IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Tower View, PRESTON, PR1 0BQ

The 1:25,000 OS map refers to a motte somewhere around here though does not specify the location clearly. The naming of the new residential road as Castle Walk is another clue and the house opposite continues this theme. However the nearest thing I found to a motte was in the churchyard.

One of a group of five wildlife sculptures on the site of the former Ribble Generating Station on the riverbank at Priory Park, off Holme Road in Higher Penwortham. The carving chosen to represent "fish" is of a Brown Trout (Salmo trutta). Brown Trout spawn in the same way as Sea Trout, to which they are related, and rely on small brooks upstream, migrating great distances within the river to spawn. Brown Trout may be seen in the Ribble, feeding on invertebrates on the surface or occasionally leaping out to grab an insect.

One of a group of five wildlife sculptures on the site of the former Ribble Generating Station on the riverbank at Priory Park, off Holme Road in Higher Penwortham. The carving chosen to represent "amphibian" is of a Smooth Newt (Lissotriton vulgaris). Smooth newts are found in a variety of habitats outside the breeding season, inhabiting deciduous woodland, wet heathland, bogs, marshes, gardens, parks and farmland. For breeding, they prefer standing water with plenty of weeds, such as wetland margins, ponds and ditches. They are nocturnal and spend the day hiding under large stones or compost heaps.

One of a group of five wildlife sculptures on the site of the former Ribble Generating Station on the riverbank at Priory Park, off Holme Road in Higher Penwortham. The carving chosen to represent "mammals" is of an Otter (Lutra lutra). Otters are inquisitive, playful and intelligent. They are semi-aquatic mammals and live in holts around water edges. They are fast, agile swimmers. A recent survey for the Environment Agency showed that the numbers of otters on the River Ribble had increased by 44% between 2008 and 2014.

One of a group of five wildlife sculptures on the site of the former Ribble Generating Station on the riverbank at Priory Park, off Holme Road in Higher Penwortham. The carving chosen to represent "invertebrate" is of a Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum). The common darter is a small, narrow-bodied dragonfly which is on the wing from the end of summer until late autumn. This is a very common dragonfly, breeding in all sorts of water bodies from ponds, ditches and lakes to rivers such as the Ribble. As the name suggests, common darters catch their prey by suddenly “darting” forward from a hovering position.

A large coal-fired power station operated here from 1925 until the mid-1980s. It's all open space now.

At the centre of a group of five wildlife sculptures on the site of the former Ribble Generating Station on the riverbank at Priory Park, off Holme Road in Higher Penwortham. The carving representing "birds" is of a Tawny Owl (Strix aluco). Tawny Owls are the most common and widespread of British owls. They emit the characteristic courtship ‘twit-twoo’ sound which is actually a duet between male and female. Typically, Tawny Owls occupy a favourite perch in broadleaf woodlands from which they drop onto unsuspecting small mammals, such as voles. The Tawny Owl is nocturnal so it is often heard calling at night, but is much less often seen.

At the centre of a group of five wildlife sculptures on the site of the former Ribble Generating Station on the riverbank at Priory Park, off Holme Road in Higher Penwortham. The carving representing "birds" is of a Tawny Owl (Strix aluco). Tawny Owls are the most common and widespread of British owls. They emit the characteristic courtship ‘twit-twoo’ sound which is actually a duet between male and female. Typically, Tawny Owls occupy a favourite perch in broadleaf woodlands from which they drop onto unsuspecting small mammals, such as voles. The Tawny Owl is nocturnal so it is often heard calling at night, but is much less often seen.

Looking across the river to Holme Road.

As part of South Ribble Council’s “Ribble Gateway” scheme, the site of the former Ribble Generating Station, a coal-fired power station on the riverbank at Priory Park, off Holme Road in Higher Penwortham, has been transformed into a nature park. Environmental charity Groundwork trimmed back bushes on the riverbank and installed information boards, which tell visitors about the local wildlife habitats and the history of the power station which opened in 1925 and supplied electricity to a large area of Lancashire until the early 1980s when it was decommissioned and subsequently demolished. A group of wooden carvings showing some of the local wildlife has also been installed.