Shirley Park is in Shirley, Solihull, close to a shopping area that is becoming more popular with…read morepeople from outside the Shirley area. The park provides relief to the frantic high street and is ideal for a family picnic. There are a wide range of activities in the Park, including pitch and putt, and a range of events through out the summer months. The Donkey Derby is one of my favourites. It is a large outdoor summer fair with lots of animals to interact with I was lucky enough to speak to the parks warden and he told me the Park was originally home to farmland, which was bought up in 1927. At a later stage additional features were introduced which included an ornamental garden and formal walkways. A walk through the woods of the park is especially pleasant in spring when the bluebells produce a vivid array of colours. It is also possible to view wildfowl as the pond is used on a frequent basis by birds and wildlife. Play equipment includes: - Junior & toddler swings, Junior & toddler multi play, Senior & junior mound slide, Talking flowers, Horse springers, reveloution roundabout, play car and crazy mirrors. I grew up in the area as a child and have fond memories of this park, to the extent that I visit it most weeks.

I don't use the term 'hidden gem' often, many because it's such a cliche and rarely true in these…read moredays of vapid overstatement. However, in this case it is literally true. You might never know it exists unless you're a resident of the local patch. I've lived over this side of Birmingham for over ten years and only discovered its existence a few months ago. I found it because I was trying to find Playpod (a soft play area) off the Stratford Road and stumbled upon this park by accident. There's plenty of green space surrounded by trees where you can play football or use the tennis courts if team games aren't you're thing. It's a great place for a picnic too, even though it's surrounded by busy residential streets. The play ground has swings, climbing frames, various slides, those flowers that you can talk into, a roundabout, play car andfunny mirrors. Everything is in pretty good condition too. There's also a skate park and even pitch and putt (though you have to take your own clubs and balls if you want to play.) I don't remember seeing any toilets because for once we didn't need to use them, but I'm sure there must be some nearby. If you want snacks and drinks, the shops on the high street are a few minutes away.

Yesterday's bank holiday was fun with myself and 30 members of my youth group aiming paintballs at…read moreeach other. It was my first time at this paintball centre, so I was looking forward to it. Location: It was located in a nice area, close to people like myself that lives in Birmingham Directions: The postcode takes you to the place but due to NO SIGNAGE, about 6 vehicles went right ( because that sign says "welcome to ...., so we automatically thought that was the way to follow) we followed the path and on getting to the end, we realised it leads to a different centre and we all had to turn round on the tiny road. Proper signage will have been great to get people there on time without missing any game, as we missed out on our first game. Equipments: Good and clean equipments were given, which is a plus unlike other paintball centres I have been. Helmet, jumpsuit was clean and not dirty. Staff/ marshals: This guys are friendly and very helpfully. You can see that they know what they are doing and are passionate. The rules and guidelines were given in a creative way :) with some funny moments. Great guys! Overall: I was glad I brought my youth group here. The staff are well organised and skilled in what they do. They created a friendly environment. Everyone loved it....So it's a YES from me and 30 YES's from my youth!

It was a bit of a busman's holiday when the best man returned from Afghanistan and announced that…read morefor part of Paul's stag weekend that we'd be going paintballing. I'd always wanted to run around in a forest hunting while being hunted, and as soon as we'd arrived it was obvious from the professional set-up there that Jim's choice of Beechwood was a good one. Once we'd got kitted out, the safety procedures were explained and we went in for the first game. It soon became clear that this wasn't simply going to be a day of of hide and seek in the forest with guns. The first game we played was Tomb Raider. Here there was forest clearing, with a pyramid in the middle, with a door-hole in each face. The idea was to get to the pyramid and take an object from it before the other team. Although there were some Easter Island statues and some concrete blocks to offer coverage from enemy fire, it was going to be no walk in the park. Our team lost this one due to a bit of over-excitement and a lack of planning, but throughout the course of the day we covered 8 different scenarios, and int he end we came out the victors of the day. My personal favourite scenario was Afghan Fort in which I manged to remain undetected and shoot the last remaining member of the other team just before he got to the fort. There are lots of paintball options around the Birmingham area. Beechwood were excellently organised, their game scenarios areas are stimulating, the game areas are realistic, and the staff were fun people to host the day. I'd love to go there again soon. And you?

A lovely place to get a coffee or an ice cream depending on the weather. It is open a lot during…read morethe warmer months and I do not see it open very often at this time of year. They sell some small trinkets and pocket money toys for children. It is a nice place to break up the time spent walking or playing with children in the park and the staff are ok

Earlswood Lakes is the name given to three reservoirs (Engine Pool, Windmill Pool and Terry's Pool)…read moreoriginally built in 1820, but that with the time which became also a popular destination for walking, fishing and sailing too. As a perfect spot to spending the day, The Earlswood Lakes is a very bucolic place next to the Village of Earlswood and just 30 minutes far from the city centre. You can bring your own food and have a picnic in the fishing decks, which I highly recommend, or if you are not afraid of some walking, just explore the village cafes and pubs. The Earlswood Lakes has inviting pathways that help you to experience the wildlife in this fabulous site. You can also get there by car for the M42, getting the junction A34 towards Birmingham and Shirley.

I absolutely love Earlswood Lakes, it's one of those places everybody should visit. We are really…read morelucky to live so close to such a glistening collection of pools. It's not far to drive to at all. I come here every summer to get some fresh air and to take in the relaxed surroundings. There's even a bridge for cars to drive over, so if you were feeling lazy, you don't even have to get out of your vehicle to experience Earlswood's wonders. There's lots of different walking pathways to take, and I don't think I've ever done them all myself. I often walk down the one side of the lakes, just to be envious of the humongous houses and land that people own. I usually imagine celebrities to live in some of the places, but I'm probably building my hopes up a little too much! I've also been to the Lakes during December when they are completely frozen over. It's a truly magical sight, with the pathways and trees coated in a white blanket. Earlswood Lakes is an amazing place to visit, whether it be in the summer or the winter.

I'm without a car but close to a railway station so Tudor Grange Park was a great find for me as it…read moreis within easy walking distance of Solihull Train Station. The quickest way to get to it is to go down the station steps and when the lift is in front of you turn LEFT (it's a right turn to the bus station and the shops, past the ticket office) This leads to a public footpath, turn left again and walk for a minute until you reach the main road. Cross at the pelican crossing before the railway bridge and walk into the swimming baths car park, carry on walking alongside the leisure centre and you'll soon be in the park. Last time I went there was some building work going on but it was still easy to negotiate your way round. There's a wide flat expanse of green, ponds with geese etc. and a children's play area that has a good variety of playthings. My children especially like the slide as it is (by their standards) a high one. I've bitten my nails a few times watching a 3 year old climb up it. There's a skate park next to it and in school holidays and at weekends this can get quite busy. I've seen quite a high standard of skaters here and they can attract a wealth of hangers -on. Plenty of stuff to have fun with on a fine day, then just a short walk back to the station and home. I looked it up in the A-Z and it looks as if there are a number of different entrances to it that locals would probably use but I'm just a tourist and come by train!