Clifton Country Park
The park comprises 119 acres (48 ha) of wooded area, fields and lakes. Industrial heritage is also a feature of the park; the remains of Wet Earth Colliery can be found in the woods, along with Fletcher's Canal. The park also features two sculptures from the Irwell Sculpture Trail. There is a fairytale trail around the lake where wooden carvings are situated, including a full size Gruffalo.
Importance
Clifton House Farm, Clifton Marina and Wet Earth Colliery together form the strategically important site of Clifton Country Park, providing a focal point within the Croal/Irwell Valley and on Salford's Recreation Routes network. An action plan was drawn up to help protect the site and establish several improvements to the area. The action plan also identifies two Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for their biological diversity. The marina has also been cited as a place to plant trees and develop a green area along the western edge of the Greater Manchester conurbation.
Recreation
Clifton Marina, a gravel pit developed during the construction in the 1960s of the M62 across the Irwell Valley (now part of the M60), is popular with walkers, joggers and fishermen. There is a surfaced path around the lake providing a circular walk which is fully accessible for disabled users including those in motorised wheelchairs. A visitor centre is fully accessible with both sex toilet facilities. For anglers, the marina is well stocked with carp, bream, roach, tench, pike and perch. In October 2006, this venue produced the Lancashire record carp with a 41 lb 7oz mirror carp caught by Jason Clarke.
References
- ^ "Clifton Country Park". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England.
- ^ "Map of Clifton Country Park". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England.
- ^ "Planning Policy". Retrieved 8 October 2007.
- ^ "Clifton Marina". Retrieved 8 October 2007.
- ^ "UK Carp Record Fish". Retrieved 4 October 2008.
External links
53°32′07″N 2°20′44″W / 53.5352°N 2.3455°W