Latest news

More free tickets for Lodges experience 🎟️

After a full renovation, Haigh's iconic Grade II* listed Plantation Gates and Lodges have opened to the public for the very first time!

Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the South Lodge has been transformed into a visitor information space and the North Lodge into an immersive experience. 

The installation has been created by local artists Leo Mercer and James Hooton, inspired by the history, woodland and stories of Haigh.

The Lodges are open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10am-2pm. To start with, it's entry by ticket only in order to manage numbers and slots for this weekend are already full - but extra spaces have now been released for 11-12 July.

Football's coming home... to Standish! ⚽

Work to improve community football pitches in Standish has kicked off during the World Cup.

Fields at Ashfield Park and Southlands Recreation Ground (aka ‘The Rec’) are being remodelled and re-seeded to create safe, high-quality playing surfaces.

Better drainage will also make the pitches more resilient to wet weather, so they can be used by local sports clubs and the community for more of the year.

In other news...

🚭 The number of young people smoking and vaping in Wigan Borough is falling, according to new research. A Trading Standards survey of more than 1,000 school children aged 14-17 showed the number of young people who have tried vaping dropped from around 44 per cent in 2023 to 18 per cent in 2026. The survey, carried out between November 2025 and February 2026, also highlights that smoking is at an all-time low, with around 97 per cent reporting to have never tried smoking. Read the full story on the council website.

📰 A shop and deli counter in Leigh has been fined £20,000 for repeated food hygiene failures that included out of date food and evidence of rodent activity. Leigh Superstore on Leigh Road (registered as Uani Mini Market Ltd) was given a one-star food hygiene rating in 2021 and, with the failures persisting, the case was escalated by Wigan Council and taken to Wigan and Leigh Magistrates Court last month. 

💚 Hindley Leisure Centre is set for an exciting gym upgrade next month as part of the council’s continued investment in Be Well leisure centres. The team will be refreshing the gym space with new flooring and all-new state of the art cardio machines from Technogym - plus a range of functional exercise equipment. Not a Be Well member? Now’s a great time to join with one month free using code BEWELLSUMMER26. Explore membership options on the Be Well website.

🗳️ A GM Mayoral Election is taking place across Greater Manchester on Thursday 30 July. Not registered to vote? You've got until 14 July to get it sorted. The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on 15 July, while applications for a proxy vote or free voter ID can be made until 5pm on 22 July. It only takes five minutes, so make sure to register now on the government website.

📣 The current Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) in place for Wigan and Leigh town centres expire later this year. A consultation is underway to help shape what happens next. A PSPO is a legal power used to address behaviours in public places that negatively affect others. It allows authorised officers to take action where behaviour is causing nuisance, disorder or safety concerns. Click here to have your say.

What's on

A day to remember this Sunday 🫶

Wigan Borough residents will be walking for a world without dementia this weekend as Be Well's annual Memory Walk returns to Pennington Flash on Sunday (5 July).

Unlike previous years, it's the only Memory Walk this year so let's make it as big and brilliant as possible to raise as much money and awareness as we can for the Alzheimer's Society.

Registration is from 10.15am for an 11am start, and Be Well's wonderful dance diva Danielle will be getting us all warmed up again - so make sure to get down early!

Even if you can't make it, you can still play your part in the battle against dementia by making a donation (however big or small) through the official Just Giving page. 

New swim sessions at Scotman's 🏊

Be Well Outdoors has launched supervised open water swimming sessions at Scotman's Flash for the summer, starting from tomorrow (Saturday 4 July).

The sessions are a safe, fully supported way of dipping your toe into the water of this increasingly popular sport - and perfect for building water confidence and improving your fitness.

As well as morning sessions for ages 18+ (or 14+ with an adult) from Wednesday to Saturday, there are also dedicated women only, men only and over 50s slots on Mondays.

You can book through the free Be Well app or online booking site (select 'Be Well Outdoors'). Make sure to check the FAQs on the Scotman's Flash Facebook page for all you need to know before you arrive.

Important: Open water swimming is only permitted during organised sessions. Unauthorised swimming at Scotman's Flash remains strictly prohibited for safety reasons.

Love Parks Week coming soon! 🌳

Join Be Well for Love Parks Week (27 July - 1 August) and celebrate our amazing parks and green spaces with a fantastic week of FREE, fun activities for all ages and abilities.

Whether you're looking to get active, try something new, meet new people, or simply enjoy the outdoors, there's something for everyone, including... Tennis, Pickleball, Bowls, 'Walk and Talks, Ladies football, 'Weigh in Rugby', Explore and Play sessions, Park Gym, Foot Golf and Disc Golf, Petanque and more!

Locations include Alexandra Park, Pennington Hall Park, Jubilee Park, Stockley Park, Lilford Park, Orrell Water Park and other parks and green spaces across the borough.

Places are now available to book for free using the Be Well app or online booking site (select 'community venues' and parks'). New to Be Well? Simply create a free booking profile at checkout.

More what's on...

🏃 Free NHS health checks will be available to runners and volunteers at Pennington Flash Parkrun tomorrow (Saturday 4 July) and Haigh Woodland Parkrun on Saturday 11 July as part of a parkrun takeover by local Primary Care Networks. The Be Well team will also be there from 8.30am offering health and wellbeing advice. If you’re new to parkrun, all you need to do is register for a barcode on the official website so you can take part. Participants are also asked to wear blue for the takeover events, in tribute to the NHS.

🪿 The annual Flashes Festival of Nature returns to Pennington Flash on Sunday 19 July (11am-4pm). Expect nature-themed activities, creative workshops, fun performances and artisan stalls filled with hand-crafted goodies - plus the launch of this year's Billy the Blackbird Summer Fun Trail. Entry is free, and you don't need a ticket, but some of the activities on the day may incur a small cost. Find out more about what's on at Pennington Flash this summer.

🎸 Get ready for an unforgettable day of live music, fresh talent, and vibrant atmosphere at Haigh Live: Grassroots Edition - a celebration of the region’s most exciting emerging artists, set in the stunning surroundings of Haigh Woodland Park. This one-day event on Saturday 11 July (2pm-9pm) brings together an eclectic mix of local acts, with a focus on community, creativity, and connection. Book your tickets on the online booking site.

📻 Join South Lancs Amateur Radio Club at Haigh’s bandstand on Saturday (4 July, 10am-5pm) to find out more about the fascinating hobby of amateur radio. You'll be able to operate the station yourself and talk to other amateur radio stations around the world. You can also have a go at radio direction finding to try and locate a hidden transmitter - just like hunting down a spy using a clandestine transmitter! Visit the SLARC website for more information about the club and amateur radio.

🎶 Jennifer Reid and Tom Kitching present their new show, ‘Bitter and Mild’, a tongue-in-cheek celebration of the North West through songs, stories, and a skeletal horse! Coming to Wigan Museum on Friday 10 July (7pm-9pm), the show is a fast-paced, anarchic, singalong ramble and rant through those steadfast and vital traditions upon which we lean as we seek to make sense of the bewildering changes wrought by industrialisation and modernity. Tickets are just £10. Book now via eventbrite or call 01942 828128.

Our communities

Help shape the future for young people 📢

Young people, parents and carers, and professionals, are now invited to fill in some new surveys that will help shape the future of the borough for young people.

Your views will be listened to by local decision makers and help guide future planning and investment in young people’s activities, services, and opportunities across Wigan Borough.

The project is being delivered by Youth Focus North West, working in partnership with Wigan Council.

More in our communities...

😎 The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme will be back during the school holidays, with another brilliant line-up of activities across the borough. Eligible families can now book their places using their e-voucher at holidayactivities.com (if you’re eligible but haven’t received your voucher yet, please speak to your school.) Even if you don’t qualify for benefits-related free school meals, lots of places are available on a paid-for basis – including Be Well’s exciting holiday camps at Robin Park Leisure Centre that have tennis, gymnastics, rebound therapy and more! Find out more about HAF programme on the council website.

🎒 Rebuild With Hope's Big School Uniform Sale is back next Friday (10 July). If you fancy picking up some bargains for the new school year in September, make sure to head upstairs in Wigan's Grand Arcade from 10am to 4pm. Every school uniform item will be just £2!

🗣️There are just a couple of days left to share your experiences of childcare to help shape local council support for families across Wigan Borough. A survey has launched for parents of either early years (0-5) or school-aged children (0-14-years, and up to 18 years for children with disabilities). Have your say now!

🏆 Do you know an inspirational achiever, unsung hero or successful club from your community who deserves recognition? If so, make sure to nominate them now for this year’s Believe Sports Awards - Wigan Borough's annual celebration of grassroots sport. Submit a nomination via the Be Well website.

👮 Could you be a ‘Special’? The Special Constabulary is made up of volunteer police officers who support policing across Greater Manchester. The role offers full training, uniform and equipment, and provides a unique opportunity for people to give something back to their community while developing new skills and experiences. Sound interesting? Visit the Greater Manchester Police website to find out more.

🤝 There's still time to make a nomination for this year’s Better Together Awards. The awards celebrate individuals, businesses, charities, CICs and volunteers who have gone above and beyond to support their local communities across Leigh, Tyldesley, Mosley Common, Astley, Atherton, Lowton and Golborne. The are 16 categories being contested, with the winners to be revealed at Leigh Miners Welfare on Friday 20 November. If you know somebody who deserves recognition, you can submit a nomination online until Saturday 11 July.

🍻 Avoid a penalty during the World Cup! If you're planning to watch the footy at a pub or a house party, make sure to arrange your lift or taxi before the match and leave your car at home. And remember, you could still be under the influence the morning after - so please plan ahead for your travel the next day. Drink or drug driving could lead to a criminal record, an unlimited fine and up to 6 months in prison, so it’s not worth the risk.

Here For You

Rising energy bills? We're Here For You... 💛

The energy regulator Ofgem recently announced the energy price cap would rise 13 per cent from 1 July - that's around £18 a month for the average household using both gas and electricity.

If you're worried about the impact this could have, please don’t suffer alone. There is help, support and advice out there.

Our Here for You campaign has already seen £17 million unlocked for local residents, with events across the borough and dedicated support at our Life Centres and libraries to help people understand what they’re entitled to.