July 2024 update
Our next walk is on Saturday the 3^rd of August at Witherslack
(clickable links are in green throughout the website)

Welcome to our website. We are a social and friendly group of people from the Fylde area of Lancashire who have a programme of events throughout the year, consisting of Saturday coach walks, mid-week outings in the summer and a series of presentations by guest speakers in the winter months. Annual membership for next season (2024/2025) is being kept at £10, payable in March.

Walking, especially with a group, is a good form of exercise and an excellent way to stay healthy. Our walks are a mix of exercise, a picnic, socialising, and fresh air (and occasionally a little rain or mud).

The walks are fairly easy, around 6 miles long at a moderate pace, and suitable for most people. Uphill sections do occur but they are usually steady inclines and not too steep. You ascend at your own pace and we make sure that no-one gets left behind. The News page will usually have a link to a description of the upcoming walk provided by the walk leader.

To help you to make up your mind about becoming a member, why not join us on a couple of walks before deciding? There is no need to book, just turn up (see the next paragraph for a link to the pickup points). If you want to let us know that you’re coming so that we can look out for you, email the webmaster.

The coach picks up at various points (details here) starting in Lytham and making its way through St. Annes, Blackpool and Layton, before arriving at Poulton. This season, depending on the destination, the cost is no more than £15 , and is shown in the programme.
Please note that the coach only picks up and drops off at the designated points. Please don’t ask the driver to drop you off at a more suitable location.

If you decide to walk with us, we recommend that you bring suitable, robust footwear. Regulars use walking boots or shoes, as these give a bit more protection from potential twists or sprains and the (sometimes) muddy parts of the walk. You should also make some provision for the occasional inclement weather we sometimes encounter, and have waterproofs and a change of footwear with you.

We have a refreshment break either en-route or at the start of the walk. If you are walking with us, you will need to bring some sort of packed lunch and a drink for the lunchtime stop.

Walks finish about 3pm, with time for toilets or refreshments before the return journey. Some have a further wander, some settle down in a cafe or pub, and we usually set off for home about 4pm. The coach returns to the first pick up point around 5pm.

If you want to walk ahead of the leader on the walks, please ask their permission to do so.

We have walks by coach every two weeks from March to October. For those interested in Natural History there is usually expert knowledge at hand, all you need do is ask.

If you don’t want to do the planned walk with the group but would like to explore the area on your own, you are welcome to join us on the coach for the same price.

During the Winter months we have one or two local Saturday walks, where members come in their own cars. At the end of this season they are in November (followed by a meal for members), December, January and February.

For those especially interested in Natural History the mid-week outings (own transport) concentrate more on this with visits to Nature Reserves for Flowers, Insects, Dragonflies, Birds and Butterflies. It may help your enjoyment if you provide yourself with a pair of binoculars and maybe a set of Field Guides or books on Flowers, Birds, Fungi or Butterflies.

Presentations (£2.50 includes drinks and biscuits) are held monthly on the 2^nd Wednesday evening of the month from September until March at Forest Gate Baptist Church Hall, off Whitegate Drive, Blackpool FY3 9AW, with a free evening in December devoted to a Jacobs Join, when members are encouraged to bring along some food and/or drink, and a raffle prize. Images that have been taken by members through the year will also be shown. Click here to see the location on a map (opens in a new window).

Some members are more dedicated to Naturalism than others. Many have memberships with other organisations such as RSPB, Lancashire Wildlife Trust/Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Wild Flower Society, Alpine Garden Society, Fylde Bird Club, The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Butterfly Conservation and the British Dragonfly Society.

If you would like to try a walk or want more details,
please phone Carole Thaw on 01253 316713,
or email her at carolethaw001@gmail.com

Click here for our Programme,
click here for Information about our meetings and presentations,
click here for the latest news,
click here for reports from our recent outings,
and click here for galleries of submitted photos from walks and outings.

To contact us, please use the form on the Contact Us page.

The Fylde Naturalists’ Walking Group is affiliated to the Lancashire Wildlife Trust
and the North Western Naturalists’ Union

Please send comments or suggestions to the webmaster