National Marine Weeks
Outdoor theatre
Show us your garden wildlife
Wildflowers in full bloom
What to see and do in July
Summer is here, and there is plenty to see and do this month at our nature reserves and beyond! Here are our top recommendations for things to see and do across our region this July.
July is the first full month of summer, and there are plenty of beautiful sights, sounds and colours on display as nature puts on a show for us. As the school holidays also get underway, there are lots of family-friendly events taking place where the whole family can get closer to nature! Learn all about some of the exciting events we have coming up, and the wildlife spectacles to keep an eye out for, this month.
Browse antique books at Brockholes
Organised by the Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association, we will have thousands of second-hand, antiquarian and rare books for sale from dealers around the UK. Enjoy a day of perusing our book stalls on the 5th and 6th July in fabulous natural surroundings - free parking is available to all visitors.
Eli Francis/Unsplash
Experience a magical evening under the stars
Sunny summer evenings mean one thing… outdoor theatre! Enjoy an evening of Shakespearean drama at Brockholes, complete with live music and breath-taking scenery! This blockbuster performance of 'As You Like It' is something you don't want to miss. Tickets are selling fast, so grab yours now for a night to remember.
Go on a wildflower walk
July is a great month for spotting beautiful wildflowers in full bloom. Take a look at our blog below to learn about twelve wildflower species you may be able to spot in our region this summer. Our regular wildflower guided walks at Brockholes are also a great way to learn more about our region's flora, their history and folklore!
Orchids in a meadow © Jim Higham
Take part in a BioBlitz!
Come along to Lunt Meadows on Saturday 13th July for a BioBlitz, where we will attempt to record as many plant and animal species on the nature reserve as possible in one day.
The event will feature a variety of interactive stalls and activities run by our team and brilliant wildlife experts, including guided bird walks, pond dipping, wildflower identification workshops, an evening bat walk, and much more!
Celebrate National Marine Weeks
National Marine Weeks runs from 27th July to 11th August, and we're kicking off the celebrations with plenty of exciting coastal events in the last week of July! Celebrate Irish Sea Day at Heysham with guided walks, rockpooling, arts & crafts, beach cleaning, wellbeing sessions and more; enjoy a Beach Art session at St Annes beach; or take a Rockpool Ramble along the coast in Blackpool.
Get ready for our first ever Brockholes Village Fete!
We are super excited to announce that we have a brand new event taking place this summer, Brockholes Village Fete! This one-off event will take place in stunning natural surroundings on 3rd and 4th August, allowing you to start your summer holidays in style and celebrate the best of British village spirit! There will be games, food, crafts, and plenty of nature to explore.
Make sure to book your ticket ahead of time - and why not spend July brushing up on your baking, crafting or artistic skills ready to enter our competition?
Go on a dragonfly ID adventure
The sunnier, warmer summer months are the perfect time to spot dragonflies as they hunt for prey. Dragonflies and damselflies can be spotted all over our region, including our wetlands, moorlands and woodlands. Take a look at our dragonfly identification guide to get you inspired for your next summer walk, and see how many species you can spot!
Louise Bolton
Learn how to help swifts
29th June to 7th July is this year's Swift Awareness Week, designed to raise awareness about this precious species and the efforts we can all make to help them. Learn all about these fascinating birds below, and discover some easy steps you can take at home to support them on their annual summer visits to the UK.
Swift leaving its nest box by Peter Smith
Cameras at the ready - show us your garden wildlife
July's theme for our monthly photo competition is garden wildlife, meaning you don't have to venture very far to take part! Some of the most wonderful wildlife encounters can be had on our own doorsteps if we take the time to look closer and keep an eye out for our garden visitors. We can't wait to see your entries!
Photo by Jon Hawkins
Get up close with moths!
Summer nights are the perfect opportunity to learn more about the world of moths! Moth trapping is a great way to get up close with these nocturnal creatures and learn which species live on your doorstep. Despite the name, moth trapping doesn't actually involve trapping them at all; it's simply about taking steps to attract them to your garden using a light source or food source.
Moth trapping by Ross Hoddinott/2020VISION
Plan your next summer adventure
Learn more about our nature reserves, our upcoming events calendar and the wildlife you can spot at this time of year...
