Three weekends of Christmas markets are coming to a Lancashire nature reserve.
For the very first time, Brockholes Nature Reserve, between Blackburn and Preston, will be holding the festive season’s wildest markets every weekend in December, leading up to Christmas Eve.
And the Lancashire Wildlife Trust reserve has ensured that all traders will be local, independent and have an eco-friendly focus, so that customers won’t just be buying Christmas treats, but will be doing their bit to help the planet too.
There will be a range of goodies on offer, from jewellery, art, books, herbal remedies, pet gifts, wines and traditional wooden toys; and there'll be a musical soundtrack to accompany the weekends, with musicians and choirs.
A spokesperson for the reserve said: "You can wander around the stalls and then have a healthy stroll around the winter wonderland that is the nature reserve.
"You never know what you will meet – kestrel, buzzard, kingfisher, barn owl, roe deer, brown hare, lapwing and curlew are all common sights at this time of year.
"And Santa Claus might just make an appearance, taking time off his busiest period in the workshop, but you might have to book to see him."
The markets will be held on the floating Visitor Village and the Kestrel Kitchen will be serving wintry warming treats such as mulled wine, spiced warm apple juice, mince pie and much more.
The markets will run from 10am until 4pm every weekend from December 4, and from December 20 to Christmas Eve for last minute shoppers.
Parking charges apply but the markets are free to enter.
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