Pennington Flash Country Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pennington Flash Country Park |
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| Type | Country park |
| Location | Leigh, Greater Manchester |
| Operated by | Wigan Council |
| Open | All year |
Pennington Flash Country Park is a huge park located between Lowton and Leigh in Greater Manchester, England. It covers about 200 hectares (that's like 500 football fields!). It's a fantastic place to explore nature, enjoy outdoor activities, and learn about local wildlife.
How Pennington Flash Was Formed
A "flash" is a special kind of lake. It forms when the ground sinks, creating a hollow that fills with water. Pennington Flash is a large lake, about 70 hectares in size. It was created around the year 1900.
This happened because of coal mining in the area. When coal was dug out from underground, the land above it sometimes sank. This sinking is called subsidence. The main reason for the flash forming was the mining from a place called Bickershaw Colliery.
Before the flash appeared, there were two farms in this area. But they had to be left in the early 1900s because of all the flooding. In the 1960s and 1970s, people started thinking about turning the flash into a fun place for everyone. The country park officially opened in 1981.
Amazing Wildlife at Pennington Flash
Pennington Flash Country Park is a special place for nature. It's a nature reserve, which means it's protected to help plants and animals thrive. Over 230 different kinds of birds have been seen here!
Some of the cool birds you might spot include the black-faced bunting, nightingale, and marsh harrier. Sometimes, even rarer birds like the spoonbill and Leach's storm-petrel visit.
Besides birds, the park is also home to many beautiful insects. You can see a wide variety of butterflies, dragonflies, and damselflies flying around, especially in the warmer months.
Fun Things to Do at the Park
Pennington Flash Country Park has lots of things for visitors to enjoy. There's a small information centre where you can learn more about the park. If you like golf, there's a nine-hole golf course.
For families, there's a car park and a children's play area. You'll also find toilets and places to have a picnic or just relax. If you're interested in birds, there are eight special bird hides where you can watch them without disturbing them.
You can also go fishing on certain parts of the lake. For water sports lovers, the Leigh and Lowton Sailing Club offers sailing, windsurfing, and rowing.
The park has a great network of paths and tracks. These are perfect for walkers, cyclists, horse riders, joggers, and people using wheelchairs. Every Saturday morning, a Parkrun takes place, which is a free, timed 5-kilometre run that anyone can join.
The park was even considered as a possible location for rowing and canoeing events if the city of Manchester had won its bid to host the 2000 Summer Olympics.
