A square of green, surrounded by terraces on all sides, St. Andrews Park is probably deserving of…read morethe 'green oasis' cliché. Big old conker trees at the top of the hill make lovely shade for reading. As you go further down, there's a bit more open space usually where people play football. As the land isn't flat here it's not perfect for sports, although I have enjoyed a few afternoons of Frisbee here. There's a kids park, which doesn't usually have glowering teenagers sitting on the swings, always a plus. They've also got a bowls green (so a lied, there is at least one small patch of perfectly flat land) tucked away for your granddad. Since its surrounded by housing it's unsurprising how popular it gets when the sun comes out. On a fine day in July or August it can be a challenge to find enough space to set your picnic and you can certainly forget about being able to play Frisbee. I don't blame the people for coming, this park offers a little lung for the surrounding area.

St Andrews park is great, it's a luscious green haven just a short walk from the hustle and bustle…read moreof Gloucester road. The park has lots of green grassy space, and trees to offer shade from the sun. The kids play area is at the top of the hill and hosts your usual park utensils, it also has a paddling pool which is open during the summer. This park offers something for everyone, it has a really chilled feel and during the warm weather has a real festival vibe. With groups of people having BBQs and enjoying a few beers in the sun. There's a small catering can that offers drinks and nibbly treats! The toilets are the only downside to this place, they are a little worse for wear and could do with a bit of TLC. I love this park and would definitely recommend you pay a visit!

The great thing about Bristol is that it's a thriving city with cosmopolitan restaurants and…read morenightlife, but you're still only a stone's throw from beautiful scenery and greenery. And nowhere is this more evident than the Downs, where you can walk up the hustle and bustle of Whiteladies Road and straight onto over 400 acres of rolling grassland. It says much about the place in our hearts that the Downs holds that as soon as the sun comes out, the first reaction of pretty much everyone I know is to head straight up there. A vibrant place, it's always filled with people playing games, enjoying barbecues, having a drink or just relaxing. There's plenty to see and do, too, with a huge football league held there on Saturday afternoons, the observatory, the rockslides and a café to name a few, plus the stunning views across the Suspension Bridge. A beautiful place and a big reason why I'm proud to be a Bristolian.

The Downs are a lovely area where you can get away from the hustle and bustle of Bristol city. Its…read morea good 30 minute hike uphill if you are planning on walking from the centre so it may be best to grab the bus. The number 9 bus goes from Temple Meads and the centre and drops you off right at the heart of the Downs which is helpful. I would recommend walking right to the furthest point where there is a viewing area. The views over Avon Gorge and Clifton Suspension Bridge are stunning. There are many other little paths to explore which will take you to the river and other areas, but you will probably need a map to find them. Definitely worth a trip up here for the amazing views and a breath of fresh air.

My firends live pretty close to this place and to them it is called the 'Futuristic Park' because…read moresome of the faqcilities in this place truly are futuristic. As well as this the park boasts a very generous amount of open space, along with tennis courts, a bowling green and football pitches which on the weekend tend to be inhabited by a number of the local football teams. This place is great to chill out and enjoy a lazy sunday, with some picnic snacks , a frisbee and your mates. The 'Futuristic Park' is great, if maybe a Health & Safety nightmare - genuinely as good as it gets!

If you are fond of vast green spaces, you'll enjoy Greville Smyth Park. Situated alongside the…read moreriver Avon, and in view of Clifton Suspension Bridge, it is the perfect place for a summer picnic, or indeed, a winter stroll. Once owned by Lady Greville Smyth, owner of Ashton Court Estate, the park now belongs to Bristol City Council. It is one of my favourite rural spots in Bristol, and I especially love picnicking here in the summer. If you happen to be in the area and fancy a nosh-up in the park, I'd recommend you pop across the road to North Street's renowned Southville Deli and pick up a few delightful treats. Then you can find a spot under one of Greville Smyth Park's many Weeping Willow Trees and sit and watch the world go by. Nice...

This ancient National Trust woodland covers 180 hectares (440 acres) - so it's big enough to escape…read moreto, enjoy the peace and quiet of the woods, and explore woodland sculptures and some unusual trees. Not only is it a beautiful parkland with views of the Avon Gorge, but it's also a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Site of Nature Conservation Interest and a National Nature Reserve. The network of hard-surfaced paths means it's fairly accessible, too. Look out for the timber framed barn, which was constructed fairly recently but using the same techniques as were employed in medieval times.

Up yonder past suspension bridge lies Bristol's emerald mystery. Swoop with rare peregrine falcons,…read morestroll with the kids or blow the cobwebs off your mountain bike like I did (it didn't even feel like exercise!) The woods are National Trust owned, crammed with wildlife and only a 15 minute saunter from Clifton. Pack a picnic and make for this site of Scientific Interest (and no, that doesn't mean UFO sightings!). Each avenue you find yourself on is lined with conifers, well-located benches and dizzying views over the Avon gorge. Great for an afternoon's game of good ol' fashioned hide'n'seek. I grabbed my coat and scarf and unleashed my inner child! How often can you say that?!

This is a very concealed park, despite it being quite large, and having a beautiful tower at the…read moretop of it! Seemingly only known by the locals, I feel there should be more signs towards it so the tourists can find it easier, as it really is a park not to be missed when visiting Bristol. The park is a big hill that gets higher and higher till you get to the top, which is where Cabot Tower is. Perfect for summer barbeques, leisurely walks, or sitting on one of the benches staring out into the amazing view. You can see for miles out, on a clear day. It is a wonderful park that everyone should visit at least once, and after that once, I'm pretty sure you'll keep coming back!

Brandon Hill is a patch of greenery between Jacobs Wells Road and Park Street. A blessing for…read moreBristol it has got a little bit of everything. At the peak is Cabot Tower, for your dose of history. This is free to enter and well worth the climb for the incredible views of Bristol. Although you only have to get half way up the hill to see South Bristol spread out before you like a tablecloth - an doable climb even if you're not the fittest of people. As well as getting an education, you can have some fun and experience a bit of a nature. There's a children's play area and a basketball hoop (which are few and far between in Bristol). There's usually someone on the basketball court and I've had a few good games, mostly with students. The only downside is that the courts very small, and you'll often find yourself losing your ball in the buses down the side. Nature comes courtesy of various little reserves that have been set up. They've got a little pond that's chock-a-block with frogs spawn in the spring. I think it's a sight of special scientific interest for something or other too, but I'm afraid exactly what escapes me at the moment. Either way, it's nice to have something really wild right in the centre of the city.

- A beautiful little park with a small pond and a rather random university centenary memorial. This…read moreis a wonderful spot to have a bit of lunch. It is always fairly full with students as it is on the university precinct but at other times of the day I really would recommend the garden for a bit of relaxation. Situated in such a busy environment, it is hard to imagine somewhere which is the exact opposite, but Royal Fort Gardens is perfect for grabbing a bit of sunshine and 'me- time'. A great spot for picnics and playing a bit of Frisbee.

In Ashton Court Estate you will find this pitch and put course on a hillside. It takes a bit of…read morefinding. At the main entrance (that is, where the gatehouse is, not down in the hill around Bedminster) go straight along the road and then take the first right, going up the hill. You'll come to a little car park and a slightly desolate looking hut. The hut is where you can hire clubs and balls (remember not to smack it into the bushes...) and get putting. It's run by the council, which means its a) cheap and b) not full of stuffy old men, the two usual vices of a golf course. Give your ball a thwack and follow it round the course, nobodies going to judge you. The only downside I can think of is that things can get a bit congested, especially if the weather is even vaguely nice. You may have to wait a little while, or have people queueing up behind you, to use one of the holes. Making golf a bit less of the pursuit of old men at country clubs, the pitch and put golf course is a great way for those of us that think golf looks like a lark to give it a try.

I used to hate golf until two of my mates practically dragged me across the bridge to Ashton Court…read morefor some pitch and putt. What can I say? I was almost instantly seduced by the satisfying feeling of smacking a little ball as hard as you can with a massive piece of metal, and the faraway sound of ball on deer. It's great value - £6.50 gets you 18 holes and a great view across the whole of Brizzle and beyond on a fine day. The only problem is that, when the sun's out, it can get pretty busy, and there's nothing guaranteed to give an amateur the yips more than a queue of people staring and tutting as you continually swing and miss at the ball off the tee. One tip: the course on the Bristol side of AC offers more variation, and there's even one par five hole where you can get your wood out and give it a real thrashing.

This is a beautiful little park. Ideal if you are a runner as there is a circular path going around…read morethe whole park, with various different off-shoots if you fancy a change of scenery. The path's are wide as well so there is plenty of room for a group of runners to be running one way and a couple walking their dog going the other way and still space inbetween for a baby in a pram! The park is almost a perfect dome, if you sit at the top you have a pretty good view of the whole surrounding area. There's a childrens play park and some football goals to cater for all. I'm hoping to make the most of parks like this as the summer time begins to invade Bristol!

This park is one that I come to when I want to be surrounded by green. Yes, I hear you, most other…read moreparks are green, but this one really is quite big, that you feel enveloped in all its trees and hills. There are paths running through the whole park, which is ideal for joggers, runners and cyclists. There is also a basketball court at the bottom of the park, along with slides, swings and other playground type things. There is often some art exhibition going on - a few months back there was a large sculpture made out of metal and looked like a prehistoric anthropod just sitting around the middle of the park, which was a fascinating addition. It is now gone though, but not long before there will some other exhibit appearing I'm sure! The people who live around this park are lucky, as I would love to be so close to a park this lovely.

This park, situated just by the Swimming Pool in Bedminster, is a great place to come and relax on…read morea summer's day. As well as a good-sized area of grass for picnics and the like, the park also contains a basketball courts, a skate park and an enclosed play area for children. As such, a multitude of different kinds of folk converge in this one spot, making it a fantastic place to come and people watch. The fence on one side of the park has been designated as a graffiti zone and the murals adorning it are painted over pretty much every weekend. It's worth heading down on a Saturday to watch some of the artists at work, if you're so inclined.

A popular little park that has embraced all of what is needed for a modern park to succeed. WIth a…read moreskating area and a basketball court you have already ticked most of the boxes of requirement for all the boys to want to go to the park. Having a designated Graffiti zone as well means the park has embraced the popularity of the art form that Banksey so famously shown the people of Bristol, and allows young people a surface to legally practice their art without having to worry about people frowning at them for Graffiting. Being just by the swimming pool means that it is popular with families to bring their children for a small kick-about or frisbie throw.

Once a year the Bristol Balloon Fiesta is held at Ashton Court and is a great day. The Ashton Court…read moreestate is set in 850 acres of land and the gardens are great to roam in, even if it isn't the Balloon Festival. You could spend all day walking around, admiring the wonders of nature. There are deer enclosures dotted around too. The Balloon Fiesta attracts over 150,000 visitors but the park is great all year round. Enjoy activities such as cycling, Golf pitch and putt, horse riding, deer-feeding walks and have a look at the miniature railway.

Ashton Court Mansion is not open to the public but hosts functions such as corporate activity days,…read moreweddings receptions and dinners. It is owned by Bristol City Council and they have struggled to invest the amount of money this mansion needs to be restored fully to its former glory. The rose garden is really lovely in summer. Last summer I went to a performance of Taming of the Shrew here in the walled garden. It was a case of bring a picnic and a blanket and chairs, sit back and enjoy the show. It was such a perfect spot for some outdoor theatre and luckily the sun gods were shining on us. There wasn't a very large crowd, so you could almost feel like you were a lord or lady of the manor sitting out in your gardens enjoying some light summer entertainment. The old stables area of the mansion has public toilets, a cafe and the stables bistro restaurant. The visitor centre is located on the ground floor and there is a lovely exhibition space on the first floor.