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Brockholes is a nature reserve near Preston, just off Junction 31 of the M6 motorway. It is owned by the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside.

Situated in the flood-plain of the river Ribble, Brockholes contains one of the largest strips of ancient woodland in the UK, a species-rich hay meadow, large wetland areas and the beautiful River Ribble running along the edge of the site. Which was previously a major quarry extraction site. Sand and gravel were quarried here from 1996 until 2007 when the land was bought by the Trust. Since then, it has been regenerated as a mosaic of key habitats such as pools, reedbeds and woodland; the reserve opened to the public at Easter 2011.

The reserve is aimed less at dedicated bird-watchers and nature lovers than the general public of the big cities.

Link documents the development of the land from a huge quarrying site to the nature reserve.

The River Ribble is a 75 mile long river that flows through North Yorkshire and Lancashire.
It starts near the Ribblehead Viaduct by the confluence of Gayle Beck and Cak Beck. It enters the Irish Sea south of St Ann's.
Wikipedia: Link