There are many peaceful green spaces and riverside pathways within a few minutes’ walk, and the Wheatsheaf, a family-friendly bar and restaurant, is just yards away while, for younger residents, the nearby Warehouse indoor skate park presents challenges and excitement for skaters, skateboarders and BMX riders. The local shopping area around 600 yards from Croston Meadow includes a Tesco Express store, a baker, an off-licence, hairdressers and food takeaways, and a large recycling centre can be found just a mile to the north. Leyland town centre, around 20 minutes walk from Croston Meadow, has a traditional market town environment, offering a variety of local independent shops interspersed with high street chains including an Asda supermarket. Leyland Market, open on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, sells fresh local produce, fish, clothing and other goods.

Leyland’s historic attractions, including its 12th Century St Andrews Church and famous Saxon cross, contrast with modern amenities like the Leisure Centre’s well equipped gym and 25m swimming pool. In addition to a small local history museum, the town has an internationally important British Commercial Vehicle Museum with a fascinating range of exhibits, from horse drawn transport to a popemobile.On the southern edge of the town, the magnificent Worden Park includes an adventure playground, walled Georgian garden, maze, nine-hole golf course and free miniature railway as well as floral displays, meadows and mature woodlands, while just three miles to the east, Cuerden Valley Park combines magnificent walks and wildlife with events like a farmers’ market and an annual beer festival. There is also an 18-hole golf course on the eastern edge of the town. Northbrook Primary, St Mary’s RC Primary, and Academy@ Worden, a community high school with academy status, are all within a mile of Croston Meadow, and all are assessed as ‘Good’ by Ofsted. There is also an RC secondary school, St Mary’s, just a little further away. Sandy Lane Surgery is the largest of several GP surgeries in the town, and there is a choice of dentists within walking distance.