Pennington Flash is a 200-hectare site centred on a 70-hectare lake or 'Flash' with a number of scrapes and nature reserve area to the northern corner. The site is probably the best-watched site in the county and is well watched by many local birders. As of March 2009 the site list totalled 243 and the site is famous for the discovery of the 1st Black-faced Bunting in Britain in 1994, staying for 7 weeks.

There are 7 well situated hides mainly overlooking the scrapes, with the Bunting hide overlooking a feeding station that affords good photographic opportunities for especially Bullfinch, Reed Bunting also Willow Tit and sometimes Waterail if your lucky, in addition to the usual suspects.

The park has a good variety of habitats which can produce am impressive number of species at all times of year, a circuit of the whole Flash is approximately 3-4 miles or if not feeling that energetic the hides are all in close proximity to each other. A day at Pennington Flash is a must for any serious local birder.

In the lobby of the toilet block situated at the top of the pay and display car park is recent sightings notice board. There is not a café but a vendor works from the car park.

HOW TO GET THERE?

BY CAR
The Park lies close to the A580 East Lancashire Road and is well signposted from it

BY BUS
From Leigh Bus Station take the 600 to the outskirts of the Park, alight at the Robin Hood pub, for details Tel 01942 883501

ON FOOT
The Park is only a short walk away from Leigh town centre, there is a footpath entrance into the Eastside of the Park from St Helens Road, which will take you along the old Pennington Railway line.