This is a short summary of what has happened in the March and April along with news about upcoming events and activities.
Blossom Day community picnic
Orchard Blossom Day is a new annual celebration taking place across the UK and Europe encouraging people to appreciate what an important local resource orchards are for people and wildlife.
We are taking part by inviting everyone to bring a picnic and join others for a “blossom picnic” between midday and 2pm on Saturday 2 May 2026 in the Orchard.
There are five other local community orchards taking part in Lancaster with different activities and events.
Find out more about Blossom Day in Lancaster.
Fairfield Memories – Celebrating 30 Years
Many thanks to those who responded to our request for people to share their memories. We will be contacting everyone who responded over the next few weeks.
If you have a memory that you would like to share, there is still time! You can write it in our online form, or you can choose to have your story recorded and the volunteers will arrange a time to come and record your story.
You can find all the information on the Fairfield Memories – Celebrating 30 Years webpage.
Fairfield Cycle Hub
After a few hiccups, Fairfield Cycle Hub is now fully up and running with all the new tenants in place. It’s the first of its kind in Lancashire, and we hope it will provide inspiration for other local groups to set up something similar.
Nature Reserve and Orchard updates
Lucy Brook restoration project
In addition to the confirmed funding from Lancashire Environment Fund, we have just heard that we have been awarded £10,996 by the National Lottery Awards for All England – Environment Fund towards the project. This is fantastic news and means Lancashire Wildlife Trust will hopefully be able to start work on the project in the autumn.
You can keep up with the latest news on the Lucy Brook restoration project webpage.
Calves
Six calves have now been born this year. If you are out and about with your camera, a cute photograph of a calf is always popular in the calendar. See 2027 Calendar submissions below.
Bird reports
Chris Johnston has started writing a weekly bird sightings report of all the birds he sees on his planned birdwatching visits to the Nature Reserve and the Orchard. His highlight this week was a Cetti’s Warbler singing along the border between Hay Meadow and Upper Sowerholme. Read all of Chris’s reports.
iNaturalist
With the beginning of Spring, there have been a lot more sightings recorded on the Fairfield Nature Reserve iNaturalist Project. If you don’t have the app already, you can find out how to use it in our online guide. It’s free and doesn’t have adverts!
Although you can use it to help identify different wildlife that you don’t recognise, it is also incredibly helpful to record things that you do know. Over the years, this will provide an important record of, for example, the time of year when plants start to flower or when the first butterflies appear.
Recent events
Easter Egg Hunt
The Easter Egg Hunt was a wonderful afternoon, with happy smiling faces of all ages. The event raised £536. Many thanks to Bethany and Katherine who organised it, and to everyone who helped out — putting up the tents, baking cakes, serving tea, hiding clues, supervising activities, taking the tents down and clearing up. Thanks also to the brilliant musicians who kept everyone entertained throughout the afternoon.
Regular items
2027 Calendar submissions
Each year, the Fairfield Association produces a calendar featuring photographs taken in Fairfield Nature Reserve, Fairfield Orchard and Aldcliffe Road Triangle. It is one of our major sources of fundraising, and we rely on Fairfield members submitting their photographs for us to use. You can find out more information about the type of photographs we need on our Fairfield Calendar photograph submissions webpage.
Calendar sales team
We are looking for somebody with marketing skills to help advertise and promote the calendar in Lancaster later this year. If you think you could help, please email Hilary at .
Volunteer work party sessions
- These take place every Wednesday between 9.30am and 1pm. Everyone is welcome.
- There are also Saturday sessions once a month. Next one is Saturday 9 May between 10am and 1pm.
- Everyone is welcome. Just let Rebekah know beforehand if you plan to come by emailing
Meetings
Monthly meeting
The next meeting will take place at 7.30pm on Tuesday 19 May at the Tite & Locke. Everyone is welcome.
More details
You can always find more information about what is going on in the Current Meeting Information section of the website, which has agendas and minutes for all recent meetings.
The online calendar contains dates and times for all meetings, volunteer sessions, special events and Triangle activities.