Directory of Nature Charities in Lancashire
Lancashire has an exceptionally varied natural environment, stretching from the uplands of the Forest of Bowland and West Pennine Moors to the Lancashire mosslands, river valleys, woodlands, farmland, coastal wetlands and the internationally important landscapes of Morecambe Bay. These habitats support an impressive range of species, including hen harriers, red squirrels, Atlantic salmon, rare butterflies and moths, and large populations of coastal and wetland birds. A broad network of charities, rivers trusts, landscape partnerships and wildlife recording organisations is working to protect and restore the county’s natural environment.
This directory brings together Lancashire-based and Lancashire-focused charities, conservation organisations, partnerships, recording bodies and other key organisations working for nature. It includes county-wide organisations alongside groups concentrating on rivers, peatlands, coastal environments, protected landscapes and particular species, providing a useful starting point for anyone wanting to support conservation, volunteer or learn more about Lancashire’s wildlife.
Nature Charities in Lancashire
Including registered charities, CICs, coalitions, alliances, and related organisations.
The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is the area’s principal independent nature conservation charity. It manages more than 1,280 hectares of wildlife habitat and 42 nature reserves, with Lancashire work ranging from peatlands and wetlands to woodland, coast and grassland.
Lancashire Local Nature Partnership brings public bodies, researchers, businesses, conservation organisations and communities together to improve the county’s natural environment. It supports coordinated action on biodiversity, wildlife, water quality, climate resilience and landscape-scale nature recovery.
Lancashire Environment Record Network (LERN) is the county’s Local Environmental Records Centre, collecting and sharing information on biodiversity, geodiversity and landscapes. Its database contains more than one million biological records and supports conservation, planning, research and nature recovery.
Forest of Bowland National Landscape protects an internationally important upland landscape of peatlands, moorland, meadows and woodland. Its partnership supports habitat restoration, nature recovery, sustainable land management and protection of the area’s distinctive wildlife. Its 2026–2031 management plan has now been adopted.
Arnside & Silverdale National Landscape protects a distinctive limestone landscape of woodland, grassland, wetlands and coastal habitats on the Lancashire–Cumbria border. Its partnership promotes nature recovery, sustainable land management and conservation of the area’s exceptional biodiversity.
Lancashire Peat Partnership coordinates large-scale restoration of the county’s upland and lowland peatlands. Its work re-wets damaged peat, restores habitats, improves water management and helps peatlands contribute to carbon storage and climate resilience.
Ribble Rivers Trust is a Lancashire charity working throughout the River Ribble catchment. Its projects improve river habitats and water quality, restore wetlands, support fish populations, create woodland and hedgerows and use natural solutions to reduce flood risk.
Wyre Rivers Trust works to conserve and restore the River Wyre and its catchment from the Bowland uplands to the Irish Sea. Its current work includes river restoration, wetland creation, water-quality improvements, natural flood management and practical support for land managers.
Morecambe Bay Partnership is a registered charity working across the Bay’s Lancashire and Cumbria coastline. It supports conservation, environmental education, responsible access and community projects, helping protect one of the UK’s most important coastal environments.
Lancashire Branch of Butterfly Conservation supports butterfly and moth conservation across Lancashire, northern Greater Manchester and Liverpool. Its activities include recording, surveys, habitat management, field meetings and volunteer conservation work.
Lancashire Badger Group works to study and protect badgers across northern England, with Lancashire at the heart of its activities. It provides public information, talks and training while raising awareness of badger persecution and other threats.
Merseyside & West Lancashire Bat Group is a local volunteer organisation supporting the conservation and study of bats across Merseyside and West Lancashire. It promotes local bat monitoring and recording, provides opportunities for members to take part in conservation activities and supports wider national bat-monitoring programmes.
South Lancashire Bat Group promotes the study and conservation of bats across southern Lancashire and neighbouring areas. Its work includes recording, surveys and contributing local bat information to ecological assessments and the wider county recording network.
Amphibian and Reptile Group of Lancashire (ARGL) promotes the conservation, study and recording of amphibians and reptiles across Lancashire and Greater Manchester. Its work includes wildlife surveys, habitat management, pond projects and the Lancashire Amphibian and Reptile Atlas, which holds more than 5,000 local records.
Lancashire & Cheshire Fauna Society promotes the recording and publication of information about the region’s animal life. Established in 1914, it maintains a long-running tradition of faunal recording and contributes valuable information to Lancashire’s biodiversity evidence base.
GeoLancashire promotes the study, recording and conservation of the county’s geological and landscape heritage. It identifies and surveys Local Geodiversity Sites while encouraging public understanding of Lancashire’s rocks, landforms and geological history.
Morecambe Bay Local Nature Partnership provides a collaborative framework for improving nature across the wider Bay. It brings together organisations working on coastal habitats, wildlife, water, landscape and nature recovery across the Lancashire–Cumbria boundary.