Pennington Flash Country Park is a 200-hectare (490-acre) country park located between Lowton and Leigh in Greater Manchester, England.
History
A flash is a water-filled hollow formed by subsidence. Pennington Flash is a 70-hectare (170-acre) lake created at the beginning of the 20th century by coal miningsubsidence, mainly from Bickershaw Colliery.[1]
Before the flash the area contained two farms, both of which were abandoned in the early 1900s due to flooding.[2] During the 1960s and 1970s the idea to convert the flash for recreation was emerging and the country park was opened in 1981.[2]
Facilities include a small information centre, Pennington Flash café, a nine-hole municipal golf course, a car park with electric vehicle charging points, a children's play area, toilets, picnic and recreation areas, eight bird hides,[3] fishing on certain shores, sailing, windsurfing and rowing through Leigh and Lowton Sailing Club.[4] There is a network of tracks and footpaths suitable for walkers, cyclists, horse riders, joggers and wheelchair users.[5] A Parkrun takes place every Saturday morning.[6]