IN EAST Lancashire we are rightly proud of our wildlife and beautiful countryside.

As a region of nature-lovers, it is little surprise how popular a new nature reserve has been since it opened.

There have been 40,000 people taking in the sights and sounds of Brockholes Reserve near Samlesbury in the past three months.

They have taken a site adjacent to the M6 motorway and transformed it.

From an area people would normally associate with noise, debris and dirt, we now have a family destination to be proud of.

Thanks to the hard work of the staff there, supported by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, there is now a facility where people can get up close to hares, deer and all sorts of birds.

It has taken a lot of vision and a lot of investment, but the results are there for all to see.

One of the biggest successes is a purpose-built sand martin wall.

The wall contains 68 nesting holes and is a wonderful feature.

With the summer holidays now under way, the woods, lakes and pathways at Brockholes will be very popular.