I'll admit when I went to explore Barnford Hill Park, I was already mentally preparing a sneering…read moredismissal of a little bit of grass with the word 'park' tagged rather patronisingly onto it. Therefore I'm very pleased to write instead that Barnford Hill Park is a great place that I never even knew was on my doorstep! The place looks tiny from the road but is actually huge and boasts a cricket pitch, two playgrounds, a basketball court, some well-tended gardens and plenty of grass. Perhaps the best thing about the place however is the keep-fit equipment dotted along the paths. It's a bit like a free outdoor gym, with steel walkers, rowing machines, balance beams and various other equipment to help you get in shape. As I strolled round the Tuesday morning drizzle, I was amazed at how such a comparatively big place is so well secreted behind some houses. Next sunny day that comes along, I'll be down there with my bathing towel, book and gym headband.

Read about the 1953 Coronation Cup football tournament held at Barnford Hill Park in Alan Ahlberg's…read morebook 'The Boyhood of Burglar Bill' p37 onwards. Brilliant book about growing up in 1950s Oldbury.

One of Birmingham's lesser known parks, and all the better for it, if you ask me! We really are…read moreblessed / spoiled over in the south of the city when it comes to parks - there seems to be one every few hundred yards - from large, countryside-equse open spaces like Warley Woods and the Lickeys, to ornate urban parks like Cannon Hill Park. This place is a little of both - the large open space that dominates it provides a lovely respite from the bustle of Harborne, and the gardens that border it are well kept and a legacy of the park's Victorian roots. A great little park - much recommended!

Queens Park is one of Birmingham's best parks in my opinion, its very secluded and not very known…read moreabout and all the better for it! We don't have many great outdoor spaces in Harborne so its a great place for young children, teenagers and adults too. Its has a great open large space, people come here to play football, tennis (has 2 tennis courts), basketball (has a basketball court). Has a playground area for young children. Very popular with dog walkers, joggers and cyclists. Ive been here day and night and never had any trouble, the gardens are well kept and very pretty in every season. There is 2 car parks available on site which is free, space available for disabled vehicles too. A great little park!

Leasowes park and woodland covers over 140 acres, including the Halesowen Golf Club. The Leasowes…read morePark is one of the most beautiful natural landscapes i have seen. They have also been designed by a poet from the 18th century called William Shenstone (if your interested in history). The area consist of wooded hillsides, scenic grasslands and small lakes and streams. Free parking is available at the Leasowes Lane entrance. It's natural and in areas very wild, isolated and utterly without basic facilities. But having said that its great for getting back to basics for a proper old school adventure! Spend the day hiking, have a mini beast finding safari, or have the hide and seek tournament of your lives... there is lots of fun to be had here! This public space is a great bit of wilderness in a heavily industrialised area. A great place to come to escape from it all. A much used and loved place for family recreation, couples, friends alike. There are a few must see features to find like the bridge over the water feature, this place is great as you'll find nothing but green here. it truly is Lovely!

This is a lovely and green parkland located just away from Halesowen town centre. It was landscaped…read moreto closely resemble the natural environment, so there are lots of trees and winding pathways to help you explore the sizeable (143 acre) space. There is a fishing pond with a well-trodden path that takes about 20 minutes to walk around. It is a pleasant stroll through the woodland up to the golf course. The main problem is accessing the park by car as it can only be reached from the downhill carriageway of Mucklow's Hill.

Gayle and I arrived at the very cool Broadway Tower as we hiked up from town and then on our way to…read moreChipping Campden. It was built in 1798 on the second highest point in the Cotswolds and a very cool scenic place to take it all in. It's also a folly - a building that looks like it has a useful purpose (in this case, a strategic lookout), but is really just for decoration or personal enjoyment. In this case, it was commissioned by the 6th Earl of Coventry as a token of affection for his wife Lady Barbara.

This place was great- we were just going to drive by and then were enticed inside where we found a…read moredelightful gift shop and cafe. We purchased cute greeting cards and two lattes- delicious. They can make one mean mocha! Cute holidays ornaments, builder sets & more. Outside there are nice tables and cute kids play toys like a teepee to go into etc 2nd cafe & shop had lovely clothes and bags... We ended up doing the loop hike and saw so many cute sheep and a herd of deer with a magnificent buck; many places to rest and take up a view of the valley on a comfy bench...the tower tour came w listening device with history..: view from roof was amazing. There's a small shop at the bottom of the tower stocked w similar to first shop. My 75 year old mom was a little tired going up some of the hills but crushed it; I was just as tired ha ha

I spent a lot of time here when I was a kid, so I tend to get warm and fuzzy about the place…read more The park is massive, especially when you factor in the farm area and the adjoining Valley Country Park. Its proximity to the motorway and sprawl of West Brom make the park even more impressive. There is a large kids play area, with some really cool rides and climbing frames. It gets really busy on sunny days. If you want something quieter, you can take a walk around the large duck pond or fishing lakes. There is an outdoor gym for grown ups, as well as a climbing wall and basketball courts. There is an impressive entrance gate and war memorial located towards the top of the park. The Sandwell Community Show is held on the nearby showground every August Bank Holiday. It is always a blast, full of good, clean family fun.

Dartmouth Park is one of the nicest green spaces for families and everyone to go to…read more Located in West Bromwich, and about 25mins driving from the city, it's great to just go for a walk here, or kick a ball about with friends. There is a huge lake, which is nice to walk round on a lovely summer's day, and plenty of green space so that you don't feel all crammed in like sardines. I kick a ball round here with a couple of friends once a month, and it's one of the nicest places in West Brom. Kids also have a large play area with swings and facilities suited for young small children. A great event every year is the bonfire display during guy forks night. It's super for families, free to get in, and lots of entertainment and food on the fields surrounding areas. I'd recommend visiting to anyone, if you can't make the fireworks and bonfire spectacular, then a stroll or footie game here is well worth it.

Edgbaston Resorvoir is another of those urban idyls that take away the sometimes claustrophobic…read morefeelings of city living. Looking out over the flat waterway can be an incredibly calming feeling, and sometimes even dramatic if the wind is up. A walk around the resorvoir is a good way to get an idea of it's size and allows you to really take in it's serene beauty. The footpath is frequented by dog walkers, joggers and people just out on a stroll. Whether you're out to burn off calories or just fancy sitting and watching the world go by, Edgbaston Resorvoir offers a scenic setting in which to ponder the greater mysteries of life or simply stare out over the water.

There's two miles of pathway around the reservoir making it a popular place for joggers,…read moredog-walkers and people out for a gentle stroll. This is a fabulous facility that I've used over the years. Sadly, these days I feel it's under used. I remember when each weekend there was something going on, on the water. These days, however, to see a single boat on the lake is a rarity. That said, it's home to The Midland Sailing Club and Sea Cadet Centre and The Birmingham Rowing Club. It's still one of my favourite places to relax. The council and ranger service do a great job with its upkeep. It's also a popular place for fishing. It's a stones throw from Birmingham city centre and parking is free. It could do with a cafe actually within the reservoir but there is one just at the entrance.

So, this is quite a cute, quite small park I'm Wolverhampton. It isn't a bad size at all, but not…read morequite big enough to get far in enough to pretend you aren't in a town. It's quite well kept, even in winter, and busy enough to feel fairly safe. However, we walked around the park to see the birds and the wildlife, and didn't expect to see so many MASSIVE rats!! I wouldn't scoff at one or two, because it's nature, and it can't always be controlled, but there must have been upwards of thirty. I would avoid going at dusk, or be ready to run a little bit, as they definiteky aren't shy!

I love Wolverhampton...it's got so much beauty. Canals, parks and great Comunity spirit…read more Had a lovely day helping with a project to share the love. The kids from Gatis street Comunity centre did a workshop creating amazing hearts and then we spread them all over whitmareans to West Park.

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I dont remember Cannon Hill park being so beautiful! Visited here recently as part of a food…read morefestival and was taken back by just how lovely the place is! Now my lack of realisation was probably due to the fact I was trying to avoid being bitten by the aggressive ducks that used to roll round the pond like a carte when I was a child.....but i was young.....and about half the size so they seemed a lot more intimidating at the time. I am happy to confirm I walked past them with ease this time around and had more time to enjoy the picturesque surroundings! The park is pretty huge and boasts a nice pond complete with fountain/water feature to impress even the Charlie Dimmock types....swan boats, a theatre, crazy golf and many walkways and paths to enjoy. Perfect for a day out with the kids....or to keep that inner child satisfied. You will find me here a fair bit over the summer I think....get me to the ice cream van...now!

You can get to the farm from main sandwell valley site. You can take the one mile woodland walk…read morethere. This route is not suitable for people who have difficulties walking. Alternativly you can drive around to there which is much quicker. You first see a a small childrens playground and there are a few pinic benches there. Then there is a shop which sells fresh barn eggs and all of your snacks. Also all of your merchandise.Animal food is there to buy to. Then you come into the courtyard and there are goats infront of you and to your left are ponies and chickens. You then move into the farm a bit and there are loads of cows where you can feed an there are chickens that you can feed. Thats about it. Then there is the walkway to the main site There is plenty parking at the park and the farm. Parking is also free. There is no bus link or anything like that, that takes you directly to the park or farm. To get to the park take a bus and get off on the main road and its a short walk from there (sorry I cant be anymore accurate) Its free to get in and drinks and snacks cheap and animal food is 15p. ***** Suitable for toddlers and very young children and it will only pass an hour away if you decide to only visit the farm. A no no if you are looking for a good day out. *IMPORTANT :: This review is about the farm not the main site. This farm may not appeal to older children but if you go to Sandwell valley park. There is more to do.

Sandwell Valley Country Park is made up of lots of different areas and activities. It is also…read moreattached to Dartmouth Park, so it is easy to wander between the two. Where to begin? Well, there are two farms: Sandwell Park Farm and Forge Mill Farm (worthy of reviews in their own right). Then there is the nature reserve and RSPB bird reserve. There's an awesome adventure playground and a Close to the Edge aerial assault course (which looks, frankly, terrifying). I love how there is a little vintage double decker bus that gives rides around the showground area. Last time I was there, a guy was training an owl and doing a bit of an impromptu falconry demonstration. The woodland areas are beautiful and very peaceful to walk around, although I still get spooked out by the stories of the Sandwell Valley witches and ghost monks that I got told when I was a kid!