The Create centre, run by the council, is an old tobacco warehouse with various environmentally…read morefocused things going on. It's free to enter (...and you'll start paying attention) with exhibitions on the ground floor. Expect art with a green theme and stuff made out of recycled materials - maybe a bottle cap curtain, if you can imagine what that looks like. There's an ecohome outside, complete with living roof and solar panels. It's the funny slab shaped thing, that looks a bit like a giant bit of cheese, in case you're not sure. They're very keen on passing on the gospel and will be happy to give advice on making your own home more eco-friendly. Fascinating stuff and I'm glad they get lots of school kids round here. I should mention that it's only open 12 - 3 Monday to Friday. The site slightly isolated (surrounded by a river and a large flyover), but they've got a café, so you won't go hungry. Also, the Nova Scotia pub isn't too far away. They've got a car park, but it's sort of against the ethos to drive. Try cycling, although you might have a steep hill to climb if you live in Clifton. There's a bus stop too. The Create Centre is a worth enterprise, and they've done well to put together something engaging.

Interesting centre with displays of an eco-house (open only 12-3pm) and garden, and little cafe…read more(open only 8.30-11am and 12-2pm). I have been here for a conference on sustainability and we were well looked after with nice little theatre space for the talks and good tea and biscuits between speakers. There are quite a few public events so keep an eye on the council website to find out what is coming up. You can cycle here along the river from the centre, its on the same road as the SS Great Britain entrance.

We've been waiting for this place to open for years. We first saw plans at Clifton (Bristol) Zoo…read moreages ago when I'm pretty sure it was described as a safari park. I don't think they'd quite call it that at the moment but it does have that kind of feel to the place. It's a wide open place with a great feel of freedom - despite it being right next to the M5. The animals certainly have a lot more room than at the zoo and if you're somebody who is put off by the 'caged' feel of a zoo this may be for you. It's certainly a work in progress with more animals added each time I've been. I went at the weekend and they've added a brilliant wolves enclosure since I last went. While the animals are great our children love the barefoot trail where you walk... barefooted (how did you guess) across many different materials such as shredded tyres, pebbles and even glass - don't worry it's safe even for our two year old. There's a tap at the end where you can wash your feet but our tip is to take a towel. You'll be the envy of everyone there if you do. There's an indoor play fort, well it's in an open barn so you're dry but not in a stuffy, smelly room like some soft play areas can be. There's quite a few places to have a picnic such as in the fun fort, in a teepee or by the trampolines. Often we'd buy food at these places but it's just so expensive in the cafe that I can't bring myself to part with the money. Over £4 for a very average looking sandwich that wouldn't fill me. Really that's the only shame about the place, the entrance is affordable, the annual ticket is great value for money. It's friendly, it doesn't feel too big. I'd certainly recommend it if you have children.

This place is on my door step just off the M5 near cribs causeway…read more What a fantastic place it is to, a great day out for the family, children of all ages will find something to do. At £7.50 for an adult and under twos free. The Wild Place Project is a fun, family attraction that provides adventure, play and learning, with an emphasis on protecting threatened habitats on our doorstep. There's a number of animals to see from lemurs, zebras to wolfs. There's a number of lovely gardens to walk through and lots of wooded area to explore. They have a shop on sight you have to walk through it on the way in and out, that's one thing I don't like as it feels like they are pushing you in to buying things. Although most places do this now so guess it's the norm. They have a cafe too which is nice. They sell drinks coffee, cake sandwiches etc, some lovely places to sit and relax. Plenty of parking. Overall a fantastic day out which I highly recommend for all. Take a visit and I'm sure you won't be disappointed,

Hidden in the trees, just out of the city, an nineteenth century millhouse sits by the river…read more Friends of mine were married here (how cool, right?) and in Spring the ponds were full of frogs, the trees full of chirping blackbirds - wait a minute, we're in a city you say? Avon wildlife trust's main education centre on all matters green is great for kids and parents with a thirst for knowledge. The gorge, woodland and meadow around is prime dog-walking territory, so frolic in the wildlife garden and spend an afternoon flexing your environmental muscles - you'll feel renewed!

A great place for lovely walks with woodland, a pond and bath tubs for dragonflies and frogs!…read more Throughout December 2012 during the weekend there will be a great cafe opening for freshly brewed coffee, fair trade tea and homemade cakes from 10.30 until 3pm every Saturday and Sunday. For more information visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Coffee-Mill-at-Willsbridge/215021135296454

Visit this garden for a skyline view of Bath and the Palladian Bridge. The loop starts from a high…read morevantage point with a grand view of the entire garden and Prior Park College in the back. Walking down brings you to the Palladian Bridge by the bodies of water. A group of people were having a picnic in the grassy area across the bridge. Note that the incline is steep at a grade of 25% and is a climb back up to return. The trail also branches out to the Bath Skyline, which I found the view to not be as good since it was more distant. The staff had explained we could exit from there out to the roads, but we somehow got turned around back to the garden. An entry fee of £8 is required. Restrooms and café are by the entrance. The garden was smaller than expected, and walking from one end to the other did not take up that much time. Bus 2 Bathcity has a direct route to and from the city. It is best to take public transportation as there is no parking lot.

This place is really incredible. Beautiful grounds, friendly staff and well worth the walk out from…read morethe centre which is also very nice as well. Would recommend.

What a fantastic day out. This place offers a lot for family's…read more Great value for £8 per adult and £5 for children over two, under twos are free ! The grounds are fantastic lots of open space for the children to wonder and explore and also paths that follow through the trees and gardens. There's a big adventure playground full of lots to explore, zip wire, slide climbing frame etc. There were also blow up slides and a paddling pool. There was a separate area with Wendy houses, trampolines and a climbing frame for the smaller children which was in a really nice relaxing area. You can get up close with pigs, rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens in Pet's Corner. There is 66 acres of beautiful gardens and woodland walks, the views across the River Severn and Wales and spectacular ! There's also a cafe and shop. The cafe is really nice I had a caramel latte with a cheese and chutney sandwich came to £5.50 wich Is good value. Plenty of parking available. Overall a fantastic day out which was really enjoyed by all.

Old Down Country Park is not your typical stately home. It is a farm/zoo/park/house. Great for the…read morewhole family too. They have large lawn areas for picnics, a café for those who didn't pre-prepare food, and lots and ltos of animals. Expect to find your typical farm animals. Goats? Check. Pigs? Check. Sheep? Check. Ponies? Check. Wallabies????check!!! Entry is only a fiver and you can spend the whole day there (weather permitting) walking along the Victorian walls and cooing at all the cute animals.

This is a perfect place to take young family members who like to run around and make noise!…read more I recently took a young niece here, and she absolutely loved it - an added bonus was that she was so tired out by the end of it her mum said she slept like a log! I remember going to something like this when I was really young too, it offers a ideal mix between being able to see and touch animals like rabbits and pigs, to an adventure playground with those big slides that probably aren't so big when your a grown up but are huge when your little that you sort of drop off almost vertically, with your bum hardly touching the slide! There's also a nature trail. The park is great in nice weather, not so good in the rain but there are still inside things to do. It is also quite reasonable priced - £7.00 adult and £6.50 child, check their website for special offers.

This is a large, leafy recreational area covering 50 acres just outside Bristol with an animal…read morefarm, riverside walks, playgrounds and picnic areas. With stacks to entertain children, it's also a pleasant space for adults, and even when it's sunny and busy there seems to be plenty of space for everyone. For kids, the play arena has trampolines, slides, rope climbing structures and go karts, plus mini golf and the Strawberry Line miniature train. The six or so shire horses kept at the park are a big attraction, and there are lots of smaller animals to see, and even handle (under supervision). The park has falconry displays at the weekends (and during school holidays), plus a nature trail along the river (with a junior assault course running parallel to it). Adults cost £7.50, children (and OAPs) £7, and little ones under 2 go free. The park's open every day from April - end of October, then the indoor play barn is open on weekends and school holidays.

Cotham Gardens is a small, narrow Victorian park with a number of mature trees and a good…read morechildren's play area. There is also a tree-lined promenade known as Lover's Walk, which runs down a hill and over a small railway bridge towards the impressive front of Redland Girls School. A board gives information about the park's history. Cotham Gardens is excellently maintained and tastefully laid out: a leafy, peaceful antedote to the nearby Gloucester Road.

Cotham Gardens is based in the North of Bristol. It's a lovely expanse of open green space. There…read moreare some info boards giving information about the history of the area which are interesting. Great for long walks and picnics in the summer and whats more its all free!! Lots of lovely trees too.

This is a beautiful old house just outside Newport, very easy to get to from the motorway, and well…read moreworth a visit. For anyone who's a fan of BBC costume dramas, then this is the type of house that would make any Jane Austen heroine fall in love with even the most ruthless and cutthroat of villainous rich men. It packs quite a punch. Sitting in 90 acres of surrounding parkland, this is a lovely oasis of tranquillity. The house and gardens are open to the public during the summer months, and there are also countless festivals and seasonal events happening throughout the rest of the year. There is also a short avenue of arts and crafts shops which are open throughout the year. Here you'll find Busy Bees Patchwork and many other pottery, art and smithies. Pop along for a cultural afternoon.

Tanya is right on the money when she says this park is straight out of a BBC costume drama (don't…read moreeven get me started on their version of Pride and Prejudice - I know the whole damn thing by heart and that series is most likely the reason I moved to the UK in the first place). I used to work at the government building that's right around the corner, so a few lunch hours were spent walking around this park's stunning grounds. The park and woodland walk is open from 9 am to dusk. The House is open from Easter to the end of September, with house tours from Wednesday - Sunday. Tours last a little over an hour starting at 11am, then run hourly until 4pm. Events are held year round, and more information can be found on their website. Tredegar House is licensed for weddings and caters for conferences, although I'm happy just meandering around the park with the grand house serving as part of the background. If you're not a driver, you can get here via the number 30 and 36 Cardiff Bus, which I'd recommend instead of taking the train, as Newport Railway Station is a fair bit away.