Little Bracebridge Pool is just that - little, cute, just nice. You can see the other side easily…read more At the moment it's still half frozen over - excellent for watching water birds standing on the water is if they had divine powers, but wouldn't recommend for human feet, meet a divinity much more quickly that way. Looks bleak in mid winter, beautiful nevertheless. A heron might loft itself off as you approach and lazily wheel away over the tree tops - they are so big in comparison to the little garden birds on the garden feeder - always a slight shock to see them. Originally built to stock fish, Little Bracebridge Pool was constructed in the middle ages, like many of the other Park Pools, by damning small streams. And all around, these watery tributaries flow towards the pool - definitely need wellies out there at the moment - but just fantastic to go splodging around the wetness, breaking ice puddles and squelching in the muddy marshey surrounds - safe for kids and grown ups (not in the Pool itself of course - waterfowl and fishes only). Excellent spot, go there, beanie hats, scarves and wellies at the ready.

This must be the Council's smallest park in the entire city. Small is beautiful. Beautiful things…read morecome in small packages. When you first get here there is no indication of the wonders you are about to experience. My trip begins with a short amble down streets full of smart but similar looking Four Oaks houses and then the surprise hits you. Water gushes into a large pond as Swans, Canada Geese, Mallards and Moor Hens all jostle for the bread you may have brought with you. Park Life! My favourite time of year to visit is during the spring when the former mill pond is full of newborns, as chicks of all descriptions bob on the water, or cling to the small island in the centre. Be careful though, the geese and swans will let you know who's boss if you get too close to their young. The protective swans think nothing of lashing out at even the biggest dogs enjoying a country walk with their owners. We usually pick up little Frecks as she can get a bit scared. Recently the Council have redeveloped the wooded area to the rear of the park of these giant birds. By opening up a series of bridges, locals can now walk the entire circumference of the pond. However, tread carefully because things can still get quite muddy after a downpour. On a sunny Sunday, local cricket can even be enjoyed from this location as the woods border Four Oaks' field. This is England and its countryside at its very, very best!

I'd never seen the site until a few months ago and couldn't believe I'd never known of its…read moreexistence. It was only when friends moved in nearby that I was introduced to a little oasis in the middle of a residential estate. I can't believe it exists; it's perfect and feels like a secret you've been let in on. It's not so much that there's loads there, just that it exists at all. The water is surprisingly large and around it is a trail you can navigate; it's clearly marked but not particularly formal so you need to be reasonably sprightly. That said, an appeal of the area is that it seems very natural and not undone by self-conscious, over-landscaping. You should see an array of water birds and it's little wonder that this site, owned by the council and maintained by wildlife groups, is featured in organised nature studies, including bat walks in late-summer. Nothing touches Sutton Park locally of course, but this is a better bet than the Plantsbrook equivalent at Pype Hayes or New Hall Valley Country Park. Delightful.

Big expanse of water, setting sun, swans, ducks and geese, excellent nice grassy banks to sit on…read moreor kkindly donated park benches around to sit and soak up the tranquillity, lovely

Poor old Rectory Park is perhaps destined to forever remain in the shadows of its far bigger, far…read morewilder, far more picturesque counterpart, Sutton Park. Yet for Suttonians, Rectory Park is just as valuable a space and is arguably more practical. Generations of children have played football for various Sunday, school, cub, church and otherwise teams on one of the two football pitches (it's where my cub team used to regularly practice). The park is also home to Sutton Coldfield Cricket Club and is an ideal place to let your dog run wild (in a literal sense of running, don't let them go ripping people's faces off). What else? The small woods behind a car park on the entrance near Good Hope Hospital have been popular with illicit Diamond White drinkers for years and it's a good picturesque walk into Sutton from Falcon Lodge (the main entrances are on Rectory Road, Hollyfield Road, Riland Road and Coleshill Road). It also provides a handy hiding place for kids playing truant from the nearby Fairfax and John Wilmott Schools. It's maybe not the wisest place to be hanging around after dark these days, but then where is?

I once viewed a property in Riland Road off Rectory Road and remember being overwhelmed by the red…read morebrick Victorian pretty properties and the very friendly vibe. I've just been for a walk in Rectory Park and while it's far smaller than Sutton Park, sitting quietly on a bench you become immersed in a whole world of birds and animals. Only a stones throw from the centre of Sutton Coldfield and I could be in the middle of a forest. There has to be a great history to this place, it has a regal confidence about it, almost a spiritual feel. Highly recommend a good walk around Rectory Park to clear your head and heal your soul.

Biggest of the Park's pools and lakes 28 acres, Powell's Pool has yachts, canoeing, fishing water…read moregazing and other stuff - wide ranging water activities, always a hive of busyness. Very easily accessed from Boldmere Gate's large car park. Amenities include a small kiddies fair ground, La Reserve eatery and drinking (while overlooking the water-scape). Usually an ice cream van on sunny days. Very convenient to pop down and chuck some bread crusts at a wandering goose. Excellent.

Tucked away by Banners Gate entrance, Longmoor Pool is very easily accessible along a fully…read moretarmaced pathway from the handy car park, suitable for all the family prams and all. Not huge, but Longmoor Pool is still big enough to give that feeling of expanse and calm and distance that is so relaxing to come down and gaze at, especially in the setting sun, which lowers itself gently at the far end opposite the pathway. The 'wild' Park cattle sometimes splosh into it half way along, the scene like something out of the Serengeti, well, sort of, if you half close your eyes (and don't fall in). Round the edges, rushes and swampy type fauna flourish. Definitely worth the trip every now and again, buy an ice cream at the van in the car park, slowly lick the cool blob to nothing, feet dangling over the retaining wall and gazing out over the shimmering waters excellent.

A beautiful and huge park - one of the largest urban parks in the UK in fact. There are wild…read moreponies, free range cows and plenty of other wildlife you can spot at various times of the year. There are frequent ice cream vans dotted about near the scouts jamboree stone and lots of pay2ride bike docks around the edge of the park including e-bikes (run by beryl) in my experience the normal bikes are well maintained and not very expensive if you use them properly and dock them after each use - you get charged an extra fee if you leave it non-docked and another fee if you leave it outside the beryl zone but this is clearly demarcated in the beryl app. It's a beautiful place to go especially with family. The only detraction is that some of the paths and tracks are a bit muddy and unstable so if you're really having a hike like I do it's best to go in strong sturdy boots with good grip. There is an information centre located near the Sutton Coldfield town centre entrance of the park and a gym and swimming pool called wyndley right near the park. Fishing is allowed within certain seasons but you will need a licence and I'm not sure if there are any other requirements as I've not done it yet in this park. You will enjoy coming here, even in winter. Just bring appropriate clothing and shoes!

Henry VIII hunting ground, and the reason why Sutton received the royal charter since he had such a…read morefabulous time... It's bigger than most urban parks, and spans both further than you would expect, and less, as it goes on so much further than most city/town parks (you do genuinely get to points where you can here no traffic nor see no houses quite quickly), it almost makes it feel more like an estate park- which of course it is smaller than, but I'd probably say not by much for many. There are quite a few little pockets of the park, so you can take in as little or as much of it as you like. There is plenty of wildlife, pools, paths and impressive large trees in ancient woodlands. It tends to get quite busy, but it's large enough for you to never feel cramped, and people tend to cheerfully be saying good morning.

We call this the bridges walk for reasons that'll become clear…read more If you start at Bracebridge car park and follow the tarmac path down to Bracebridge Pool, you'll come to The Boat House Restaurant. Take the woodland path that follows the right hand edge of the pool. Apparently this is called Pool Hollies, but I've only just discovered this after over 20 years of going on this walk. You'll come to the first bridge almost straight away-start counting and see how many there are. This is part of the fun. As you walk you'll see lovely Scots pine trees as well as the odd oak. Eventually the path leaves the woodland and enters an open area. We usually count 23 bridges by the end of this bit. The ground slopes down to the pool edge, forming a little beach which is a nice stop off point to try out some pond skimming. Go along the path up the hill until you come to a crossing track. Turn right here. After a short while, you'll come across a lovely looking pine tree. When you join the larger path, turn right (ignoring a smaller path to the right though.) Follow the main path when it forks left. You'll be back in the woodland area and eventually the track leads via a metal gate to the far end of the car park, right where you started.

Barr Beacon park is the highest point in the West Midlands. On a clear day you can look all around…read moreyou and see views of Shropshire, the Black Country, Birmingham, Staffordshire and Cannock Chase. It`s landmark is the bandstand. The park has some nice walks, but sadly lacks a playground for the children as the existing one was taken out, and recent plans for a visiter center on the park have been shelved. It is also, sadly, popular with a certain canine hobby of some people in the car park! This place is in desperate need of some money put into it, as it is a really beautiful spot.

Beautiful views. good parking, wonderful hidden park on a hill…read more Can be plenty of people up here as well, lacks any real facilities on the site.

Now this IS an entrance worth finding: mysterious, almost overgrown, just wide enough for humans…read more And beyond, trees and undergrowth to lure you into the heart of darkness (OK, a little bit of drama.) But this really is the enchanted wood entrance, where beyond lie the wondrous beasts, the wild Exmoor ponies. Make your way through the entrance and carry on straight ahead along the narrow almost not a path path and keep heading that way. If you are lucky you will see the shy beasts foraging in the undergrowth, snuffling, crunching underfoot, breathing, fantastic (see picture). Of course we do need to give them living space, but lovely to venture out of our living rooms to see them in theirs. The woods are ancient, of course and a beautiful tangle of old knotted trunks mixed with fresher versions - all browns and greys and diffused light.