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Pennington Flash Country Park

1 ha

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal

Free entryDogs welcome1 ha

Getting here

53.49187, -2.53903

Open directionsv

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🌞Midsummer — dragonfly and damselfly activity peaks along water edges
🌿Foraging is at its best in summer here
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🌞Midsummer — dragonfly and damselfly activity peaks along water edges
🌿Foraging is at its best in summer here
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

£Free to visit — no entry charge
🐕Dogs welcome

Parking

Best for

5 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals

Free

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Coot +72 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Coot +72 more · last seen 2026

Free

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Plants — Ramsons, Broad-leaved Dock, Elder +52 more · last seen 2026; Plants — Ramsons, Broad-leaved Dock, Elder +52 more · last seen 2026

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Lowland fens — fen dragonflies and rare invertebrates; Insects — 7-spot Ladybird, Alder Leaf Beetle, Ocys harpaloides/tachysoides +1 more · last seen 2026

Free

Foraging

Strong match

Plants — Ramsons, Elder, Common Nettle +8 more foraging species; Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

2 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

GM Ringway Stage 16Walking route16.3 km

GM Ringway Stage 16 - Wigan to Leigh

Named routeLength 16.3 kmRegional walking route

GM Ringway Stage 17Walking route16.6 km

GM Ringway Stage 17 - Leigh to Irlam

Named routeLength 16.6 kmRegional walking route

🚴

Cycling

9 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Route 55Cycling route

Named routeRef 55National Cycle Network

Bridgewater WayCycling route

Named routeRef 82Regional cycle route

Main RouteCycling route46 m

Named routeRef 55Length 46 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route226 m

Named routeRef 55Length 226 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route750 m

Named routeRef 55Length 750 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route626 m

Named routeRef 55Length 626 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

112,255 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

112,255 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds76 species

winter

2026

Black-headed Gull · Woodpigeon · Magpie · Great Tit · Blackbird +71

Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
MagpiePica pica
Great TitParus major
BlackbirdTurdus merula
CootFulica atra
RobinErithacus rubecula
Mute SwanCygnus olor
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
RedwingTurdus iliacus
DunnockPrunella modularis
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
NuthatchSitta europaea
Water RailRallus aquaticus
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
GadwallMareca strepera
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2025
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti2025
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
TealAnas crecca
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater
LapwingVanellus vanellus
House SparrowPasser domesticus
JayGarrulus glandarius
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
RavenCorvus corax2025
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
BuzzardButeo buteo
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus2025
SiskinSpinus spinus2025
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2025
GoldeneyeBucephala clangula2025
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025
Willow TitPoecile montanus2025
SnipeGallinago gallinago2025
Little EgretEgretta garzetta2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
Common GullLarus canus2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
GoosanderMergus merganser2025
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
Stock DoveColumba oenas2025
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2025
Greylag GooseAnser anser2025
FieldfareTurdus pilaris2025
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2025
Grey PartridgePerdix perdix2025
BramblingFringilla montifringilla2025
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus2025

🦌

Mammals3 species

winter

2026

Grey Squirrel · Roe Deer · Badger

Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus2025
BadgerMeles meles

🐸

Amphibians2 species

winter

2026

Common Frog · Common Toad

Common FrogRana temporaria
Common ToadBufo bufo

🐝

Insects4 species

winter

2026

7-spot Ladybird · Alder Leaf Beetle · Zygina flammigera · Ocys harpaloides/tachysoides

7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
Alder Leaf BeetleAgelastica alni
Zygina flammigeraZygina flammigera
Ocys harpaloides/tachysoidesOcys harpaloides/tachysoides

🌿

Plants55 species

spring

2026

Ramsons · Broad-leaved Dock · Elder · Daisy · Cleavers +50

RamsonsAllium ursinum
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius
ElderSambucus nigra
DaisyBellis perennis
CleaversGalium aparine
PrimrosePrimula vulgaris
Common NettleUrtica dioica
Garlic MustardAlliaria petiolata
Wild PrivetLigustrum vulgare
BlackthornPrunus spinosa
Prunus cerasifera var. cerasiferaPrunus cerasifera var. cerasifera
BluebellHyacinthoides non-scripta x hispanica = H. x massartiana
Spear ThistleCirsium vulgare
HawthornCrataegus monogyna
BulrushTypha latifolia
Sweet VioletViola odorata
White Dead-nettleLamium album
Lesser CelandineFicaria verna
Creeping-JennyLysimachia nummularia
MistletoeViscum album
Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera
Pendulous SedgeCarex pendula
Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris
Meadow ButtercupRanunculus acris
Marsh-marigoldCaltha palustris
Centaurea nigraCentaurea nigra
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium
GroundselSenecio vulgaris
GorseUlex europaeus
Wavy Bitter-cressCardamine flexuosa
Common VetchVicia sativa
Taxus baccata f. baccataTaxus baccata f. baccata
Highclere HollyIlex aquifolium x perado = I. x altaclerensis
Common ReedPhragmites australis
Prickly Sow-thistleSonchus asper
Reed Canary-grassPhalaris arundinacea
MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmaria
Narcissus agg.Narcissus agg.
Yellow IrisIris pseudacorus
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata
Garden PrivetLigustrum ovalifolium
Wood AvensGeum urbanum
HollyIlex aquifolium
IvyHedera helix
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris
Hedgerow Crane's-billGeranium pyrenaicum
Hemlock Water-dropwortOenanthe crocata
Three-cornered GarlicAllium triquetrum
Wood DockRumex sanguineus
Common KnapweedCentaurea nigra
Hart's-TongueAsplenium scolopendrium
AspenPopulus tremula2025
Norway MapleAcer platanoides2025
Male-fernDryopteris filix-mas2025
SnowberrySymphoricarpos albus2025

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

112,255 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds76 species

winter

2026

Black-headed Gull · Woodpigeon · Magpie · Great Tit · Blackbird +71

Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
MagpiePica pica
Great TitParus major
BlackbirdTurdus merula
CootFulica atra
RobinErithacus rubecula
Mute SwanCygnus olor
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
RedwingTurdus iliacus
DunnockPrunella modularis
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
NuthatchSitta europaea
Water RailRallus aquaticus
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
GadwallMareca strepera
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2025
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti2025
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
TealAnas crecca
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater
LapwingVanellus vanellus
House SparrowPasser domesticus
JayGarrulus glandarius
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
RavenCorvus corax2025
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
BuzzardButeo buteo
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus2025
SiskinSpinus spinus2025
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2025
GoldeneyeBucephala clangula2025
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025
Willow TitPoecile montanus2025
SnipeGallinago gallinago2025
Little EgretEgretta garzetta2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
Common GullLarus canus2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
GoosanderMergus merganser2025
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
Stock DoveColumba oenas2025
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2025
Greylag GooseAnser anser2025
FieldfareTurdus pilaris2025
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2025
Grey PartridgePerdix perdix2025
BramblingFringilla montifringilla2025
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus2025

🦌

Mammals3 species

winter

2026

Grey Squirrel · Roe Deer · Badger

Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus2025
BadgerMeles meles

🐸

Amphibians2 species

winter

2026

Common Frog · Common Toad

Common FrogRana temporaria
Common ToadBufo bufo

🐝

Insects4 species

winter

2026

7-spot Ladybird · Alder Leaf Beetle · Zygina flammigera · Ocys harpaloides/tachysoides

7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
Alder Leaf BeetleAgelastica alni
Zygina flammigeraZygina flammigera
Ocys harpaloides/tachysoidesOcys harpaloides/tachysoides

🌿

Plants55 species

spring

2026

Ramsons · Broad-leaved Dock · Elder · Daisy · Cleavers +50

RamsonsAllium ursinum
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius
ElderSambucus nigra
DaisyBellis perennis
CleaversGalium aparine
PrimrosePrimula vulgaris
Common NettleUrtica dioica
Garlic MustardAlliaria petiolata
Wild PrivetLigustrum vulgare
BlackthornPrunus spinosa
Prunus cerasifera var. cerasiferaPrunus cerasifera var. cerasifera
BluebellHyacinthoides non-scripta x hispanica = H. x massartiana
Spear ThistleCirsium vulgare
HawthornCrataegus monogyna
BulrushTypha latifolia
Sweet VioletViola odorata
White Dead-nettleLamium album
Lesser CelandineFicaria verna
Creeping-JennyLysimachia nummularia
MistletoeViscum album
Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera
Pendulous SedgeCarex pendula
Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris
Meadow ButtercupRanunculus acris
Marsh-marigoldCaltha palustris
Centaurea nigraCentaurea nigra
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium
GroundselSenecio vulgaris
GorseUlex europaeus
Wavy Bitter-cressCardamine flexuosa
Common VetchVicia sativa
Taxus baccata f. baccataTaxus baccata f. baccata
Highclere HollyIlex aquifolium x perado = I. x altaclerensis
Common ReedPhragmites australis
Prickly Sow-thistleSonchus asper
Reed Canary-grassPhalaris arundinacea
MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmaria
Narcissus agg.Narcissus agg.
Yellow IrisIris pseudacorus
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata
Garden PrivetLigustrum ovalifolium
Wood AvensGeum urbanum
HollyIlex aquifolium
IvyHedera helix
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris
Hedgerow Crane's-billGeranium pyrenaicum
Hemlock Water-dropwortOenanthe crocata
Three-cornered GarlicAllium triquetrum
Wood DockRumex sanguineus
Common KnapweedCentaurea nigra
Hart's-TongueAsplenium scolopendrium
AspenPopulus tremula2025
Norway MapleAcer platanoides2025
Male-fernDryopteris filix-mas2025
SnowberrySymphoricarpos albus2025

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Galatas · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Pennington Flash Country Park

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🏞️PENNINGTON FLASHCountry park600 m→🌱Pennington Flash County ParkUrban park600 m→🦉PENNINGTON FLASHNature reserve600 m→🌱Firs ParkUrban park900 m→🌱Pennington Hall ParkUrban park1.1 km→🌱Golborne Park (The Bonk)Urban park4.1 km→

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