'I do'.

"It will forever hold a special place in our hearts and remain magical every time we visit."

For more about Brockholes Weddings click here

Laura's Moment

Laura's Moment

"This beautiful kestrel just sat there while I took the photos. It was such a privilege and made my day."

Carol's Moment

Carol's Moment

"Sharing and seeing nature (as a volunteer) through the eyes of the Nature Tots children.

"There is something very special about the excitement and joy of finding a wriggly worm, collecting twigs and autumn leaves, jumping in puddles, looking for raindrops on the trees and playing in the woods throughout all the seasons at Brockholes."

For details on how to become a Brockholes volunteer click here

Charlotte's Moment

Charlotte's Moment

"I saw my first ever hare at Brockholes. It was about 8am on a freezing winter morning. I crouched to tie my shoelace, and when I looked up it was there, this hare streaking across the frosted grass below me.

"I raised my camera, settings be damned, and started shooting. The hare froze, so still I couldn't even see its breath in the bitter air. After a few more shots I lowered my camera and just watched. Soon the hare snapped back into action and was off into the trees, leaving nothing but silence in its wake."