South Lancashire Bat Group - Registered Charity No 1109519
Grid ref: SD 736140
Key Species: Soprano Pipistrelle, Common Pipistrelle, Daubenton’s Bat Noctule and Brown Long-Eared Bat.
Access: The entrance to the reservoir is from the A676 heading out of Bolton. The reservoir is signposted from here. Turn left at Moss Hill Farm. At the end of this road turn left into the car park. From the car park, there is a path, which leads past the cafe along the edge of the reservoir.
Site Description: The reservoir and the open areas along the path provide the focus for the bat interest. The reservoir, which is managed by United Utilities, is fully accessible to the public, however the toilets and café are shut during the evening. Other bats that have been recorded nearby are Whiskered/Brandt’s.
Grid ref: SD 799127
Key Species: Soprano Pipistrelle, Common Pipistrelle and Daubenton’s Bat.
Access: The entrance to the park at the end of Woodhill Road Bury, signposted from the B6214, Brandlesholme Road approximately 1 mile from Bury town centre. There is a car park, next to the on site public house or outside the activity centre. From the car park, there is a path, which leads to the canoe pool and along the River Irwell. Another path leading around the back of the activity centre takes you to a circular walk along the river and past two old millponds, leftover from the sites former industrial use.
Site Description: Two millponds, the canoe pool and the River provide the focus for the bat interest. The park, which is managed by the Bury Countryside Service, is fully accessible to the public. Other bats that have been recorded nearby are Noctule, Whiskered/Brandt’s and Brown Long-Eared.
Grid ref: SD 643991
Key Species: Soprano Pipistrelle, Common Pipistrelle, Noctule, Daubenton’s Bat, Brown Long-Eared Bat and Natterers Bat
Access: The main entrance to the park is located from the A580 (East Lancs Road) and is signposted from it. Take the turning onto the A579 to Leigh. At the lights take the filter lane to the left onto the A572, and take the first right turn into the park. Follow the road to the car park. From the car park, there is a path, which leads along the edge of the main Flash. A flash is a lake created by mining.
Site Description: The main flash and main of the surrounding pools provide the focus for the bat interest, as well as the field next to the Centre, where noctules are easily visible over the field and tree lines. The park, which is managed by the Wigan Countryside Service, is fully accessible to the public.
Safety: Unfortunately at night the car park is often populated by local youths, however this tends not to be a problem until quite late on.
Birkacre, Yarrow Country Park, Chorley Lancashire
Grid ref: SD 570152
Key Species: Soprano Pipistrelle, Common Pipistrelle, Noctule, Whiskered Bat, and Daubenton’s Bat.
Access: Take M61 Junction 8, and follow the signs to Chorley on the A6. Go over 8 roundabouts, and take the right turn onto the B5251 at the ninth roundabout to Coppull. Straight over all roundabouts. Road becomes Pall Mall, then Moor Road, into Coppull Road. Go down the hill and turn left into Birkacre Road, very small road, sign posted Yarrow Country Park. Turn left off this road into the car park. From the car park, there is a path, which lead to the main reservoir. If this is followed to the left two small ponds can also be looked at. At the southern end of the main reservoir there is a bridge leading across a stream where good numbers of whiskered and Daubenton’s bats can regularly be seen
Site Description: Deciduous woodland. The water bodies provide the focus for the bat interest. The park, which is managed by the Chorley Countryside Service, is fully accessible to the public. Other bats that have been recorded nearby are Brown Long-Eared.
Wigan Flashes, Wigan Lancashire
Grid ref: SD 580041
Key Species: Soprano Pipistrelle, Common Pipistrelle, Noctule, and Daubenton’s Bat.
Access: Take the M61 North to Junction 6 (Middlebrook – Reebok Stadium) At the top of the slip road Turn Left and head towards the A6. At the next roundabout turn Left onto the A6, then get into the right hand lane and take the first right at the traffic lights onto Dicconson Lane. Follow this over one mini roundabout then to a larger roundabout, turn left here onto the B5238, Wigan Road. Follow this until you reach the A49, and then turn left onto the A49. Follow this road and it becomes Chapel Lane then Poolstock Road. Follow this past the ice cream factory on the right. The Beer Engine pub is on the right just before the mini roundabout. This is the best place to park (and the beers not bad either)! From here, cross Poolstock Road and head South West. There is a small track through the bushes, which leads up to the Leeds/Liverpool canal path. Follow this path to the main Flashes. Bats feed all the way along this [path to the railway track, as well as over the water bodies, and they tend to use the canal as a commuting route.
Site Description: Flashes and canal. The water bodies provide the focus for the bat interest. The site, which is managed by the Wigan Countryside Service, is fully accessible to the public. Other bats that have been recorded nearby are Whiskered and Brown Long-Eared bats.
Philips Park Whitefield Manchester
Grid ref: SD 580041
Key Species: Soprano Pipistrelle, Common Pipistrelle, Daubenton’s Bat, and Brown Long-Eared and Whiskered Bat.
Access: From M62. Take Junction 17 to Whitefield. Follow the sign for the A58 to Bury. Stay in the left hand lane, and take a left at the retail park (MacDonald’s restaurant) onto the A665. At the traffic lights take a left turn onto Park Lane. Follow this over the speed bumps. By some shops the road bends sharply to the left, then leads to a mini roundabout. Go straight across and past the rugby ground on your left hand site. Just after the rugby club the road bends to the right. You should however continue straight on through the Phillips Park Gates. Follow the road over the M62 motorway. Take the first turn on the right and follow the road past the playground to the Barn at the end of this road. There are many roads and tracks around the site and it is probably best to obtain a leaflet with a map in either from the Barn during the day or from the Tourist Information in Bury Town Centre. The main sites to visit are the water bodies of Kingfisher Lodge and Dams head Lodge both left over form the sites previous industrial use as a bleach works. Whiskered Bats have been located in the Mere Clough section of the Park.
Site Description: A mixture of habitats from ancient deciduous woodland, beech woodland, to meadow and open grassland. The water bodies provide the focus for the bat interest. The site, which is managed by the Bury Countryside Service is a Local Nature Reserve and is fully accessible to the public. Other bats that have been recorded nearby are noctules.
Blackleach Country Park, Salford
Grid Reference SD736039
Key Species Pipistrelle bats and Daubenton’s
Access From Junction 14 of the M60, follow the A580 (East Lancs Road) Turn right at the first set of traffic lights onto the A575 towards Walkden. Follow this straight across the A6 crossroads. After approximately 800 metres turn right onto Thorpe Street. The Reservoir can be accessed from here. The best place to see the bats is around tree lines and the reservoir edge.
Moses Gate Country Park, Bolton
Grid Reference SD744068
Key Species Pipistrelle bats and Daubenton’s bats
Access From Bolton follow the signs to Farnworth. Follow signs to the A6053 towards Little Lever. As you drop down a slope take a right turn and follow the track through to the car park. The best places to watch bats are along the woodland edge, over the River Croal and over the 3 reservoirs. You may also encounter odd bats in the woodland itself.
Grid Reference SD688104
Key Species Pipistrelle and Daubenton’s Bats
Access From Bolton Town Centre, Take the B6226, Chorley Old Road. Approximately 200 metres before reaching the A58 roundabout take a left onto a small track. Follow this to the car park. The main bat watching spot is anywhere around the edge of the lodge
Debdale Park Openshaw Manchester
Grid Reference SJ899959
Key Species Pipistrelle, Daubenton’s and Noctule bats can all be seen here
Access From the M60, Take Junction 24, and follow the A57 towards Manchester. After ½ a mile take a right onto Debdale Lane. Follow this to the park. Bats can be seen all around the park, particularly the water bodies.
Daisy Nook Country Park Oldham
Grid Reference SD918005
Key Species Pipistrelle Bats, Daubenton’s, Noctules, Whiskered Bats and Brown Long-Eared Bats
Access From Ashton-Under-Lyne take the A627 towards Oldham, turn Left onto Newmarket Street after ½ a mile. At the T-junction turn right onto Stannybrook Road where you will see the entrance to the park. Bats can be seen all around the park, especially over the water bodies and in the wooded areas.
Worthington Lakes Standish Wigan
Grid Reference SD581105
Key Species Pipistrelle bats, Daubenton’s bats and Noctule Bats
Access From Wigan take the A49 north towards Standish, but before reaching Standish take a right turn onto Chorley Road A5106. The visitor centre is approximately 1 mile further, on the right. Bats can be viewed all over the reservoirs
Grid Reference SD934150
Key Species Pipistrelle bats, Daubenton’s and Noctule bats
Access From the M62, Junction 21, take the A640 towards Rochdale. At the traffic lights turn right onto Bridge Street, and then take the first left onto Kiln Lane. Follow the signs for Hollingworth Lake. Bats can be viewed right around the reservoir.
Grid Reference SJ805928
Key Species Pipistrelle bats, Daubenton’s and Noctule bats
Access From The M60; take Rifle Road from Junction 6. Take the first right and follow the road to the Water Park. Bats can be seen all around the reservoir.
You can contact us on the Batline on 0161 764 8850 (please leave a message) or e-mail us
Last Updated 03/07/06
© South Lancashire Bat Group. Registered Charity No. 1109519