Hyndburn residents celebrate the launch of ‘incredible’ 87 acre restoration project in Oswaldtwistle

An exciting environmental initiative, the Brookside Restoration Project, was officially launched by the Mayor of Hyndburn, Councillor Mike Booth on Thursday August 22 

The celebratory event was well attended by local residents, schools, businesses, volunteers, and Councillors.  

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The Mayor said: “Since Hyndburn Borough Council declared a climate emergency back in 2019, we continue to make climate action a top priority in everything that we do. 

“The Brookside Restoration represents a huge step for climate action, both in terms of biodiversity recovery and engaging local people in the journey to net zero.”

Following the purchase of the 87 acre Brookside industrial site in Stanhill Village, Oswaldtwistle, by Hyndburn Borough Council in 2022, the plan is to transform the space into a haven of biodiversity, habitat recovery, carbon capture and climate action.

Councillor Kimberley Whitehead, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage, Parks and Open Spaces said: “The next 18 months developmental phase of the project has been generously funded by the National Lottery Climate Action Fund and the Windfall Fund. 

“We are looking forward to creating an improvement plan with exciting changes needed to achieve the transformation.” 

The Brookside site has been part of Stanhill life since the 18th century and has been used for farming, mining, quarrying, and the textiles industry. Most famously and nationally significant,

Stanhill is where James Hargreaves invented the spinning jenny in the 1760s, which kickstarted the industrial revolution of the textiles industry.  

The Brookside Restoration project is being managed by Hyndburn’s community-owned environmental charity, the PROSPECTS Foundation, in partnership with Hyndburn Borough Council, Lancashire  Wildlife Trust, Stanhill Village Community Association, Ribble Rivers Trust, and Proffitt's CIC. 

Alice Pooley, Brookside Restoration Officer at the PROSPECTS Foundation, delivered a talk about the project plans. 

She said: “It’s a bold and exciting project to be part of, and there’s a lot to do over the next year and a half. 

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“In that time, we’ll be working with our partners and volunteers to gather data, undertake surveys, explore ways to improve biodiversity and habitat recovery, improve accessibility, and create a climate action initiative that will help us address climate change on a local scale.”

“Together, we have an opportunity to create something truly incredible, and I’d like to personally thank everyone who has supported the project already.”