Construction of the unique pontoon designed to float on one of the lakes at Brockholes Nature Reserve was completed this week.

This is the first stage of the project to construct the Brockholes Visitor Centre at the 106 hectare reclaimed wetland habitat near Preston, which is owned by The Lancashire Wildlife Trust(LWT).

The new North West natural visitor attraction will open to the public in 2011 and hopes to attract over 250,000 people annually from across the UK.  It will also provide a valuable resource for local communities to use, encouraging healthy, active lifestyles and increasing interaction with the natural environment.

The pontoon was designed by Adam Khan Architects, and engineered by Price & Myers and Max Fordham. Constructed by Mansell Construction and Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering, the innovative platform is a cellular reinforced concrete structure with polystyrene infills. Special measures have been taken in line with the sustainable objectives of the project, including the use of 4800 tonnes of recycled concrete and environmental management.  Floating on the largest lake on the site, the pontoon will support a cluster of 5 buildings forming the new landmark Visitor Centre, and bringing the experience of the wetland habitat closer to the visitors.

Stakeholders from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), and Forestry Commission, alongside other partners including Natural England, Tubney Charitable Trust and the Lancashire Environmental Fund saw first hand the completion of the structure and enjoyed a presentation on the next stages of the Brockholes development by Project Manager of the site, Ian Selby of LWT, and the architect who has designed the visitor centre, Adam Khan.  The project is funded by £8.6 million investment from the NWDA under the Forestry Commission led regeneration programme ‘Newlands’.  It is intended that once the wetland opens to the public it will become a self funding attraction.

Now that the pontoon is complete work will begin on the sustainable visitor centre. The innovative, low impact buildings reflect the vision of LWT and it’s stakeholders in producing a genuinely sustainable development, whilst also gaining BREEAM Outstanding accreditation. This includes energy conservation, renewable technology, reduced water usage, composting and recycling.

Although the site is currently closed to the public, the wetland is attracting a high number of visitors of the feathery kind. Brockholes is already an important breeding and migration site for 163 bird species and since work began on the site the number of rare species are increasing with the improvements.  Consequently it will offer a unique nature conservation experience to the visitor, certainly not experienced in the region and arguably not found elsewhere in the UK.

Speaking at the event the LWT site manager Ian Selby said:

"2010 is the International year of Biodiversity, where across the world we are celebrating the multitude of species that make up our natural environment.  A fundamental aspect of Brockholes is to protect an important wetland habitat for the benefit of the region and to increase bird and insect numbers.  I am pleased to report that the site is already attracting some of the rarer wetland birds like redshank, reed bunting and little ringed plover."

Keith Jones, Regional Director of The Forestry Commission, said:

"One of the key attractions of this woodland and wetlands site is that people can readily observe biodiversity in action.  With the completion of the pontoon we can already see how visitors will be attracted to Brockholes and enjoy first-hand interaction with the environment around them.  This brings the public closer to nature, and importantly the whole site will provide a boost to the local economy though tourism."

Stephen Broomhead Chief Executive of the NWDA, said:

"The Brockholes investment under the Newlands scheme is an excellent example of how the rich natural environment of the Northwest can be harnessed to promote positive economic growth for the region.  Not only will Brockholes provide a unique visitor experience, it will enhance the quality of life for the local community and encourage investment in the region."

Andy Rowett, Lancashire Environmental Fund Manager, said:

“I am looking forward to work beginning on construction of the education centre and Sand Martin Hide supported by the Fund. The Fund sees the education centre as a vital part of the Brockholes Nature Reserve development, giving children, young people and families the opportunity to explore and experience the natural world freely and in an exciting way.”