Swanshurst Park is, to me, one of Birmingham's best parks. For these reasons:…read more 1) There are not one, but two large pools. A lot of parks in this neck of the woods are sadly lacking in water features, and Swanshurst has two. The larger of the two - Moseley Pool - is really beautiful, and surrounded, when I went there last week, with brilliant Spring flowers. It's an important site for various wildfowl too. 2) There is a car park. A good sized, easy accessible, free car park 3) There is a children's play area. This is near the car park so a) little legs don't have to walk far and b) if you fancy a more 'adult' stroll it's easy to get away into the wide yonder, beyond the shrieks of children. 4) It has a lovely combination of wide expanse and heath type landscapes, so you get that relieving feeling of space but there are also little pockets of heath to explore. For me, the greatest thing that this park offers is that expansive sense of space - much welcomed amongst the suburbs of south Birmingham.

People often say that birmingham lacks green space and is some sort of concrete…read morejungle......wrong....I actually have no idea where people get this stuff! Yet another great park space for walking yourself or the dogs, picnics in the warmer months, cycling or that outdoor meditation vibe you saw on YouTube and Connor wait to try. This is not one of those destination parks where I would say travel from far and wide to marvel at its beauty......more a local vibe that gives the area a little something more than just grey and dull suburban vibes.

Hartshill Hayes is set in a wonderful woodland area. It has been for many years our family's…read morefavourite walking area around Nuneaton. The woods are very well managed and retain the right balance of managed and wild areas. This is a mature forest,with a large variety of native trees, woodland plants and wildlife. We never fail to go when the bluebells are flowering as they cover the undergrowth in a rich deep carpet. It truly is a superb sight. It is a wonderful place to go and unwind, sit quietly on a bench, watch and listen to the birds. Children of all ages love exploring and will also like the play area. Adults are sometimes spotted on the rope and tyre swings. The terrain is hilly in most places, but nothing too challenging. There are several options of walks and paths to follow, including the easy path, which is handy for weelchairs and pushchairs. This path in particular will take you on the more scenic part of the park. On a clear day you can see the steam rising from the power station in Burton-on-Trent. There are a few picnic tables and it makes for a lovely day out when the weather is nice. Few people realise how beautiful the woods can be when it is raining, as long as you are well covered! Parking is cheap £1.50 a day, we buy the season ticket and come on the drop of a hat.

We love taking our dog here, it's great to walk through the woods and admire the scenery and we…read moreeven bought a 12 month parking permit.

You could be forgiven for not knowing about Martineau Gardens…read more Rather inconspicuous, it sits alongside a busy junction in the Edgbaston area and doesn't warrant much attention from the road. Once through the gates you find yourself in amongst fruit trees and carefully nurtured plants and flowers, on this occasion we didn't venture past the club house but had already witnessed an almost surreal scene of classes being given on the lawn with a tree being the focus of the lesson, needless to say the world of traffic noise and commuter squabble is soon forgotten. The staff were friendly when approached and assisted with our guesswork as to exactly which fruits blossomed within the protective netting of various beds. Martineau Gardens is a welcoming place and offers a great deal for anyone interested in the simple joys of gardening. Events are held regularly and more information can be found at their website: http://www.martineau-gardens.org.uk/visitor-information/plants-produce/

An oasis of calm just set back from busy Edgbaston roads…read more Volunteer gardeners are friendly and always willing to help. Produce and plants are also often for sale (wood chips, seasonal vegetables and fruit and preserves) There are always interesting things growing and it's good for a look around any time of year. They even have a mulberry tree, not many of those in the area. Their events are worth visiting as there's always a lot going on (from Seed swaps to Apple Days)There's also a great play area with large wooden ship for the tiddlywinks to have a play on.

We took our dog here last weekend following the recommendations here on Yelp. I've lived in…read moreBirmingham for 14 years and didn't even know the place existed despite having driven past it many times! Wow. What a place. The fist thing that struck me was how big it is for saying that I never knew it was there. A huge open golf course area (which is not your usual fancy pants golf club - dog walkers were very welcome), a children's play area and a beautiful wooded area. There is also a cafe but we didn't try that out. The paths are well kept and there are many dog waste bins. I didn't spot any dog mess on the ground - clearly it's a park for well behaved dog owners!! I was also struck by how well kept it is. The people who care for the park obviously take great pride in the park. There are some lovely sculptures and boards showing the history of the park. Absolutely loved it and it's now on our regular dog walking rota! I've deducted one point because the car park is tiny - we visited in February and it was very full so I imagine that in summer it's a nightmare. It did look as though there would be decent street parking around re area though.

This park has an active team who organise a great deal of activities year round. Their latest event…read moreis a tree walk and talk by Chris Shortis. Chris is a local resident and an expert when it comes to the many variety of trees in Warley Woods. We may take trees for granted but after one of Chris's walk and talk events you'll be forever hugging trees everywhere and telling them just how fabulous they are. A learn how to identify birds walk and talk by Liz Coleman who's an RSPB volunteer will get you twitching like crazy, you'll be amazed just how many birds we have flying about us. or you could just use the park to have a wander. It's 100 acres, about 4 miles from the city centre, offers free parking and is another of Birmingham's fantastic retreats.

Kings Norton Green is a lovely, old-fashioned village green. Set amidst the old Tudor buildings of…read moreThe Green, the park itself is a sort of triangular shape, with rows of bulidings lining each side. There are plenty of benches upon which you can sit and admire the historic green - which I did yesterday, and most pleasant it was too. It seems pretty well-kept, and I love the fact that this slightly archaic, villagey Green is placed in the heart of the Birmingham urbs, just off the Pershore Road South. Historically and culturally, the Green is pretty significant - it's been the centre of Kings Norton parish for at least 500 years, which is pretty impressive. It used to host Mop fairs and markets, and now still hosts a Farmers' Market on the second Saturday of every month. All in all it's a lovely plcae to step back in time a bit and get away from the fumes of the Pershore Road if you find yourself in South Birmingham.

I do not go to Kings Norton much, but I tend to visit a few of the stores which are based around…read morethe green, such as the pet store and the cafes. If it is a nice day I like to buy a take away coffee and sit on the green as it such a pretty little area and it has some historic value too with Saint Nicolas Place nearby. There are a few benches and it can be quite relaxing to sit outside with a book or just watching the world go by. I do think that it is strangely placed just around the corner from the Pershore road, but somehow it works and you can use your imagination and believe you are in some countryside town. Besides, I am sure that the green was here long before the busy roundabout around the corner! Overall, it is a lovely area to just chill out in!

This park has so many different uses for so many different people. For a nice day out with children…read moreI would recommend the nature area and the lakes. Feeding the ducks and geese is one of my all time favourite things to do; it has been since I was a child. Very little has changed since then. The park is also great for students from the nearby Solihull Sixth Form College. I remember skipping class to hang around with a girl I dated in the park. I won't divulge our activities, but they were nothing new to the parks deep bushes and high trees! I like to drive here these days as they have adequate parking at both ends of the park. It is a great place to have a walk and a nice think to clear the mind. This park has won the 'Britain in Bloom' competition many times. It is easy to see how they did this because the floral displays around the park are simply gorgeous. Great Park, Great day out.

I had the pleasure of walking through the beautifully landscaped Malvern Park during college days,…read moreand I've returned since to re-live the experience. There are two play areas, tennis courts and a nature centre with a lake. It's a perfect place for a day out with the family or just to soak up the sun on a summer's day. Given the attractions within the parks, it's appealing to all ages. There is also a car park, which is conveniently located next to a recreation area. The parks are a fine area of greenery that are shielded from surrounding roads, which adds to their tranquillity. It's popular with locals because you'll always find someone strolling around. It's also used by Solihull Sixth Form students as a route from the town centre to the college. Despite this, I have never seen the park littered or otherwise tainted. Worth a visit if you're in the area.

Having worked around St Paul's Square for the past 4 years, this Georgian square is one of the most…read moreprettiest parts of Birmingham's City Centre. Located in the historic Jewellery Quarter, the square itself is the only Georgian square left in Birmingham. With St Paul's Church located in the centre, the grounds make for a lovely green spot to take a picnic or catch some rays in the Summer time. It also looks gorgeous in the winter when topped with snow. It's also far less busy than other green spaces such as Birmingham Cathedral which can attract unwanted types. Their is the 24 Carrots market held here twice a year as well as live music from Birmingham's Jazz festival and I've even attended a film event at the church for Jameson's Cult Film club and seen live painting classes. Surrounding the church and it's ground the rest of the square is a mix of residential and commercial premises as well as a flourish of bars and restaurants. It's definitely a sought after area and one people pay a premium to live in and you can see why. This is a piece of Birmingham heritage that I'm proud to shout about.

Birmingham has loads of green public spaces (200 parks maintained by the Council) and areas close…read moreto the Centre, but this space is one of the better spaces in the Jewellery Quarter. It's technically a graveyard, but doesn't feel like one! In the summer it's filled with people reading, playing games and picnicking and over Winter it's full of sledgers and urban snowman makers ready for cold weather fun! With the background of the Church, it's a great place to take your lunch or just sit and while away some time enjoying the view. The area around the square has Coffee shops, bars, art galleries and restaurants. It's really easy to get to from the City Centre (a 5 minute walk) and is reasonably well signposted if you fancy an explore. It feels like the gateway to the Quarter, as from the square you can get straight to Caroline Street which is a haven for hairdressers, signmakers, spa's and deli's. A couple of great places which are just a stones throw away from the square are the RBSA Gallery and St Paul's Gallery (which showcases album cover artwork and all manner of interesting pieces). 3 times a year a community market is held on the space, so a good chance to buy locally produced food, crafts and goods while taking in the Church and meeting the residents of the area. St Paul's Square is well maintained and green all year round. If you feel like you need a little retreat from the bustling centre of town, this is a great place to chill and contemplate.

Oh Northfield - who would have thought that you had such a perfect park?? I lived 2 minutes walk…read moreaway from here when i first moved to Birmingham and never went. I assumed, wrongly, that it would be full of youths swigging beer and being a bit lairy. How wrong i was!!I will atone for my judgmental attitude by telling you all how lovely it is. The park is nestled behind The Grosvenor Centre in which you can park, although there is plenty of free parking on the other side of the park on Heath Road. There are loads of grassy areas, some of which are left unmown at the moment making it perfect for dogs who like to frolick in long grass (like ours does!). There is a tennis court, outdoor exercise equipment, a childrens play area and a really beautiful area with tables and chairs - perfect for meeting up with friends and eating a picnic. The Grosvenor Centre, as already stated, has an entrance off the park so you cn nip in for all manner of goodies - there is a butcher, WH Smith, Wilkinsons, Greggs, Rymans, many clothes shops and other places such as a Sally's (brilliant for hair stuffs) and Iceland. Ive bisisted twice now, once on a saturday morning when it was not so busy and just now on a sunny Sunday afternoon when there was a kids football team having a game, many families playing with their kids and various dog walkers yet it didnt seem crowded at all. I believe that you can also walk from the park right over to Bournville village via a network of other small parks - i havent done this walk yet myself but some friends frequently do it and profess the beauty of the area. All in all a top park - highly recommended! next time i go i will take some photos and add them on here as its a shame there arent any already :)

This is a hidden surprise, tucked behind Northfield Shopping Centre. There are tennis courts,…read moremulti-use games area and children's play area, plus lots of open space. A local kids football team also use the grass pitch to train at the weekend. It's perfect for taking the kids to play on those sunny days or escaping for a change of scenery in your lunch hour as it's just a stone's throw from the high street. I'm sure there are lots of people who don't even know it's there as it can be a little hard to find, especially from the town centre. There's an entrance halfway down Church Road (with parking) or you can walk through Northfield Shopping Centre and go through the exit next to The Fragrance Shop. There are other entrances on the other roads that surround the park.