Discover Darwen

09/09/2026

Curlew Calling! 🐦🦅

Have you had your say on the proposed new curlew sculpture for the moor yet? 🤔

The sculpture will celebrate one of Darwen's most distinctive and increasingly threatened bird species, and will be located beside the popular walking route which runs up from the Sunnyhurst Pub to Darwen Tower 🗼🌳

Have your say via the link in the comments 👇

Thank you to Andrew Thomas Helliwell for sharing this photo of curlews returning to the moor in March, after spending the winter months at the coast 📷

09/09/2026

Looking forward to this!! 🤩🙌

🔥 BIG SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT 🔥

ROLLA BAND are bringing their massive, high-energy rock ’n’ roll sound to Sunbird Records this November ⚡️

Fresh off sold-out headline dates, massive festival slots, and sharing stages with Kasabian, ROLLA headline Darwen for an unmissable night of soaring anthems and heavy guitar riffs 🔥

"The songs surge and sting and are full of the thrill of electric guitars and soundtracking the endless days of youthful exuberance." — John Robb (Louder Than War)👌

Brilliant support as well from Redearth and Ravine 🎸

📅 Saturday 28th November 2026
📍 Sunbird Records, Darwen
🎟️ On Sale Now - Link in bio

Don't sleep on this one, grab your tickets early!

Discover Darwen
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

08/09/2026

🥳🏆 Congratulations to the August winner, Ruby Elizabeth! 🏆🥳

Ruby was persuaded by Tony The Cobbler to enter the prize draw after she spent £5 or over at his stall, and now she's very grateful that he succeeded! 😆 Her winning entry form was chosen at random and so Ruby is the lucky winner of £50 in vouchers to spend at any Shop Darwen retailer! 🙌

Ruby told us that was looking forward to treating herself to something from Age UK on Market Street and from the East Lancs Hospice shop on Bridge Street, both of which are Shop Darwen members. What would you spend the vouchers on? 👀

You could be the next winner! 🫢 Simply collect an entry form at any participating Shop Darwen business when you spend £5 or more, pop on your details and post it in the postbox in Darwen Market before the end of September📮

And remember, the more entry forms you submit, the more likely you are to win! It can really pay off to shop local 😉

07/09/2026

New sculpture for Darwen: Have your say! 🐦🌲

A striking new sculpture could become a gateway feature on Darwen's moors - and we want to know what you think 🤔

Darwen-based artist Marjan Wouda has developed plans for the four-metre-high curlew sculpture, celebrating one of the moor’s most distinctive and increasingly threatened bird species.

The proposed artwork could be located beside the popular walking route from the Sunnyhurst Pub up towards Darwen’s iconic Jubilee Tower 🗼

Marjan has spent the past year working with partners to explore the project’s environmental, technical and financial feasibility, and the proposed site has been identified following discussions with Natural England.

Now, before the project is progressed and any decisions are made, we want to hear from residents and everyone who loves and visits Darwen Moor 💚

👉 Please have your say by completing our short online survey - you'll find a link in the comments below.

And if you’d like to find out more about the proposal and chat to Marjan herself, there will be drop-in sessions at:

📍 Darwen Library – Weds, Sept 23, 1pm–3pm
📍 Darwen Market – Sat, Sept 26, 9.30am–11.30am

The consultation runs from Mon, Sept 7 to midnight on Mon, Oct 5.

So, what do you think... could Curlew Calling become a new landmark for Darwen Moor? 😄

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

04/09/2026

Hosting an event in Darwen? 🤔 Let us know! 👋

We'd love to help you spread the word by featuring your event on our new website 📢

Check out the Discover Darwen Event Calendar via the link in the comments below, and send us a message about your event! 💬

03/09/2026

Congratulations to Julie Gudgeon Brindle! 🥳🙌 You've won a Sunday Roast for four at Springbank Manor 😍 Please send us a message 📩

Thank you to everyone who entered, we've loved reading your comments about the fab new Discover Darwen website! 🤩

Check out the website yourself via the link in the comments 👇

02/09/2026

A brand new playgroup for 0-5 year olds started today at The Carus Centre over in Hoddlesden 👶🧩🧸

Friendly playgroups are a Godsend for parents and carers; your little ones are entertained, and you get a brew, biscuits and time with adults in a similar stage of life! ☕

Call/text 07434148345 for more info and to book 🤳

02/09/2026

We hope everyone who has already gone back to school (or those little ones starting school for the first time!) have had a good start to the new term, and we're sending best wishes to those returning/starting very soon! 🍎🎒📕

This week is also a big one for parents and carers, and of course the teachers. We hope there's some moments of calm throughout all the admin, last minute shopping and rushing around this week 😉☕

02/09/2026

This gave us goosebumps 🥹🙌

30/08/2026

🚌🖼 Visit the Art Explora Mobile Museum in Darwen Market Square! 🖼🚌

There's a combination of drop-in visits and scheduled visits throughout the week to see the exhibition ‘Shaped by the Sea’ on board the Mobile Museum and take part in the creative workshops. The whole programme is FREE, check timing below as can vary daily.

📅 29 August - 5 September (closed 1 September)
📍 Darwen Town Centre
⏰ 30 - 31 August 11:00 - 17:00
⏰ 2 - 4 September: public visits 15:00 - 17:00 (school visits during the day)
⏰ 5 September: 10:00 - 17:00

All ages welcome

💰FREE

🔗 Book your tickets through the link in the comments or just show up.

What you’ll see….

🌊 The exhibition ‘Shaped by the Sea’ includes artworks from the Government Art Collection, exploring our relationship as humans with the sea, through paintings, photography, sculpture, print, video and even sound. Come and say 'hi' to our friendly team who can tell you all about the artworks. Let us know if you have a favourite - so far the JMW Turner has been popular as has the video artwork by Mohini Chandra. Which will be your favourite? 🤔