Flashes Festival of Nature returns

A celebration of nature is the theme of a family-friendly fun day hosted at one of Wigan Borough’s most loved venues next month.

The Flashes Festival of Nature returns for 2024 at Pennington Flash to coincide with the National Nature Reserve Week.

The two-day event (Saturday and Sunday, 25 and 26 May) is free and will help residents reconnect with nature with a range of activities, including workshops, wildlife themed art stalls and eco-crafts.

James Winterbottom, Wigan Council’s director for strategy and innovation, said: “We continue to be very proud that our Flashes hold National Nature Reserve status.

“They’re incredible habitats right on our doorstep, home to wonderful local wildlife and vitally important ecosystems.

“The Flashes Festival of Nature is a fun and enjoyable weekend for all the family to come and get involved and celebrate one of our most precious assets that we have here in Wigan Borough.”

The Flashes of Wigan and Leigh is a chain of eight separate wetland habitats running through Wigan Borough, all created by the subsidence of land on former coal mining sites.

It was awarded National Nature Reserve status – the only NNR in Greater Manchester - in recognition of its ecological importance.

It is home to an abundance of wildlife, some unique to the area.

Pennington Flash, the largest of the eight wetland sites, has recently benefited from a more than £2.5m council investment to help boost the visitor experience including the new Hide café and visitor information point, plus new accessible toilets and parking facilities.

James added: “It’s going to be a brilliant weekend at the Flash and we’re looking forward to hosting you. Please come along, have fun and connect with nature!”

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