Our history
Trust Milestones - The First 20 years
1962
The Lancashire Naturalists' Trust was established on 1st August
1963
Peter Cairns
Acquired South Walney Island nature reserve.
(The site was transferred to the new Cumbria Wildlife Trust in 1974 as a result of local government boundary changes)
1965
The Trust reaches 90 members
1967
Annual turnover £217
1970
North West Biological Field Data Bank started.
The Trust has 366 members
1973
Administrative Officer appointed
1974
'Lapwing' magazine launched
Click here to view recent issues of Lapwing Magazine
1978
First local group started in Southport
1979
Ted Jackson becomes Chairman
Over 1600 members
1980
First part of Mere Sands Wood handed to Trust
David Bellamy pays his first visit to the Trust
New name - Lancashire Trust for Nature Conservation
1982
Rest of Mere Sands Wood acquired
Astley Moss Reserve 21 year lease
12 Trust Nature Reserves
Trust Milestones: The Last 30 Years
1984
Cuerden Head Office established
Warton Crag reserve brought into management
Seaforth reserve licence agreed
1985
Red Scar reserve purchased
Visit of Sir David Attenborough on 6th November
1986
A Conservation Officer and an Urban Wildlife Officer are appointed.
Astley Moss reserve purchased.
The trust reaches 2000 members.
1988
Bolton Wildlife Project started
1991
Visit by HRH The Prince of Wales, June 7th
1992
Trust appointed manager of Cuerden Valley Park
New Name - Lancashire Wildlife Trust
Biological Heritage Site Project started in Lancashire
1993
New visitor centre at Mere Sands Wood.
1994Â
Penwortham Education Centre started.
1995
Red Moss, Horwich saved from development
1996
Seaforth Visitor Centre opened
More than 260 owners and managers of BHS contracted
1999
Trust designated National Qualification Training Centre
2000
Mere Sands Wood and Salthill Quarry win an English Nature Award.
2001
Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPS) for Lancashire and north Merseyside published
34 Nature Reserves
Over 1000 Watch Club Members
Turnover 2001-2002 £1.5 million
2002
New HQ started with Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £1.7m
8000 Trust members
2003Â
New HQ opened in October by David Bellamy
2005Â
Construction of Bolton Environment Resource Centre began
2006Â
Trusts HQ (The Barn) was granted award-winning Eco-Centre status by ENCAMS
Purchase of Brockholes
2007
Bolton Environment Resource Centre Opens.
Kate Humble and Bill Oddie visit Mere Sands Wood to film Autumn Watch
2008Â
Adam Khan Architects are announced as the winners of the Brockholes RIBA design competition
2009Â
Work begins at Brockholes
2011
Brockholes opens on Easter Sunday.
2017
Prince Harry visited Brockholes Nature Reserve to meet young people working on the My Place project.
