The epitome of a hidden gem. Located just off parsonage road in Didsbury, the Marie Louise Gardens…read moreare the loveliest little green space in the area. The gardens have a poignant history as they were given to the citizens of Manchester in 1903 by Josephine Silkenstädt, in memory of her daughter who died at the age of only twenty-six. There is actually a website of their own for all this stuff, so check that at (as listed above) for more information. In this instance the council description of the gardens as a '3.4 hectare oasis' is not an embellishment, as the rest of their park propaganda seems to be. These are a lovely little green area perfect for a walk or picnic, and they are always very quiet, often giving the feel that you have your own little private garden space. There's also a lovely little pagoda thingamajig. Excellent place, well worth a visit. Check out the photos I've added, some of which date back to the early 20th century, documenting the history of this lovely space.

I shall refrain from using the cliché 'hidden gem' to describe these gardens, but they do receive…read moresurprisingly few visitors to say that they are located a short walk away from East Didsbury, West Didsbury and Northenden. In fact, in the spring and summer, I'd say that humans are outnumbered by grey squirrels by at least 20 to 1. A few years ago there was talk of part of the gardens being sold to developers (who are currently busy building flats on the land next door) but as with Chorlton Meadows, this is a story of people power. The Friends of Marie Louise Gardens successfully campaigned to prevent this development and have now secured funding for restoration of the gardens. Some people call squirrels rats with tails but I, for one, am glad that the Friends were successful and that the squirrels have plenty of space to safely bury their nuts for winter. At all times of year these gardens are a beautiful place for a walk or to sit on a bench and contemplate and philosophise. Bring some monkey nuts if you're not afraid of the extremely tame squirrels coming to eat them out of your hand.

Arrowe Country park is spectacular, I think the most memorable thing about it is the smell: so…read morefresh and natural it's wonderful. There are around 250 acres of woodland and parkland (no wonder it smells so fresh) and boasts a great mix of trees and flowers. You are guaranteed to spot numerous animals birds; squirrels are very popular in this area, as are Jays and Woodpeckers the numerous ponds and the lake in the park attracts toads, kingfishers and dragonflies; this place is a real haven. Although popular, it's always tranquil as people just come to walk and relax. Great place for an afternoon picnic

Arrowe Country Park is indeed an idyllic and beautiful place to go for a jog, a stroll or a family…read moreday out. There are acres and acres of lush scenery to peruse through as well as a pond for fishing in and a golf course for all those aspiring golfers. It's just a shame because it's set on the back of a few housing estates and occasionally you can get a bit of trouble as you walk around. So be warned, it's not a place that I would let my children go to play unsupervised! Other than that it's a great walk, I used to job through here fairly frequently and never got any trouble. It's a good place for groups of friends to go and play football as well as they have two football pitches that can be used. There's also a nice pub called the Cherry Orchard which you should try if you get peckish after your walk!

Reasons to visit this great park! 1. It has beautifully…read morelooked after gardens for you to explore the shrubs, bushes, flowers, trees and wild life. 2. Waterfall and pond in the garden. 3. The pathways are well tended and the notices at least insist people keep their dogs on a leash (even if the people don't always adhere). 4. Rose garden. 5. Tennis courts which need a little tlc depending on when you visit. 6. Parking nearby. Either £2 in 'The Didsbury' car park or alternatively free street parking. 7. The quietness and tranquility amidst the hustle and bustle of town life. 8. Many seated areas. 9. Coffee shop 10. Errr like if the other 9 reasons weren't enough then I suppose you might be wowed by a stroll along the river Mersey!

There's no better way to spend a sunny afternoon in Didsbury than to join a few friends for a…read morepicnic in Fletcher Moss Gardens. There's some beautiful exotic trees, shrubs and flowers to look at. Not least in the rock garden, which is dog free. The rock garden also has its own pond and I swear I've seen terrapins or turtles in there. Nobody ever believes me, though! Throughout the rest of the park, you'll find plenty of benches where you can bask in the sunshine, as well as a great little café, which does the best flapjacks and cakes in the world! There's also a beautiful arboretum that's lovely to sit in and a couple of tennis courts, which seem to be in almost constant use during the summer months! These tennis Courts are sometimes used for open air theatre productions in the summer. I saw Oscar Wilde's The Important of Being Earnest there one year, and there was a lovely atmosphere.

We took our Rabbit here for a walk Was perfect as it was…read morevery peaceful with no other animals to chase our bunny A sublime place to visit

Having seen the review, I visited these little gardens as I am often nearby at Didsbury Cricket…read moreClub. Its a lovely little spot for a park lunch, and a very brief stroll as the gardens are pretty small. You'll often be the only person there, which makes it perfect for a romantic picnic or suchlike rubbish that I never partake in. Also, you can visit the Fletcher Moss Park in the same swoop, and there are plenty of pubs nearby to stop for a beautiful beer, in which I do often partake. Also, go on the weekends during cricket season and you can sit around the cricket pitch at Didsbury Cricket Club and watch the game. You can almost make a day of this little leafy/puby area.

Dunes at their best, elusive red squirrels and wide sprawling flat brown sandy beaches. There are…read moretwo car parks, one at the Squirrel Trail and one by the beach. Bring coins for the machines unless you have the Parking App. 50 years ago there were tons of red squirrels, the dunes felt massive as we rang hither and thither and slid down the sand, and then ran to the water for a paddle. It's still quite lovely but I fear you would be lucky to see half a squirrel or just a tail.

Formby's Freshfield Nature Reserve has been a long time favourite of mine due to the beauty of its…read morelandscape; I always find this place relaxing on a summer's stroll through its enchanting woodlands, as I keep my eyes peeled for elusive and rare red squirrels that roam. To make the most of your day, you should not miss the stunning stretch of unspoilt coastline that features long sandy beaches and attractive pine woods. As you walk along the beaches, it makes a discovery to search for the 5000-year old red deer footprints that still remain. My favourite part of Freshfield has to be the miles of sand dunes (one of the largest in the UK) and now home to many endangered species such as the Natterjack Toad and the Northern Dune Tiger Beetle. Formby by far is one of the best nature reserves in the North West. A word of warning though, do not circumnavigate before it gets dark, as it's so easy to lose track and find yourself in the middle of nowhere. Make sure you visit with your friends and/or family because it makes an excellent day out!

If you don't live nearby and don't want to take the car, the nearest station to Eastham Country…read morePark is Bromborough, with about a 1 mile walk from there to the park. A bus service is available along the A41 to Bromborough and Eastham Village to Eastham Ferry. Once there, there are awesome views across the estuary. The 100 acres of broadleaf woodland are great for walking, birdwatching and orienteering. There is a visitor information centre, rangers office and toilets in the courtyard adjacent to the main carpark. There are a few picnic areas on the open grassland close to the river. There is also a great little Tea Garden which serves refreshments and snacks during spring and summer or if you want something a little more substantial there are two public houses are situated on the riverfront.

Eastham Country park is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful parks on the Wirral. These…read moresprawling 100 acres of woodland are maintained by the Wirral Borough Council. The site of this park was once a Victorian amusement park, and down among the ferns and the azalea bushes you will still find evidence of this bygone carnival: broken fountains, stone steps, ruins of walls, and bear pits. Walking here among the trees in the spring is like walking in a jungle, except that there are neatly kept paths, and fortunately no tigers hiding behind bushes. However, English wildlife is in abundance, and you are very likely to see birds of all kinds including woodpeckers, jays, nuthatches, and wood pigeons, as well as red squirrels, and possibly even hedgehogs, weasels, or foxes. Some of the trees you will see are oak, silver birch, and sycamore. After or before you visit the park, you should really check out the village. Nathaniel Hawthorne once visited the village, and in his journals described it as "the finest old English village [he had] ever seen." There is also visitors centre, a ranger's office, public toilets, and a tea room. To get to Eastham Country Park by train, take the Wirral Line and arrive at Eastham Rake.

Located in the south of Sutton on the site of the old Sutton Manor Colliery, the Sutton Manor…read moreWoodland can be found. I think the views from the woodland are its key selling point. If you go to the very top of the woodland (on the spoil heap) you will be 270 feet above sea level. From here I could see across to the Pennines and Clwydian hills. Shuttingslow (the highest point in Cheshire) and Bosley Cloud can be seen to the southeast. Daresbury Tower, Halton Castle, Delamere and Widnes-Runcorn Bridge are visible to the south. The chimneys of Fiddlers Ferry power station are also clearly visible. Although on the day I went I couldn't see it, you are meant to be able to see Manchester United's ground at Old Trafford and the Reebok stadium in Bolton. The Trafford Centre, Thelwall Viaduct, Frodsham Hill and Alderley Edge can also be identified. Every few minutes planes perform 180 degree banks over the Manor in preparation for landing at nearby John Lennon Airport and can be seen descending up until a few seconds before they land. The woodland is also home of the internationally significant Dream public artwork. There are a good few paths for a walk and picnic spots along the way.

Beautiful park in the heart of the Sefton Park neighborhood. Lots of serene walking paths, and a…read morerange of birds to be seen.

Brilliant, beautiful park! Fun to scoot around! Saw a few ducks and a few caves. Will be going…read moreback! Can't wait.