We had a meeting today at LSV, between the Council, LSV, and flash users. Everything is hoped to be open for business on the 1st Feb. Work on the spit and in front of hides to remove invading plant life will be done by Lancs Wildlife Trust they may want the Volunteer group to be involved, as we have controlled it for the past 6 years.
The line of the sailing buoys is being adjusted these have moved significantly over time toward the car park shore and Nature Reserve.
Swimming or canoeing is not allowed from the car park side of the flash, so if you see any groups/ individuals please politely inform them that they can do that from the Yacht club slip.
The head ranger at the Flash is Joe Greenhalgh. he will soon have two assistants who will patrol the paths in daytime working hours
We all can assist the council and rangers if we report to them or the golf shop cabin, the golf shop will be relocated into the new building after the 1st Feb
I'm not sure how Sorrowcow pond fits into Pennington Flash, is it part of the nature reserve or just an adjacent pond? However, over the past few weeks I've noticed that the invasive plant floating pennywort Hydrocotyle ranunculoides has seemingly taken hold. It's described as "a strong contender for the title of worst aquatic weed in the UK", having spread from garden ponds. It's been banned from sale since 2014 and it's illegal to introduce it into the wild, yet I've never seen it here before this year and it undoubtably has been introduced by somebody recently, probably accidentally or carelessly. It's obviously also a potential threat to other ponds around the flash. More info here https://www.invasive-species.org/species/floating-pennywort/
-- Edited by colin davies on Thursday 3rd of November 2022 02:34:40 PM
Hi Colin,
I've just seen your post. Pennington Flash has three boundaries as far as nature conservation is concerned.
1. The Site of Biological Importance (SBI) which covers the main flash, nature reserve and most of the land adjoining the flash. It also includes Sorrowcow Pond Pennington Flash SBI boundary
2. The Local Nature Reserve (LNR) which does not include the flash itself, nor Sorrowcow Pond. The LNR boundary can be viewed on Defra's MAGIC website Pennington Flash LNR boundary A search doesn't seem to locate the LNR so the easiest way to find it is from the Table of Contents menu by selecting Designations Land-Based Designations Statutory Local Nature Reserves (England) You can then zoom in on the map to find Pennington Flash
3. The National Nature Reserve boundary which is an amalgamation of the SBI and LNR.
Thanks for flagging up the presence of floating pennywort in the Sorrowcow pond. It would be worth alerting Wigan Council's Biodiversity Officer and also the GM Ecology Unit who are responsible for selecting and monitoring the SBI. I'll send you a pm shortly with their contact details. I'd also recommend submitting a record to GMEU/GMLRC so they can include it in their Invasive Non Native Species data. The easiest way to do this is by clicking on the GMLRC logo at the bottom of the forum.
Steve
-- Edited by Steve Atkins on Thursday 17th of November 2022 03:00:02 PM
John Watson said
Tue Nov 15 10:24 AM, 2022
From Wigan Council's Twitter:
"The access road to the flash (off St Helens Rd) is now closed to vehicles Monday - Friday for the next three weeks to allow for essential utilities works. The road will still be open on Saturdays and Sundays"
So, that'll be 14-18 Nov, 21-25 Nov, 28 Nov - 2 Dec
Just in case anybody is planning on visiting the flash in the next few weeks, be aware that the main car park is closed to vehicles Monday to Friday until 5th December.
Also, Horrocks hide has been closed for at least a week and shows no sign of reopening. I'm not sure why or when it will reopen, but I suspect its the ramp up to it which is becoming rotten and unsafe.
I'm not sure how Sorrowcow pond fits into Pennington Flash, is it part of the nature reserve or just an adjacent pond? However, over the past few weeks I've noticed that the invasive plant floating pennywort Hydrocotyle ranunculoides has seemingly taken hold. It's described as "a strong contender for the title of worst aquatic weed in the UK", having spread from garden ponds. It's been banned from sale since 2014 and it's illegal to introduce it into the wild, yet I've never seen it here before this year and it undoubtably has been introduced by somebody recently, probably accidentally or carelessly. It's obviously also a potential threat to other ponds around the flash. More info here https://www.invasive-species.org/species/floating-pennywort/
-- Edited by colin davies on Thursday 3rd of November 2022 02:34:40 PM
I'll bring it up at a meeting with the council in a couple of weeks but in the meantime, I'll email James Winterbottom about it, Craig.
P.S. are you being invited to the Council/ Leigh sports village/ LOS meetings, they are quarterly at LSV
colin davies said
Mon Sep 12 9:27 AM, 2022
Not really sure what's going on at Ramsdales, but again there's a smell of smoke around the hide and it's the only hide locked again. There's some very sad people in this world.
malcolm roach said
Tue Sep 6 4:01 PM, 2022
colin davies wrote:
I assume that the hide you're referring to is Ramsdales? I was there when it was opened this morning, unfortunately some nice person had decided to have a fire inside and although largely undamaged because its made of breeze block, one of the wooden ledges was destroyed, the second to be burnt in that hide. Perhaps its been kept locked while they assess the damage. At least you can view Ramsdales without the need to use the hide.
Yes it was ramsdales thanks for the information,
colin davies said
Tue Sep 6 1:33 PM, 2022
I assume that the hide you're referring to is Ramsdales? I was there when it was opened this morning, unfortunately some nice person had decided to have a fire inside and although largely undamaged because its made of breeze block, one of the wooden ledges was destroyed, the second to be burnt in that hide. Perhaps its been kept locked while they assess the damage. At least you can view Ramsdales without the need to use the hide.
malcolm roach said
Tue Sep 6 1:19 PM, 2022
My first visit to Pennington in many months very disappointed to see one hide locked and the feeding station overgrown and no food so no birds on the plus side did see a green sandpiper year tick
colin davies said
Sat Jul 30 8:19 AM, 2022
Just another Saturday at Pennington Flash, temporary toilets on the car park burnt down overnight, hides left open all night and swimmers going in off car park. Apparently the new cafe building has already had two windows smashed earlier in the week.
colin davies said
Thu Jul 28 9:15 AM, 2022
I've noticed that the hides at the Flash appear to have been permanently open for about the past 2 weeks. Last night I was in Horrocks until 8.30pm, this morning it was open at 7am and in between those times somebody had left some litter.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Jun 28 5:35 PM, 2022
John Watson wrote:
The development has been scaled back, though it would have been better if the alcohol licence had been removed completely
Without getting drawn into what became a very heated debate on other platforms, the GMBRG has been involved in discussions with Wigan Council and it seems apparent that the development was taken very much out of context. Below is a statement from Stuart Holden of Wigan Council but we (the GMBRG) are so far satisfied with the response, discussions and assurances we have over their plans. That is not to say we have been fully comfortable with everything it encompasses but long term the prospects for the site look much better and any deviation from that will be met with the full weight of the group.
“ Pennington Flash Nature Reserve is much loved and our priority is to cherish this wonderful place. Producing a positive and thoughtful plan to bring people and nature together in a considered way is integral to our future vision for Pennington Flash Nature Reserve and has the full support of Natural England, whose purpose is to help protect and restore our natural world. We are and will continue to work closely with our local stakeholders and Natural England to deliver this and position Pennington Flash as a flagship for the modern-day nature reserve, which is demonstrated in our ongoing bid to see the site recognised as a National Nature Reserve. “The Hide Coffee House is just one of many significant investments we are making to respond to feedback and to ensure local residents and visitors can enjoy all that Pennington Flash has to offer to its fullest. The coffee house will focus on offering good quality hot drinks and snacks to visitors, and on occasion host events in keeping with the location.
“As part of the plan, an alcohol and events licencing application has been submitted in order to provide flexibility for future plans. I’d like to reassure residents that the use of the proposed alcohol and events licence will be limited to very specific, well managed and appropriate events for the setting.
John Watson said
Tue Jun 28 4:27 PM, 2022
The development has been scaled back, though it would have been better if the alcohol licence had been removed completely
Dear friends, if you have an interest in knowing about developments at the flash, please register as follows. Regards David
Rearranged stakeholder engagement session
As the phase one project at Pennington is transitioning into its delivery phase I would like to invite you to a stakeholder engagement session on the 23.05.22. This replaces the session in early May that had to be cancelled
The session will commence at 17.30 and last for around 90 minutes. Key members of the project team will deliver the presentation within the boardroom at Leigh Sports Village with an opportunity for stakeholders to raise questions.
During the session, we will set out the anticipated programme for the delivery of the phase one work, and the anticipated level of disruption and provide an update on our plans to manage the site upon completion of the capital works through the partnership approach with colleagues operating Leigh Sports Village.
If you are able to attend the session I would be grateful if you could confirm your attendance in advance so that we provide refreshments for the anticipated attendees.
I hope that you are able to make the planned session and look forward to sharing the latest position on the day. If there are any queries in advance please do let me know.
Many thanks
Stuart Holden
Wigan Council
Be Well Service Manager - Strategic development & Innovation
Colin, this will be worth attending you could find out more about the NR proposals. There is a plan worked out by RSPB for restoration and enhancement of the NR but I think it's dependent on if Pennington is included in the NNR
Dear valued stakeholder
As the phase one project at Pennington is transitioning into its delivery phase I would like to invite you to a stakeholder engagement session on the 11.04.22 .
The session will commence at 17.30 and last for around 90 minutes. Key members of the project team will deliver the presentation within the boardroom at Leigh Sports Village with an opportunity for stakeholders to raise questions.
During the session we will set out the anticipated programme for the delivery of the phase one work, the anticipated level of disruption and provide an update on our plans to manage the site upon completion of the capital works through the partnership approach with colleagues operating Leigh Sports Village.
If you are able to attend the session I would be grateful if you could confirm your attendance in advance so that we provide refreshments for the anticipated attendees.
I hope that you are able to make the planned session and look forward to sharing the latest position on the day. If there are any queries in advance please do let me know.
Seems like work is beginning on the new visitor centre and car park, apparently due to be completed by the end of the summer (see attached photo). There's not much mention of the nature reserve part of the flash but at least it's got a new logo. Anybody know of any proposed management, enhancement or restoration work which is likely to take place?
-- Edited by colin davies on Wednesday 30th of March 2022 05:35:36 PM
Just to let you know that the Environment Agency are training at Pennington over the next 4 weeks (possibly Tuesdays and Thursdays).
They are training on managing incidents including the likes of oils spills etc. as such you may see booms and boats. It is purely a training exercise
-- Edited by David Shallcross on Sunday 17th of October 2021 10:55:14 PM
John Watson said
Thu May 13 10:52 AM, 2021
Most people change their behaviour if informed politely (sadly not all!)
Last year, a couple walked past me at Horrocks onto the spit. I advised them it was a nature reserve (they were too interested in each other to read the sign), and they apologised genuinely & quickly got off. er, so to speak
Having said that, a few years ago there was a couple right by the public footpath at the same spot. They weren't on the NR, but - well, really!
Craig Higson said
Wed May 12 10:44 PM, 2021
JOHN TYMON wrote:
Craig Higson wrote:
Swimmers going out from the car park this evening. Not kids but properly equipped open water types. I spoke to a couple of blokes wearing wetsuits and preparing to go swimming a week or two ago and they just dismissed me out of hand. It needs nipping in the bud before it becomes a real issue. Just some signs would help. These swimmers were heading right out in front of east bay reedbed and into east bay, flushing pretty much everything in that area.
Added to this, swimmers were also out at the sailing club, with one noted swimming very close to the ruck and possibly outside the area the sailing club are supposed to use. So essentially the only undisturbed place this evening was Rammies
Bit late for the swimming to be nipped in the bud,it's been going on now for about 2 years or more ,everyone was informed at the time ,and as usual with penny nothing has happened,if I remember Colin Davies highlighted it many times in the last few years ,I have seen them swim through Gull Roosts ,boat club's to the ruck seems a regular route,penny is more disturbed than it's ever been.I reported it many times as I did with most issues ,even I have more or less given up now.For me now I don't think of it as a nature reserve I just except it for what it has become a place were it's all things to all men, were it's more or less a park were everyone does whatever they want to and birders now just have to accept this, and accept it as a place were you see what you see.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 12th of May 2021 08:00:35 AM
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 12th of May 2021 11:09:39 AM
Admittedly there's not a lot can be done about swimmers from the sailing club. The Sailing club own a big chunk of the water, so they can do as they like. They should only swim (or sail) within the boundaries of their ownership though. As per my earlier post. The buoys that marked the nature reserve/no sail zone have moved considerably and need replacing. They are a good 50-100m out of line. The swimmers from the car park were a new one for me though and its that that I'm really referring to needing stopping.
colin davies said
Wed May 12 1:44 PM, 2021
Craig Higson wrote:
Swimmers going out from the car park this evening. Not kids but properly equipped open water types. I spoke to a couple of blokes wearing wetsuits and preparing to go swimming a week or two ago and they just dismissed me out of hand. It needs nipping in the bud before it becomes a real issue. Just some signs would help. These swimmers were heading right out in front of east bay reedbed and into east bay, flushing pretty much everything in that area.
Added to this, swimmers were also out at the sailing club, with one noted swimming very close to the ruck and possibly outside the area the sailing club are supposed to use. So essentially the only undisturbed place this evening was Rammies
I'm told by a regular who gets there much earlier than me that two swimmers go out from the car park early morning almost daily throughout the year, even when the Flash was partly iced over in the winter. A couple of days ago there were two men blowing up some kind of inflatable and preparing to go out from the car park and last week there was an angler just off east bay reedbed in an inflatable.
When we came out of the first lockdown last May, the Flash was one of the few places where open water swimming was allowed and this attracted larger numbers than usual. On more than one occasion I counted around 100 swimmers in the water, stretching from the yacht club to the ruck and right over towards east bay. Basically anywhere within the buoys where the yachts can go. These swimmers were / are there six days a week for at least a couple of hours each time, either early morning or evening, and they also have Gemini craft support boats which whizz around the flash checking that everybody is ok, so basically the whole of the flash within the boundary of the buoys is out of bounds for wildfowl. No wonder duck numbers are well down and we never get a diver that stays.
Canoes from the yacht club regularly go right up to the west end reeds. About a month ago three canoes went out from the car park right along the spit close in and were about to go into Ramsdales until another Flash regular shouted to them to stop from the Ruck.
Also about a month ago there was a party going on in Ramsdales reedbed, I could hear laughing and shouting and music, and there was smoke rising from the reedbed. It's not unusual at all to see anglers on the spit, especially early morning and a year or two ago I even came across Leigh fire brigade training in front of Ramsdales hide.
Add to all of this dog walkers with 2, 3, 4 dogs off the lead running everywhere, the spit overgrown and not managed at all and John is quite correct, it's not a nature reserve anymore, it's just a place where despite everything you might get lucky and see a bird on passage. Just compare the sightings from Elton Reservoir or Audenshaw to Pennington Flash, there's no comparison. One dunlin is a good day at the flash these days.
Unfortunately I don't think anything can now be done to save it, it's too far gone and I can only see it getting worse. More and more houses are going up all around and a new cafe and visitor centre is apparently being built and the overwhelming majority of visitors just see it as a playground. Councilors hold up signs for photo shoots advertising the new visitor centre which call the place Pennington Flash Nature Reserve, that's just a sick joke unless they're prepared to invest heavily in the place, including wardens.
This is why I don't go very much, despite living a 10 minute walk away.
-- Edited by colin davies on Wednesday 12th of May 2021 02:01:48 PM
JOHN TYMON said
Wed May 12 7:47 AM, 2021
Craig Higson wrote:
Swimmers going out from the car park this evening. Not kids but properly equipped open water types. I spoke to a couple of blokes wearing wetsuits and preparing to go swimming a week or two ago and they just dismissed me out of hand. It needs nipping in the bud before it becomes a real issue. Just some signs would help. These swimmers were heading right out in front of east bay reedbed and into east bay, flushing pretty much everything in that area.
Added to this, swimmers were also out at the sailing club, with one noted swimming very close to the ruck and possibly outside the area the sailing club are supposed to use. So essentially the only undisturbed place this evening was Rammies
Bit late for the swimming to be nipped in the bud,it's been going on now for about 2 years or more ,everyone was informed at the time ,and as usual with penny nothing has happened,if I remember Colin Davies highlighted it many times in the last few years ,I have seen them swim through Gull Roosts ,boat club's to the ruck seems a regular route,penny is more disturbed than it's ever been.I reported it many times as I did with most issues ,even I have more or less given up now.For me now I don't think of it as a nature reserve I just except it for what it has become a place were it's all things to all men, were it's more or less a park were everyone does whatever they want to and birders now just have to accept this, and accept it as a place were you see what you see.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 12th of May 2021 08:00:35 AM
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 12th of May 2021 11:09:39 AM
Craig Higson said
Tue May 11 7:39 PM, 2021
Swimmers going out from the car park this evening. Not kids but properly equipped open water types. I spoke to a couple of blokes wearing wetsuits and preparing to go swimming a week or two ago and they just dismissed me out of hand. It needs nipping in the bud before it becomes a real issue. Just some signs would help. These swimmers were heading right out in front of east bay reedbed and into east bay, flushing pretty much everything in that area.
Added to this, swimmers were also out at the sailing club, with one noted swimming very close to the ruck and possibly outside the area the sailing club are supposed to use. So essentially the only undisturbed place this evening was Rammies
Craig Higson said
Mon Sep 21 10:21 PM, 2020
Not a pressing concern given all that's going on a the moment, but definitely one for the future. I've thought for a while that the line of buoys defining the no-sail zone had been moving. Tonight whilst birding from the ruck it was obvious just how much they have moved. When I was working at the flash, the line of buoys used to run from the point on the ruck, in a straight line to the north bank of the mouth of the river more or less. Tonight the nearest buoy was almost in Rammies and the line looked more like something you'd see on a snakes and ladders board. I appreciate there are no rangers to reset the line, but I'm sure the sailing club could help out - pretty sure they must move their buoys regularly.
Gordon Newman said
Wed Jun 3 9:19 AM, 2020
I'm sure you have have seen the photos on Los Facebook page David . Presume two separate groups?
-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Wednesday 3rd of June 2020 09:21:02 AM
David Shallcross said
Tue Jun 2 6:26 PM, 2020
Some progress with reporting the madness at the flash 2 councillors have been in touch and will make enquiries for us.
David Shallcross said
Tue Jun 2 8:33 AM, 2020
I am trying my best to bring these offences to the attention of the council, councillors and Police, the police are indifferent to it even being an offence, my council contacts are on Furlow so it's down to every one of us to keep reporting it and gathering info and pictures
please post them here or send them to leighos.chairman@gmail.com but in all cases report to the police and your local councillor
-- Edited by David Shallcross on Tuesday 2nd of June 2020 11:18:40 AM
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Jun 2 8:06 AM, 2020
Originally posted yesterday by Lez Fairclough:
Unbelievable scenes on the main spit 50yds in front of Horrocks Hide at 4pm with approx 20 people some of them swimming & a BBQ in full swing!
David Shallcross said
Sat May 16 4:31 PM, 2020
Thanks, Colin and Gordon, the site is rapidly going downhill, a lot of birders don't go anymore so there are fewer eyes watching for wrongdoings. The lack of proper wardens and patrols have taken their toll, it's become a free for all, illegal fishing, trespass and out of control dogs. Despite the best efforts of my volunteer group we don't seem to take things forward, last year we put in over 600 hours but that's just fire fighting as they say. I have sent the photos and reported the trespass incidents to 4 council officials who have a responsibility at Pennington. We will see where it goes please keep me informed if you are managing to go down there I have to stay away just now as I have lung issues (job-related).
Gordon Newman said
Thu May 14 5:20 PM, 2020
Hi David, sorry I didn't get any photos, I was so surprised by the time I thought about it they were out of sight. 2 lads probably late teens early twenties both wearing caps with hooddies over the top.
David Shallcross said
Thu May 14 1:45 PM, 2020
Hi, Colin and Gordon, if you can send me the photos i can send them on the WBC to highlight what is going on. Regards David: leighos.chairman@gmail.com
colin davies said
Thu May 14 12:50 PM, 2020
Depressingly, when I arrived in East bay today at 7:30 there was a temporary hide on the end of the spit. It wasn't a angler, it was the type of hide either photographer or a shooter uses. At about 7:45 the person in the hide got out and took the hide down and left. I didn't see either a gun or a camera but whatever he had it was in his large rucksack. I have photos of the person but I'm not going to post them here.
As requested by Ian I have reposted this in response to Colin Davies comments on the sightings page.
Yesterday evening (Wednesday) while stood by Ramsdales Hide 2 guys walked out over scrapes to the middle island and out of view, they weren't carrying anything. When later on the point I looked at the spit and couldn't see them. Maybe these were the same people
David Shallcross said
Tue Feb 18 9:47 PM, 2020
Next phase of Believe in Leigh funding announced
Plans for a town centre youth hub and new visitor facilities at Pennington Flash are among regeneration projects set to receive Believe in Leigh funding.
Wigan Council has revealed details for the second phase of the £5m fund including projects addressing priority areas highlighted by residents.
Following feedback from two major consultations, improvements to Civic Square, further investment at Leigh Market Hall and a new canal bridge are also among the proposals.
Deputy leader of Wigan Council, Councillor Keith Cunliffe, said: During both the Believe in Leigh consultation and The Big Listening Project, residents told us that combating anti-social behaviour, tackling environmental issues, providing better youth provision and improving public realm facilities were among the most important issues to them.
The first phase of projects saw public realm development to Bradshawgate, a new CCTV network across the town centre, improved street lighting and improved facilities on Market Place.
"These latest exciting schemes have also been developed to respond directly to that feedback.
A total of £1m has been earmarked for youth facilities in the town centre with plans to engage the community to help shape the development.
Scheduled improvements to Pennington Flash include new parking areas, a café, visitor information centre and rooftop seating area.
Refurbishment at Civic Square will include public realm works linked to the regeneration of the Town Hall and supporting the Turnpike Gallery.
A further £500k will be invested to improve customer experience at the ever-popular Leigh market.
Believe in Leigh cash will also be used to boost existing funds for a new canal bridge to connect The Loom retail park to development on West Bridgewater Street.
And Believe in Leigh capital funding will be bolstered by an action plan to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour and improve community cohesion, with representatives of the Council, the police, health and education providers coming together to address the concerns identified by local people.
2021 will be an exciting year for the town, with Leigh playing host to both the Womens Euro Championships and the Rugby League World Cup.
Councillor Cunliffe, who represents Leigh East ward, added: Being a host city for two major tournaments gives us a fantastic opportunity to put Leigh on the map and to create a lasting legacy for our local community.
Were hoping that by 2021 the works to Pennington Flash and projects in the town centre are complete, giving us a fantastic visitor destination to host exciting events connected to the tournaments.
The Believe in Leigh fund was created to respond to community feedback and was subject to its own public consultation.
The results have been supplemented with those from The Big Listening Project that concluded last year.
A further consultation detailing the longer-term economic development masterplan for the town centre will follow later this year.
Have your say on how to make Leigh a better place.
Have your say on how to make Leigh a better place.
David Shallcross said
Tue Feb 18 9:45 PM, 2020
John who are you reporting it to
JOHN TYMON said
Wed Jan 1 11:56 AM, 2020
Unfortunately the fishermen are now encamped all along ramsdales reedbed, m fed up of reporting it and nothing getting done, Boats on main flash fishermen in Ramsdales birds don't know,were to go.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 1st of January 2020 02:40:23 PM
Craig Higson said
Wed Jul 31 6:47 PM, 2019
Looking at those pictures Dave, it seems like more water came down Westleigh Brook than Hey Brook. The flash was a bit higher than that in the last big flood in 1999 (I think). I remember the visitor centre was almost an island for a day or so with flooding from Westleigh Brook, and it looks like very nearly as much water has come down again!
David Shallcross said
Wed Jul 31 6:05 PM, 2019
If you are thinking of a nice day in the hides at Penny, forget it, the whole place is underwater. It will need 2/3 dry days for it to drain away.
-- Edited by David Shallcross on Wednesday 31st of July 2019 06:11:11 PM
I have asked the Sailing Club to remind members of the restrictions, any future sightings please email me: leighos.chairman@gmail.com or let them know on the day. Thanks for highlighting this Craig
Craig Higson said
Fri May 10 6:24 PM, 2019
As I was leaving today a Kayak, two up with what appeared to be two women, was paddling along the north shore towards the spit, on the wrong side of the sailing restriction. They were probably 50m from the shore. I had seen the kayak come from the sailing club earlier so perhaps the sailing club need to remind its members about the limits of their access?
David Shallcross said
Thu May 31 3:35 PM, 2018
The powers that be have acted on our request for a deeper channel to be dug around "disaster Island" When is anybody's guess!!!
David Shallcross said
Sat May 19 4:25 PM, 2018
as suspected the drying out has happened, we are trying to get a barrier put in place.
Colin, it's good to hear that the Cowslips have now some protection, as requested. Regarding "disaster Island" can i forward your concerns to both Mark Champion who carried out the work and Graham Workman who authorised it. (not sure where the funds came from)
The subject with also be aired at a forthcoming Greenhart forum meeting.
P.S. for anyone with spare time, the volunteer groups have 3 meetings planned on 24th May - 29th May -6th June. 9-30 am in the carpark. or see https://pennyflashvolunteers.blogspot.co.uk/
colin davies said
Tue May 15 5:23 PM, 2018
Some positive news and some negative news from Pennington Flash today. On the positive side, it's good to see that following my complaint last year which I believe was raised with the council by David Shallcross, part of the glade on the south side with a decent colony of cowslips has been roped off, not to stop people going there, but to stop the council cutting it until after the cowslips have gone to seed. I'm not really sure why they don't just put back cutting the whole glade by a month, but at least they're making an effort.
On the negative side, the worst fears of some of us have been confirmed regarding the cleared "island" on the kidney pond. We're only in the middle of May and though we've had some sunshine, it's not exactly been a drought, yet even so the ditch which separates the island from the mainland is already virtually dry. My guess is that by the end of August it won't be recognisable as an island and we'll have people and dogs on it. If dogs are splashing around in the water off the far side of the island they potentially risk disturbing birds on the spit. I'm still not sure what they were trying to achieve by clearing the island but unless they still have more work to do, I think we can say that whatever it was it failed.
If you get no joy on 101 then use 999 as motorbikes on narrow and well used tracks like that pose a serious hazard and could easily end up involving pedestrians.
Craig Higson said
Wed Jan 24 10:20 PM, 2018
Good luck on 101. Took me over 1/2 an hour to get through last time I tried. Ive had more success tweeting my local police. For Leigh its @GMPLeigh. Tweet em now and you might see something in a day or two as its obviously not instant, but it will get seen.
Thanks Steve, I'll do that.
Hi Colin,
I've just seen your post. Pennington Flash has three boundaries as far as nature conservation is concerned.
1. The Site of Biological Importance (SBI) which covers the main flash, nature reserve and most of the land adjoining the flash. It also includes Sorrowcow Pond Pennington Flash SBI boundary
2. The Local Nature Reserve (LNR) which does not include the flash itself, nor Sorrowcow Pond. The LNR boundary can be viewed on Defra's MAGIC website Pennington Flash LNR boundary A search doesn't seem to locate the LNR so the easiest way to find it is from the Table of Contents menu by selecting
Designations
Land-Based Designations
Statutory
Local Nature Reserves (England)
You can then zoom in on the map to find Pennington Flash
3. The National Nature Reserve boundary which is an amalgamation of the SBI and LNR.
Thanks for flagging up the presence of floating pennywort in the Sorrowcow pond. It would be worth alerting Wigan Council's Biodiversity Officer and also the GM Ecology Unit who are responsible for selecting and monitoring the SBI. I'll send you a pm shortly with their contact details. I'd also recommend submitting a record to GMEU/GMLRC so they can include it in their Invasive Non Native Species data. The easiest way to do this is by clicking on the GMLRC logo at the bottom of the forum.
Steve
-- Edited by Steve Atkins on Thursday 17th of November 2022 03:00:02 PM
From Wigan Council's Twitter:
"The access road to the flash (off St Helens Rd) is now closed to vehicles Monday - Friday for the next three weeks to allow for essential utilities works. The road will still be open on Saturdays and Sundays"
So, that'll be 14-18 Nov, 21-25 Nov, 28 Nov - 2 Dec
Wigan Council on Twitter: " Pennington Flash visitor notice Please note: The access road to the flash (off St Helens Rd) is now closed to vehicles Monday - Friday for the next three weeks to allow for essential utilities works. The road will still be open on Saturdays and Sundays. https://t.co/HJKIntJ8oS" / Twitter
I'd suggest using Morrison's CP instead
Just in case anybody is planning on visiting the flash in the next few weeks, be aware that the main car park is closed to vehicles Monday to Friday until 5th December.
Also, Horrocks hide has been closed for at least a week and shows no sign of reopening. I'm not sure why or when it will reopen, but I suspect its the ramp up to it which is becoming rotten and unsafe.
I'm not sure how Sorrowcow pond fits into Pennington Flash, is it part of the nature reserve or just an adjacent pond? However, over the past few weeks I've noticed that the invasive plant floating pennywort Hydrocotyle ranunculoides has seemingly taken hold. It's described as "a strong contender for the title of worst aquatic weed in the UK", having spread from garden ponds. It's been banned from sale since 2014 and it's illegal to introduce it into the wild, yet I've never seen it here before this year and it undoubtably has been introduced by somebody recently, probably accidentally or carelessly. It's obviously also a potential threat to other ponds around the flash. More info here https://www.invasive-species.org/species/floating-pennywort/
-- Edited by colin davies on Thursday 3rd of November 2022 02:34:40 PM
I'll bring it up at a meeting with the council in a couple of weeks but in the meantime, I'll email James Winterbottom about it, Craig.
P.S. are you being invited to the Council/ Leigh sports village/ LOS meetings, they are quarterly at LSV
Not really sure what's going on at Ramsdales, but again there's a smell of smoke around the hide and it's the only hide locked again. There's some very sad people in this world.
Yes it was ramsdales thanks for the information,
I assume that the hide you're referring to is Ramsdales? I was there when it was opened this morning, unfortunately some nice person had decided to have a fire inside and although largely undamaged because its made of breeze block, one of the wooden ledges was destroyed, the second to be burnt in that hide. Perhaps its been kept locked while they assess the damage. At least you can view Ramsdales without the need to use the hide.
My first visit to Pennington in many months very disappointed to see one hide locked and the feeding station overgrown and no food so no birds on the plus side did see a green sandpiper year tick
Just another Saturday at Pennington Flash, temporary toilets on the car park burnt down overnight, hides left open all night and swimmers going in off car park. Apparently the new cafe building has already had two windows smashed earlier in the week.
I've noticed that the hides at the Flash appear to have been permanently open for about the past 2 weeks. Last night I was in Horrocks until 8.30pm, this morning it was open at 7am and in between those times somebody had left some litter.
Without getting drawn into what became a very heated debate on other platforms, the GMBRG has been involved in discussions with Wigan Council and it seems apparent that the development was taken very much out of context. Below is a statement from Stuart Holden of Wigan Council but we (the GMBRG) are so far satisfied with the response, discussions and assurances we have over their plans. That is not to say we have been fully comfortable with everything it encompasses but long term the prospects for the site look much better and any deviation from that will be met with the full weight of the group.
“ Pennington Flash Nature Reserve is much loved and our priority is to cherish this wonderful place. Producing a positive and thoughtful plan to bring people and nature together in a considered way is integral to our future vision for Pennington Flash Nature Reserve and has the full support of Natural England, whose purpose is to help protect and restore our natural world. We are and will continue to work closely with our local stakeholders and Natural England to deliver this and position Pennington Flash as a flagship for the modern-day nature reserve, which is demonstrated in our ongoing bid to see the site recognised as a National Nature Reserve.
“The Hide Coffee House is just one of many significant investments we are making to respond to feedback and to ensure local residents and visitors can enjoy all that Pennington Flash has to offer to its fullest. The coffee house will focus on offering good quality hot drinks and snacks to visitors, and on occasion host events in keeping with the location.
“As part of the plan, an alcohol and events licencing application has been submitted in order to provide flexibility for future plans. I’d like to reassure residents that the use of the proposed alcohol and events licence will be limited to very specific, well managed and appropriate events for the setting.
The development has been scaled back, though it would have been better if the alcohol licence had been removed completely
Pennington Flash: Nature reserve plans scaled back after backlash - BBC News
Dear friends, if you have an interest in knowing about developments at the flash, please register as follows. Regards David
Rearranged stakeholder engagement session
As the phase one project at Pennington is transitioning into its delivery phase I would like to invite you to a stakeholder engagement session on the 23.05.22. This replaces the session in early May that had to be cancelled
The session will commence at 17.30 and last for around 90 minutes. Key members of the project team will deliver the presentation within the boardroom at Leigh Sports Village with an opportunity for stakeholders to raise questions.
During the session, we will set out the anticipated programme for the delivery of the phase one work, and the anticipated level of disruption and provide an update on our plans to manage the site upon completion of the capital works through the partnership approach with colleagues operating Leigh Sports Village.
If you are able to attend the session I would be grateful if you could confirm your attendance in advance so that we provide refreshments for the anticipated attendees.
I hope that you are able to make the planned session and look forward to sharing the latest position on the day. If there are any queries in advance please do let me know.
Many thanks
Stuart Holden
Wigan Council
Be Well Service Manager - Strategic development & Innovation
Email: Stuart.Holden@wigan.gov.uk
T: 01942 828234
Colin, this will be worth attending you could find out more about the NR proposals. There is a plan worked out by RSPB for restoration and enhancement of the NR but I think it's dependent on if Pennington is included in the NNR
Dear valued stakeholder
As the phase one project at Pennington is transitioning into its delivery phase I would like to invite you to a stakeholder engagement session on the 11.04.22 .
The session will commence at 17.30 and last for around 90 minutes. Key members of the project team will deliver the presentation within the boardroom at Leigh Sports Village with an opportunity for stakeholders to raise questions.
During the session we will set out the anticipated programme for the delivery of the phase one work, the anticipated level of disruption and provide an update on our plans to manage the site upon completion of the capital works through the partnership approach with colleagues operating Leigh Sports Village.
If you are able to attend the session I would be grateful if you could confirm your attendance in advance so that we provide refreshments for the anticipated attendees.
I hope that you are able to make the planned session and look forward to sharing the latest position on the day. If there are any queries in advance please do let me know.
Many thanks
Stuart Holden
Wigan Council
Development Manager Projects, Product and Bids
Email: Stuart.Holden@wigan.gov.uk
T: 01942 828234
Seems like work is beginning on the new visitor centre and car park, apparently due to be completed by the end of the summer (see attached photo). There's not much mention of the nature reserve part of the flash but at least it's got a new logo. Anybody know of any proposed management, enhancement or restoration work which is likely to take place?
-- Edited by colin davies on Wednesday 30th of March 2022 05:35:36 PM
-- Edited by David Shallcross on Sunday 17th of October 2021 10:55:14 PM
Last year, a couple walked past me at Horrocks onto the spit. I advised them it was a nature reserve (they were too interested in each other to read the sign), and they apologised genuinely & quickly got off. er, so to speak
Having said that, a few years ago there was a couple right by the public footpath at the same spot. They weren't on the NR, but - well, really!
Admittedly there's not a lot can be done about swimmers from the sailing club. The Sailing club own a big chunk of the water, so they can do as they like. They should only swim (or sail) within the boundaries of their ownership though. As per my earlier post. The buoys that marked the nature reserve/no sail zone have moved considerably and need replacing. They are a good 50-100m out of line. The swimmers from the car park were a new one for me though and its that that I'm really referring to needing stopping.
I'm told by a regular who gets there much earlier than me that two swimmers go out from the car park early morning almost daily throughout the year, even when the Flash was partly iced over in the winter. A couple of days ago there were two men blowing up some kind of inflatable and preparing to go out from the car park and last week there was an angler just off east bay reedbed in an inflatable.
When we came out of the first lockdown last May, the Flash was one of the few places where open water swimming was allowed and this attracted larger numbers than usual. On more than one occasion I counted around 100 swimmers in the water, stretching from the yacht club to the ruck and right over towards east bay. Basically anywhere within the buoys where the yachts can go. These swimmers were / are there six days a week for at least a couple of hours each time, either early morning or evening, and they also have Gemini craft support boats which whizz around the flash checking that everybody is ok, so basically the whole of the flash within the boundary of the buoys is out of bounds for wildfowl. No wonder duck numbers are well down and we never get a diver that stays.
Canoes from the yacht club regularly go right up to the west end reeds. About a month ago three canoes went out from the car park right along the spit close in and were about to go into Ramsdales until another Flash regular shouted to them to stop from the Ruck.
Also about a month ago there was a party going on in Ramsdales reedbed, I could hear laughing and shouting and music, and there was smoke rising from the reedbed. It's not unusual at all to see anglers on the spit, especially early morning and a year or two ago I even came across Leigh fire brigade training in front of Ramsdales hide.
Add to all of this dog walkers with 2, 3, 4 dogs off the lead running everywhere, the spit overgrown and not managed at all and John is quite correct, it's not a nature reserve anymore, it's just a place where despite everything you might get lucky and see a bird on passage. Just compare the sightings from Elton Reservoir or Audenshaw to Pennington Flash, there's no comparison. One dunlin is a good day at the flash these days.
Unfortunately I don't think anything can now be done to save it, it's too far gone and I can only see it getting worse. More and more houses are going up all around and a new cafe and visitor centre is apparently being built and the overwhelming majority of visitors just see it as a playground. Councilors hold up signs for photo shoots advertising the new visitor centre which call the place Pennington Flash Nature Reserve, that's just a sick joke unless they're prepared to invest heavily in the place, including wardens.
This is why I don't go very much, despite living a 10 minute walk away.
-- Edited by colin davies on Wednesday 12th of May 2021 02:01:48 PM
Bit late for the swimming to be nipped in the bud,it's been going on now for about 2 years or more ,everyone was informed at the time ,and as usual with penny nothing has happened,if I remember Colin Davies highlighted it many times in the last few years ,I have seen them swim through Gull Roosts ,boat club's to the ruck seems a regular route,penny is more disturbed than it's ever been.I reported it many times as I did with most issues ,even I have more or less given up now.For me now I don't think of it as a nature reserve I just except it for what it has become a place were it's all things to all men, were it's more or less a park were everyone does whatever they want to and birders now just have to accept this, and accept it as a place were you see what you see.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 12th of May 2021 08:00:35 AM
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 12th of May 2021 11:09:39 AM
Added to this, swimmers were also out at the sailing club, with one noted swimming very close to the ruck and possibly outside the area the sailing club are supposed to use. So essentially the only undisturbed place this evening was Rammies
-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Wednesday 3rd of June 2020 09:21:02 AM
Some progress with reporting the madness at the flash 2 councillors have been in touch and will make enquiries for us.
I am trying my best to bring these offences to the attention of the council, councillors and Police, the police are indifferent to it even being an offence, my council contacts are on Furlow so it's down to every one of us to keep reporting it and gathering info and pictures
please post them here or send them to leighos.chairman@gmail.com but in all cases report to the police and your local councillor
-- Edited by David Shallcross on Tuesday 2nd of June 2020 11:18:40 AM
Originally posted yesterday by Lez Fairclough:
Unbelievable scenes on the main spit 50yds in front of Horrocks Hide at 4pm with approx 20 people some of them swimming & a BBQ in full swing!
Thanks, Colin and Gordon, the site is rapidly going downhill, a lot of birders don't go anymore so there are fewer eyes watching for wrongdoings. The lack of proper wardens and patrols have taken their toll, it's become a free for all, illegal fishing, trespass and out of control dogs. Despite the best efforts of my volunteer group we don't seem to take things forward, last year we put in over 600 hours but that's just fire fighting as they say. I have sent the photos and reported the trespass incidents to 4 council officials who have a responsibility at Pennington. We will see where it goes please keep me informed if you are managing to go down there I have to stay away just now as I have lung issues (job-related).
Hi, Colin and Gordon, if you can send me the photos i can send them on the WBC to highlight what is going on. Regards David: leighos.chairman@gmail.com
Depressingly, when I arrived in East bay today at 7:30 there was a temporary hide on the end of the spit. It wasn't a angler, it was the type of hide either photographer or a shooter uses. At about 7:45 the person in the hide got out and took the hide down and left. I didn't see either a gun or a camera but whatever he had it was in his large rucksack. I have photos of the person but I'm not going to post them here.
Yesterday evening (Wednesday) while stood by Ramsdales Hide 2 guys walked out over scrapes to the middle island and out of view, they weren't carrying anything. When later on the point I looked at the spit and couldn't see them. Maybe these were the same people
Next phase of Believe in Leigh funding announced
John who are you reporting it to
Unfortunately the fishermen are now encamped all along ramsdales reedbed, m fed up of reporting it and nothing getting done, Boats on main flash fishermen in Ramsdales birds don't know,were to go.
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 1st of January 2020 02:40:23 PM
If you are thinking of a nice day in the hides at Penny, forget it, the whole place is underwater. It will need 2/3 dry days for it to drain away.
-- Edited by David Shallcross on Wednesday 31st of July 2019 06:11:11 PM
I have asked the Sailing Club to remind members of the restrictions, any future sightings please email me: leighos.chairman@gmail.com or let them know on the day. Thanks for highlighting this Craig
The powers that be have acted on our request for a deeper channel to be dug around "disaster Island" When is anybody's guess!!!
as suspected the drying out has happened, we are trying to get a barrier put in place.
Colin, it's good to hear that the Cowslips have now some protection, as requested. Regarding "disaster Island" can i forward your concerns to both Mark Champion who carried out the work and Graham Workman who authorised it. (not sure where the funds came from)
The subject with also be aired at a forthcoming Greenhart forum meeting.
P.S. for anyone with spare time, the volunteer groups have 3 meetings planned on 24th May - 29th May -6th June. 9-30 am in the carpark. or see https://pennyflashvolunteers.blogspot.co.uk/
If you get no joy on 101 then use 999 as motorbikes on narrow and well used tracks like that pose a serious hazard and could easily end up involving pedestrians.