Step outside this summer and discover the beauty of Bowland

Whether you take a journey through time, get close-up to nature with your smartphone, or venture out for a guided nocturnal walk, the Festival Bowland events programme is a great way to discover the Forest of Bowland and surrounding countryside.

Wyre Coast & Countryside Service will be running their regular walks from Garstang over the summer months.  Taking place most Mondays (apart from Bank Holidays) from 11am, these relaxing walks last just an hour and are a great way to take in some fresh air and enjoy the views. No need to book ahead but do check with the organisers to find out more and keep up to date with any changes.

Take a walk through time in the Trough of Bowland on the 21^{st of} August and step back millions of years to discover the geology of this popular visitor destination.  The morning will also offer the chance to look for minerals and fossils along the way.

Why not head out at dusk and explore the night-time world of the bat? These flying mammals are fascinating creatures and there is no shortage of guided walks this season. Choose from Claughton-on-Brock on the 23^rd of August or the 9^th of September, Calder Vale on the 5^th of September or Gisburn Forest on the 6^th of September.

The Wyre Rivers Trust will be leading a guided walk around the Caterall countryside on the 14^th of August, then setting off to collect native tree seed at Claughton-on-Brock on the 4^th of September and Scorton on the 19^th.  Join them to find out all about the Trust's important conservation work – and give them a hand with their collecting.

For those with a creative eye, Friday 6^th September offers half day workshops on smartphone nature photography at Gisburn Forest and nature-inspired pottery in Slaidburn, so why not discover your inner artist?

As the summer draws to a close, journey to Dunsop Bridge on the 7^{th of} September for an immersive morning of movement in the Centre of the Kingdom.

Forest of Bowland National Landscape Project Officer, Sandra Silk, said, "Bowland has beauty in every season but, as the heather starts to cover the fells, this is a fantastic time to get out and experience this wonderful part of Lancashire and North Yorkshire. The Festival Bowland programme has a whole range of events - many of them free or low-cost – and they offer a great way to explore the area."

Full details of all the Festival Bowland events, including booking information and costs, can be found on the Forest of Bowland National Landscape website - https://www.forestofbowland.com/