It was a wet and windy day when I stumbled upon Crowcroft Park, but it's a great getaway from the…read morehustle and bustle of Longsight's many shops, cafés and fast foot restaurants. There is a kid's football and basketball area, a bowling green and also a huge expanse of gently rolling grass making up Crowcroft Park. Perfect for a quick game of footy or for lazing in the grass in the summer. However, there are a few groups of kids in hoodies around Crowcroft Park at any given time. Whether they are scary or not depends on how you feel about kids in hoodies. I'm 23 and I wear a hood (to keep warm), so I just put mine up and feel fine about the whole thing.

Situated in the longsight ward, Crowcroft Park is one of ye ooldestest in Manchester, established…read moreas it was in 1900. 108 years afters its inception in 2008, Crowcroft Park was awarded a Green Flag Award for achieving the national standard for parks and green spaces. Not sure why this took 108 years to acquire, or what it was that finally made the council attribute the awards, as nout has changed since 1900, if I remember rightly. The park is mainly green in colour, with a few browns and yellowy greens thrown in for good measure. Its mainly used for local residents to walk their dogs or themselves or for whippersnappers to play causual ball games. There's a few rose beds as well though these are of course seasonal. Its nothing special but as parks in this part of Manchester go, I've no complaints.

My favourite park is Park Ji-Sung, but this one isn't bad either…read more So what makes a good park? Its all swings and roundabouts really, and this ones got both. Its also got a bowling-green, but unfortunately there's something missing. I couldn't place it at first, but eventually I realized, it's the old people. What's the point of a bowling-green without old people, also known as bowlers? Without Vivian, Vigh, Maureen and Doris, the bowling green is an empty waste of space providing fun for exactly no-one. Still it does no real harm, and there's probably a geography dissertation to be done on its vital importance to the food chain, so lets judge the park without considering this square of grass (I wonder why they keep it short..) The swings are blue and red. I like yellow swings so this is a bad point. The trees are green, this seems right so it's a plus one. The grass is short, so its good for football, that's a good thing. The roundabout looks like a death trap, so that's a negative. And its got 15 year olds drinking alcopops on it, but they seem to like it. Hmm, in conclusion, its good for people aged 15-50. Old people don't like it and its dangerous for small kids.

Kingswood Park is a bit of a hidden gem really. Not because its anything particularly special, but…read morebecause on Kingswood Road, situated on the way to Burnage from Fallowfield, you would expect to find nothing but woe, but if you keep your eyes peeled, you'll notice a nice little park, which is worth a visit, depending on your intentions. Its surprisingly large, and mainly (as one might expect) green in colour. Its nothing special unless you want to play ball games. If you do want to play ball games, you'll find a football pitch and a basketball court here, alongside some other park space which a bit of creativity can turn into the perfect space for any game involving spherical objects. As its on Kingswood Road, its always really empty. This makes it ideal if you want the pitch for you and your mates. Also, its really not in the middle of nowhere, as its only 5 minutes walk from the Fallowfield Sainsbury's. It's a far better bet than Platt Fields or Ladybarn park if you're looking to arrange some football.

I've never really been *to* this park, but I have walked through it on numerous occasions, as it…read moremakes for a more scenic walk from Didsbury to Tesco/the cinema/Nando's than the main road does. For a Manchester park it seems to have very few scallies hanging about in it, making it a very pleasant place for a quick stroll or even a picnic (maybe). There is a football pitch, which apparently has an air raid shelter underneath it, a kids play area and a bowling green. Alongside Fletcher Moss Botanical Gardens, Old Parsonage Gardens, Marie Louise Gardens and Fog Lane Park, Didsbury Park contributes to the leafy green spaces which make a welcome break from the café culture and bus fumes of Wilmslow Road.

When I lived in Whitworth Park (the halls, for I am not a vagrant) my parents came to pick me up on…read morethe way up to visit family in the north-east. Due to the fact that my Mum is always early and my Dad is always thrifty, they had brought a picnic and suggested eating it in the park. The problem was that it was March and not even a particularly warm or dry March, so we huddled up against each other and sat on a cold, graffitied bench and ate our tuna sarnies. That was the only picnic I've eaten in Whitworth Park and pretty much the only time I've sat down in there. On the other occasions I was put off by the combination of tramps, builders and school kids, which made it hard to relax. I found it much more pleasant to sit in Whitworth Park (the halls) or walk for 20 minutes to Platt Fields Park. But still, I quite like this park. It is a nice green break from the monotony of curry houses (if approaching from Rusholme direction) and university buildings (if approaching from other direction). I just want to know how they keep on putting the cone back on top of King James' head. Anyone?

After trekking around, looking for a place to relax, I saw this well-sized park and figured it'll…read moredo. And it did! Fairly decently sized, this is a good park right near the university that offers visitors the chance to choose from a plethora of space. Thankfully, my visit did not coincide with hordes of screaming children, so I was able to stroll about and find a seat and enjoy a quiet park. Even sitting next to the playground I was free of yelling and gallivanting children. Although there was a random woman who walked up to the Hamster Wheel and decided she needed a workout (she seriously just walked in it for a couple minutes like it was a treadmill...see my photo for proof!). Granted, this time of year the ground was a bit wet and muddy, but I think this could be a lovely space on a warm (and dry) day to just sit under a tree and breathe the fresh air.

Platt Fields is the biggest and best park in the area. Its green hills stretch out, well, about a…read morefive-minute walk, behind Fallowfield. So Manchester is not the best for green spaces. Nonetheless, Platt Fields isn't bad. I couldn't recommend it for a long afternoon walk or a day-trip with the extended family, but for a kick around with a bunch of mates or walking a dog it'll do just fine (as long as your dog isn't a fussy one). Its got plenty of open green space for football, and during the summer its pretty busy so you can always find people to have a game with. It does have a little cage for 5-a-side games but its gets so muddy its practically unplayable and you're better off setting up your own goal posts with jumpers just like you did as school. If you didn't do this at school, its achieved by taking two jumpers and placing them on the ground, creating a space in between them that serves the function of a goal. You then kick the ball into this structure. Its also got a skate park, if that's your thing, but later on this tends to be frequented by hoodlums and WKD. The lake is absolutely the highlight, and contains plenty of floating birds to feed. It does have boats which apparently can be rented out, though I have yet to see this occur, possibly through lack of demand, as you would be able to cross the lake in well under a minute. The boats can be put to good use collecting balls that are inadvertently kicked into the lake, but the park wardens are an obstacle. It also has some swings, but they're rubbish.

Coming from a village where it cost you about 3 quid to see a rubbish fireworks display, I was…read morehappy to see the abundance of free bonfire night celebrations organised by Manchester Council. This bonfire night is not as big as those in Heaton Park and Wythenshawe Park, but unlike the village celebrations, it is always on bonfire night itself (remember remember the 5th of November, not the 9th or 10th!) and is always packed with students and families. It's a pretty standard affair - everyone crowds around the barriers forgetting that the fireworks are actually going to be high in the sky, then rushes over to crowd around the giant bonfire. There are of course the obligatory hot dog and donut stands with plenty of rides including the one which launches a pair of you high into the sky above the park (it's good fun, trust me). If you want some free bonfire night fun but don't have a car and don't fancy the crush on the metro to get out to Heaton Park, then PFP is the place to go.

For me the fallowfield loop is a winner. We can leave our…read morehouse (next to the loop entrance in levenshulme), bike to chorlton for great food and drinks without touching any road (except the crossing in fallowfield). its made Chorlton easily accessible for a couple that couldn't possibly afford to buy round there but love to drop in for a bite to eat. The only bad points are that people must hang out on the loop to drink (although i've never seen anyone) as there are often smashed bottles on the path (not good for bike tyres and dog paws) and it can be really dark (even with my bike lights), but hey I like a challenge. There is the odd bit of dumped rubbish, but not that much considering...the only bad point I've seen is behind a block of student flats in fallowfield. Dog poo is minimal.... nice considerate dog owners around The good points. - its not scary and even though it can be dark its not intimidating (it is secluded though so safety precautions should obviously be taken ladies). - it keeps cyclists safe - its smooth tarmac - there are barriers preventing motor vehicles entering - there are many points to hop on / off along the way - its sunny and shaded. (so good when its boiling hot or chucking it down with rain - it takes you to pubs safely in chorlton - sainsburys is on route if you need to bob in and grab some tea - you can get to trove easily (levenshulme end) - its a short ride off the loop to Withington and west didsbury - a short ride across chorlton from the loop allows you to then jump on the river cycle route down near chorlton water park....where you can continue along to sale. 'Friends of the Fallowfield Loop'... you are wonderful people and thank you for building and maintaining this bike path. If there was only something similar to get into the centre of town!! p.s the loop extends beyong levenshulme and out towards gorton (where friends of mine live, making them easy to reach too) and debdale park and reservoir

I'm a big fan of Cringle Park, it's still relatively untouched which has it's good and bad points…read moreto think about. It's only about a 10 minute walk from Levenhulme train station and is easily accessed from Levenshulme, Heaton Chapel and Burnage so why is it always so quiet??? When the sun is shining and grass is green i've spent many an afternoon lying lazily on giant field that is cringle park. The odd thing is i'm usually one of only about 5 people there.... I've had BBQ's there in 28degrees heat and literally only 4 people have walked past with dogs! So what is the mystery about why Cringle Park is so quiet? After a quick google it seems it's been there a very long time, so that put to rest the idea that it's built upon an old asbestos factory or indian grave. To be fair the the children park usually has a few kids on it and the free tennis courts have seen some use on the sunnier days. ----- SO WHATS THERE TO DO AT CRINGLE PARK I HEAR YOU ASK? ----- There's running tracks with the distance handily measured on coloured posts. There FREE tennis courts There FREE backetball courts Childrens Play area Some carved mushroom hidden in a bit of overgrowth One humongous usally well kept bit of grass surrounded on all sides by beautiful trees! Whats not to love, well there are a few things. You can get groups if brrap brrap teenagers mouthing off from time to time. Nothing malicious but a bit off putting when your trying to perfect your already pretty pathetic tennis serve. Oh yeah and the travellors like to park their funfaire from time to time, which can fun but usually ends in half the field being recked for 6 months.

Cringle Park in the Burnage area is one of the larger and more walkable parks in southern…read moreManchester. Its not far from Ladybarn Park, but its larger and more interesting. Its 14 hectares in size, and includes a multi-sports court (not as impressive as it sounds), a children's playground and a bowling green and bowls pavilion. In addition, there is some grassland, and a large wooded area with trees. Apparently the bowls played here is crown green, which I think means there's a lump in the middle of the green which one has to bowl over. This is really unusual so check it out, though I've never seen the bowlers in action myself! Its also good for normal park activities such as picnics and small-scale ball games.