Lancashire Wildlife Trust Chair Steve Garland said: “We want young people to get out into nature and the Woodland Oasis is a great example of how we are helping to do this - creating habitats not just for wildlife but to allow people, both young and old, to engage with nature. This is what we, the Wildlife Trusts, do. And we need to thank Young Lancashire for providing the funding.”

Chair of Young Lancashire, Andrew Pratt said: “This is a fantastic partnership project between two charities. We have people here today from six-months-old to more than 80-years-old enjoying this woodland.

“We have County Council representatives here today who will can see just how well money can be spent to benefit young people. And we have a medical professional, who can go back to work and tell colleagues to get people off the tranquilisers and into the woods.”

The oasis covers a large area of land, owned by the National Grid, and begins with a walk through the woods, presently lined with bluebells, to the Viking Hut and camp. Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers, led by Senior Education Project Officer Kathryn Phillips, have worked tirelessly for weeks to provide areas for safe fires and woodland games and crafts.