Pictures of Cuerden Valley Park

Cuerden Valley Park is a pleasant 600-acre country park with its northern end south of Bamber Bridge, Preston, Lancashire near M6 junction 29 and its southern end in Whittle-le-Woods. It is easily reached from M6 (junctions 29 and 29A), M61 (junction 9) and M65 (western end) and has car parks on A6, A49 and B5256. It is within 20 minutes’ drive of Preston, Leyland, Chorley and Blackburn.

The Park follows the scenic valley of the River Lostock where car parks and picnic areas have been provided along with a 10-mile network of footpaths, cycle path and bridleways and a fishing lake/reservoir. The scenery is varied, including river banks, parkland, agricultural land, bluebell woods, wildflower meadows and lake where fishing is permitted for a small charge. Wildlife includes woodpeckers, kingfishers, great crested newts and dragonflies.

The northern part of the Park was laid out in the early 19th century as parkland for Cuerden Hall. A restoration project has been undertaken by Cuerden Valley Park Trust in conjunction with the Wildlife Trust to restore some of the features of the estate from 1883, including the Pinetum/American Garden with a viewing platform and the Victorian walled orchard with pear trees of traditional species. Improvements have been made to the lake/reservoir. At the southern end of the Park, archaeological work is being carried out at Lower Kem Mill, a ruined bleach and dye works that burnt down in 1914, and some works to show the outline of the original buildings and provide interpretation boards.

A series of talks and walks is organised by the Friends of Cuerden Valley Park and there are school education programmes available on the site by appointment. A monthly conservation group of volunteers helps the Rangers with work in the Park.

The park is owned by Cuerden Valley Park Trust, a registered charity, and is open all year.

For further information please visit www.cuerdenvalleypark.org.uk