Perry Park is often overlooked as it's right next to one of the main roads in and out of the city…read more Despite this, last year they completed the building of an international standard BMX track within the park itself. This track sits alongside the existing skate ramps that have been on the site for years and are regularly used both by young people from the area, and youth workers looking to do outreach work with those young people. The park itself has loads of open flat grass and has been used for carnivals and festivals in the past, so has plenty of space to take a dog for a walk or have a family picnic - but only if this weather holds out!

Perry Park is big, really big!! It's important to state that as whether you are approaching it from…read morethe Walsall Road or Aldridge Road it's easy to think it's quite small. Not only is it such a big park that they have events and fairs on due to the expanse of flat green lawn but it has a reservoir, is home to Alexandra Stadium and has a world class BMX park. Personally I like to think of it as Brum's version of New York's Central Park just minus statues, ice rinks and restaurants. The size of the park means it's easy to think it's not busy. If you are a young person then it's a great place to hang out and youth workers are often doing detached work, which means opportunities to get involved in fun projects.

Hazelwell Park is a funny little park. It's on a slope, which makes it frequently a bit…read morewater-logged at the lower end. It's also not actually all that little - it's deceptively large. Part of the Rea Valley cycle route runs through it and it backs almost onto the Pershore Road, which makes it that nice mix of green space and inner city. It never looks particularly neat or landscaped - however a good deal of thought seems to have gone into the children's play area, which they seem to be continually developing - adding the occasional swing or climbing frame. Due to this, its relative peace and quiet and easy accessibility to the good folk of Stichley, it's quite popular with locals with little ones in tow. Even though you always have to wear your wellies, almost year round. Apart from the children's play area the park consists of a large area of open space and the banks of the River Rea; which suggests something for everyone. It's still a pretty well-kept secret, as far as Birmingham parks are concerned.

This is one of the best parks in Brum to get up close and personal with the River Rea, which runs…read moredirectly through it. During summer months the river bank is alive with nature and it's a great spot to take the kids to pick wildflowers and mess about in the water. Aside from the river bank it's a fairly standard park. There is a pretty good children's play area with swings and such that is well maintained and safe and there is a small football goal if you want a kickabout - although the sloping nature of the park, and the fact that there is only 1 goal means it isn't great for a 'proper' game. When this place comes into it's own is during a winter snowfall, hence the 4 stars. At the rear of the park, just by the allotments, there is a BMX cycle track that has a fairly decent hill. This makes for an ideal sledging venue that gives a pretty decent run with a few bumps provided by the covered BMX track. Remember this place next time it snows!

Park is undergoing a huge renovation on the house, the bandstand, and play areas which is due to…read morefinish in summer 2016 - it's going to be a great place to go to. Currently they have a circus show there, which hasn't happened ever before in the park since i can remember. This is a new venture to attract more people to use the new public space. This park is good as they are trying to host some really good events on for the locals. Last year in May, they had a may day extravaganza which was also good fun. Looking forward to seeing the finished park and heritage house, just need to hurry up and get it finished the scafolding has been up for years now...

This park is massive. It runs alongside a significant length of the Hagley Road. Taking you from…read morenear Quinton down to Bearwood. The Quinton end is a large and grassy playing field space, whilst the Bearwood ends has a playground, skate park, bandstand and a sad looking ruin of a manor house. The park is always busy with local young folk, especially around the skate ramps. The upper end makes prime picnic destination on lazy summer days (there is an Ember Inn pub/restaurant for when you can't be bothered to pack the hamper). The park is under the stewardship of Sandwell Council, who have made it a pleasant place to be.

Kings Heath park is absolutely huge. It's great to have picnics at, go for walks, have colour…read morefights (as my friends and I did ) , walk the dogs and even entertain the kids. Everytime I go there are always various clubs going on which is great to have something to occupy time with! Additionally, it has very quiet areas, especially by the pond , and I usually take work and do it there. It's a great park!

I like Kings Heath park, it's got a lot going for it. First…read moreoff, it's a like a park of two halfs, oh and it's massive. It's like maybe two, three or even four parks in one. You've got the footpath that leads all the way around the park, which is popular with walkers, joggers and cyclists. This path will lead you from one of the three entrances right down to where the park edges alongside the trainline. How many miles this walkway is I don't know, but it's a good walk to take it all in. The path snakes in around the parks water feature which is really quite beautiful and is popular with ducks. There is also a tea room, tennis courts, a bowling green, basketball hoops, and two childrens playgrounds. This is a supreme park with large open grass spaces to boot. Kings Heath park is a great asset to the south of Birmingham and has a great deal to offer visitors.

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!

I literally stumbled across this walkway today (yes, it was painful and embarrassing...) whilst…read moremooching around in Billesley - as one does. I had no idea it existed before, or indeed the Shire Country Park of which it is a part (along with Sarehole Mill, Moseley Bog, The Dingles and other bits of random Birmingham parkland). I'm always pleased to find green spaces, so I went for a little stroll. It's always nice to discover little green hidden treasures amongst the urban sprawl, so I enjoyed my little wander through the walkway's little hedgerows which line the banks of the River Cole (I say 'River' it's more of a stream, really). There were lots of chirrupy birds around who were obviously enjoying their time in the Shire, but I have to say, it did look like it needed a bit of TLC as the path and the field both were a bit overgrown.

Located over the road from Sarhole Mill, this nature walk is another great inspiration to Tokien,…read morewho used to explore the river Cole as a child. The walkway is named after a headmaster from George Dixon Junior School, who wrote about the heritage of Birmingham in every district. This pathway certainly breathes the same history from Jone's pages, and feels very magical and enchanting to walk through, especially in the summertime when you hear birds, crickets and other insects. I often walk down this path to escape the smog of Birmingham, and become transported to a new aged, natural environment. And the walkway is perfect for runners, joggers and bikers, because it stretches such a long way. There's a few fruiting bushes along the path, and I often go and collect plums, blackberries and raspberries from the wild, overgrown edges of the walk (as do many other people). The plums are little yellow ones, which are very sweet and perfect for making pies. So if you want fresh, great tasting fruit to eat, John Morris Jones Walkway is definitely the place to pick your own. Who'd have thought such delicious food could be found in the wilderness of Birmingham?

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.

Elmdon park is a mammoth of a park and when I am feeling in need of some nice fresh air and a long…read morewalk I park at the top end by the Land Rover and walk all the way down to the playground section and back again, it usually takes around an hour and it is an enjoyable walk - typical that the hill back to the car park is fairly steep so don't over do it on the walk! Has events during the warmer months and within the last few years I have attended an Easter Egg hunt which took you on a walk around the park searching for letters to receive a creme egg for the kids who took part as well as a fun day where they had some bouncy slides which you had to pay £1-£1.50 to use