Local nature reserves

How To Get There

Off Harrison Drive, Colne, BB8 9SF

On foot: There are access points from Alkincoats Park, Stag Lane, Red Lane (northeast and northwest entrances) and off the footpath along the eastern edge. Public Footpaths nos. 150 and 151 pass through the site.

Train: Nearest station is Colne at the end of the Preston to Colne line. The nearest entrance is 500m north of the station.

Bus: from Colne bus station Nos 94 and 94A at 15 and 45 mins past the hour.

Cycleway: The Lancashire Cycleway runs down Stag House Lane. Cycling is only permitted on the bridleways in the reserve.

Bridleway: Bridleways 152 and 229 pass through the site.

Leeds/Liverpool Canal: Approx 650m to the southeast of the canal from the southern end of the Foulridge Tunnel.

Road: From the end of the M65 turn left onto Vivary Way and continue through a set of traffic lights to a roundabout. Turn left onto Harrison Drive and continue up to a mini-roundabout going straight on and take the right fork in the road up to the rugby club car park.

Site Information

Size: 8 hectares, 19 acres

Designated: October 2006

Alkincoats Woodland is a relatively recent broadleaved plantation but there is a mature stand of Beech trees alongside Red Lane on the northern boundary. A variety of trees and shrubs have been planted and small ponds, wetland areas and wildflower-rich rides provide a variety of habitats for insects, mammals and birds.

Nearest Town: Colne

Grid Reference: SD 881 411 (centre)

OS Maps: Landranger 103 Blackburn (1:50,000), Outdoor Leisure 21 South Pennines (1:25,000)

Ownership: Pendle Borough Council

Status: Important Wildlife Site (Pendle Local Plan).

No. of plants: 150 including hornbeam, aspen, gorse, wych elm, sneezewort, heather, pignut, mouse-ear hawkweed, marsh ragwort, devil's-bit scabious, wood and heath speedwell.

No. of birds: 44 including sparrowhawk, heron, redpoll, siskin, treecreeper, brambling, chiffchaff, willow warbler, goldcrest, nuthatch, tawny owl, blackcap and great spotted woodpecker.

Also look out for: Cinnabar moth, orange tip and butterflies.

LOOK OUT FOR	BEST TIME TO SEE	NOTES & ANY SPECIAL STATUS
Purple Hairstreak butterfly	Mid July-mid August	Locally rare. Flies in the canopies of mature oak trees
Bullfinch	All year on the bird feeding tables	Of National Conservation Concern
Beech	April-May for young leaves, autumn/winter for brown cigar-shaped buds, all year for silvery-grey bark	Some fine specimens are present in the plantation alongside Red Lane
Jay	All year but tend to be secretive during the breeding season	One of the corvid family, i.e. the crows, but a very colourful