Although the Lancashire Rural Futures programme has ceased

specialist rural business support can still be accessed through

Rural Futures on 01772 450020

Set up in 1999, Lancashire Rural Futures (formerly the Bowland Initiative) existed to deliver sustainable economic and environmental benefits to rural Lancashire, the project closed in March 2008.

Fly fishing development at Stocks Reservoir

At the outset, the work of the Bowland Initiative was confined to the Forest of Bowland area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) but due to the great demand the project expanded its boundaries to include the whole of East Lancashire.

Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Due to increasing success and funding support from the Lancahire Rural Recovery Action Plan, Lancashire Rural Futures was rolled out into the whole of Lancashire and parts of Greater Manchester to deliver the Rural Business Facilitation Service. The project expansion and had offices in Bacup and Leyland. The offices operated in the same way as the Clitheroe office consisting of both business and environmental advisors.

Clitheroe Market Town