PENDLE’S latest holiday complex - Boothman Park Estate in Barley - is to open in a couple of months.
And it is getting support from Pendle Council and Pendle Leisure Trust, whose officers have had an enjoyable visit to the countryside site.
Boothman Park is a beautiful location. There are great views, too, including Pendle Hill.
The woodland area now has holiday log cabins and fishing cabins, and is looking into providing wooden “tents” and wigwams for sleeping in. But it can also provide activities for people from Pendle.
It is also a fishery with a series of lakes. That is already in use to some extent, but will also be officially opened in March.
Mr Frank Wren of Boothman Park Estate Ltd has already got planning permission for projects including the log cabins, which have been built from trees on the site. The softwood trees are being replaced by more traditional hardwood ones - so far, 6,000 have been planted there and more will follow.
There are walking routes around the site, deer and birdwatching facilities and much more. And you can walk across the site on a lovely hike by going along Heys Lane, which was the route the Pendle Witches went along 400 years ago!
Now Mr Wren is putting in further planning applications. He explained: “We have been experimenting with ‘pods’ for youngsters. Based on Scandinavian wooden-built ‘tents’, they can provide accommodation for six people - even children. You will be able to hire them for £30 a night, so it would only be £5 per person. So we are now applying for planning permission. We are also looking to build a cookhouse.”
Boothman Park already has three holiday log cabins and three fishery log cabins and is getting all set to open as a tourist attraction.
Mr Wren has had talks with the council, the leisure trust, and Jobcentres. He added: “Hopefully, by the end of the year, we will be employing 10 people.”
He has also had talks with the disabled young people’s group Caring Today in Brierfield about holding events on site for them, including forestry walks.
The fishery is also being considered by the police as a location for its Fishing Buddies, which gets young people out of town. There are even plans for “Cycling Buddies” round the site.
Pendle Council’s tourism manager, Mr Vaughan Jones, said: “We see it as a huge attraction, particularly for young people. We were impressed - very much so - when we visited it. It’s the sort of thing we need. There are stunning scenes and it is an activity place on your doorstep.”
And Mr Phil Storey, Pendle Leisure Trust’s chief executive, said: “We think this is a fabulous facility for Pendle which will give a lot of opportunity for outdoor activities for all ages and abilities.
“We are hoping to work very closely with the owners and provide them with various health, education and art-based activities. These will include walking, cycling, boot camps, team-building activities, willow weaving courses, art classes and health camps, to name but a few.
“We can see so many opportunities for both organisations to bring tourists and visitors into Pendle and hopefully they will use the trust’s numerous facilities while they are here.”