Clifton Country Park

'Lookout', a sculpture within the park

Clifton Country Park is a Local Nature Reserve in the Irwell Valley at Clifton, Salford, Greater Manchester, North-west England.

The park comprises 48 hectares of wooded area, fields, and lakes. Industrial heritage is also a feature of the park, the remains of the 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.

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.^[1]

Recreation

Clifton Marina, a gravel pit developed during the construction of the M62, 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 wheel chairs. A visitor centre is fully accessible with both sex toilet facilities. ^[2] For the angler, the Marina is well stocked with carp, bream, roach, tench, pike, and perch. Many of these species running into specimen weights. In October 2006 this venue produced the Lancashire record carp with a 41lb 7oz Mirror carp known as Mr Angry. The lucky captor was Jason Clarke who ended a six year quest in pursuit of this fish, to-date the record still stands.^[3]

References

1. ^ "Planning Policy". http://www.salford.gov.uk/living/planning/planning-policy/udp/udp-1995/udp-recreation.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-08. 
2. ^ "Clifton Marina". http://www.salford.gov.uk/leisure/parks/countryparks/cliftoncountry.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-08. 
3. ^ "UK Carp Record Fish". http://www.carpforum.co.uk/Shared/Messages.asp?TopicID=72881. Retrieved 2008-10-04. 

External links

• Images of the park
• Green Flag Awards
• Salford City Council Website link

Coordinates: 53°32′07″N 2°20′44″W / 53.5352°N 2.3455°W / 53.5352; -2.3455