When I'm stressed, unimpressed, or my head's in need of rest, Beckett Park is my playground. I'm so…read morefortunate in that I'm a stone's throw away from it and can go for a walk/cross march whenever I need to clear my head. Considering that Beckett Park is literally slap-bang next to Leeds uni Headingley campus, it's hardly ever packed with people. I find it odd if I see more than 3 joggers whenever I go for an amble. I take the route via Churchwood Avenue into a thick arch of towering trees, the sky above stained with lush green leaves. it's easy to see why this was the childhood haven of many Leeds dwellers. I can just see the myriad games of Robin Hood / Manhunt / Hide and seek that must've gone down here. Biking through this strip of woodland must be very liberating! This park is beautiful at any time of the year, so if you're looking for a scenic setting to your morning jog you could do alot worse!

I realise my review may be somewhat tainted by the arrival of the snows but, when stripped of such…read moreexciting weather, I think Beckett's Park will still offer up plenty of fun and games. Literally ten minutes from Headingley you can walk straight up St. Anne's Road and you will have arrived at Beckett's Park. To the left there is the option to go for a mini woodland walk, in the midst of the suburban Headingley area, or you can carry on and in front of you to the park area itself. It might not be the largest space but it's big enough for a decent game of rounders/football and is surrounded by picturesque trees and greenery. Lots of fun! There's also a cute little bench, perfect for a sandwich and a light read. In terms of snow related fun I have been snow boarding - using a wheel-less mountain board as a snow board - down the hills of Beckett's Park! It is like, totally awesome. Be warned though, snowboard at your own risk - injuries are very possible - I have come away with a sprained posterior. You may laugh now but it's not great walking around with a limp and having to explain exactly where it hurts...

The Hollies is an old Oak woodland in Meanwood Park and is a gem in the city of Leeds. I heard a…read morerumour, and like to fully believe, that Tolkien, author of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, was inspired by this forest, the ancient and gnarled trees that, if you close your eyes, could imagine coming alive. A river runs through it creating a deafening waterfall at one point. It is so magical, that when visiting it is hard to believe you are still in Leeds. There are rhododendron bushes that flower under the trees in bursts of colour, bluebells and snow drops further down still. My favorite feature is a large rock in the shape of a whale that looks like it has jumped out of the tiny stream it sits next to. This is a great place to go for an amble with the kids, your dog or friends,

Hidden, secluded, and secret…read more.. Almost. Filled with curiosity, I sniffed it out. Imagine being transported into the 'fairy' pictures that famously captivated people's minds for years. It's the sort of spot you might go pixie hunting, amongst foreign blooms, lush colours, and dappled light. It's a most magical, gorgeous place. Stop by, bring a pen and paper, and let the words spill out.

Lovely walk peaceful and good place to walk dogs.read more

After last years epidemic of baby births, sorry that sounded shallow. After the delight that was…read moremany of my friends and colleagues creating or expanding their families (better) the seasons are changing and as we move out of Winter into Spring and hopefully balmier climates, talk has turned on where's a nice and safe place to take the kids that isn't pure saccharine wacky zany child fun, and is parent and friends of parent friendly, eg, friends of parents won't balk at the idea of spending time with the kidlets because it's "just too much fun(!)" Anyhoo, an excellent compromise or combination, of green, flowers, pretty, play areas, etc is Pudsey Park. My idea to take friends kidlets here stemmed from the glowing reports this park has. Prior job projects included something on open spaces in West Yorkshire, and Pudsey Park comes in top of the list with regards to awards and such. It's been a Green Flag award winner every year since 2003, a worthy acheivement. The park is always clean, and I've never had any trouble, plus in half term and Summer holidays, there's plenty of families about, which is nice for the kids to play about, without being too loud and annoying for anyone enjoying the park sans child. So what's to do here? If you enter the park at the Car Park side, you'll immediately notice the playground, and there's a basketball court, and a skate park. Wandering through there's a bowling green, flower gardens, a glass house filled with exotic plants and a pets corner and aquarium and aviary. For replenishments there's also a little cafe too. At the moment the park is undergoing some regeneration, so there are some major developments going on, and the structure and layout of the park is changing. But when it's all done and dusted it should be even better than ever.

I'm feeling the love for all things slightly off centre. No I'm not having another Mel meltdown, I…read moremean I'm quite liking exploring the deeper depths of our beloved Leeds and it's Pudsey. Since I'm on a park ting (getting all street again, word up), I thought it'd be rude not to look this bad boy up. Now most of the parks have been reasonable to good it has to be said but this one is a perfectly formed package. It should shout about itself, it's a Greenflag winner and has been on many occasions. That's probably because it's very well maintained and has loads of stuff for the kids. Pet's corner is a nice touch and they keep on reconstructing areas left, right and centre so it's only going to get better. You've got exotic fish and birds and a tropical greenhouse. So get your best silly hat and cargo shorts out and go jungle trekking in your own back yard. There are plenty of flowers and tree lined walks. Plus, skate park, green bowls and a bandstand. Altogether with some air trumpet now.

When I first moved from the countryside to the city a couple of months back, I was really worried…read moreabout there being not enough trees or birds or, well, green things. Discovering Woodhouse Ridge on my doorstep was an absolute treat. It's a patch of wood which runs from Headingley, down between Meanwood Road and Woodhouse with lots of little paths weaving in and out. It doesn't have many amenities but its charm is its ruggedness. It's perfect if you just want to feel like you've ducked out of the bustling city for a while to pop your headphones in and go for a wander. The paths can get a little bit muddy but it's worth exploring. The views over the east of Leeds are quite impressive. Right now (late May/June), there are bluebells and wild garlic all over and it smells amazing. It's not very busy - a few dog walkers, cyclists and the odd jogger, but it's generally a very peaceful place. Last week, some friends & I took a picnic blanket and found a clearing in the Ridge and had a lovely time just chatting and munching snacks and watching the birds etc. There's a good amount of shade, as you'd imagine, so good for getting a bit of sun but not too much sun. Near the entrance by Rollette cafe on Meanwood Road, there are some allotments and, further up, there's the foundations of where an old bandstand used to be in the 1800s (I think). There is talk of renewing the bandstand and regenerating the Ridge a bit more, so fingers crossed this little natural gem is going to get even better.

One of the delights of living in this fantastic city is that one is never more than a stone's throw…read morefrom some incredible spots of natural beauty. Where other cities have decimated the nearby countryside, for some concrete space, we still have a wealth of green about us. Within a few minutes walk from Headingley, Meanwood and Woodhouse stands Woodhouse Ridge. Stood atop you can look right over Meanwood, and exploring left or right leads to dappled spots of forest. Not more than 10 minutes walk from the ridge I delved into the woods with a friend to watch a spoken word performance, complete with shadow puppetry and acappella song. It's the perfect place to tell tales. It's also perfect for an adventure with your camera. The green is often occupied by walkers, students picnicking and supping a few beers, dog walkers, merry wanderers, and of course all the wildlife you would expect. It's one of the remaining spots that were kept aside for leisure in Leeds, and dates back to the 1800s. Apparently there's an action group for the area, which you can join, to volunteer for days of conservation and maintenance. Since I've enjoyed it so much since living in Leeds, I may just do that.

This is my local park, loads for kids to do from parks and trails. Park run have a route here on…read moreSaturdays from 9am & I love the Oakwell Music Festival that's on in July.

Open all year round, free entrance, its good for a variety of different walks in woodland or more…read morechild/pushchair friendly. There is a great swing park and small cafe (where to be honest the service is slow and the food not amazing) but there are zillions of blackberries to be picked at the right time of year. There is a lovely little visitor centre, and a small gift shop as well.

Now it's my welcome pleasure to say that the parks in Leeds are pretty much spot on. They all have…read moresomething good to shout about and yet are all that little bit different. East End Park is a good example of that. It's a Victorian Park (although I didn't see any corset clad women to speak of) and pretty too. The main appeal though is it's encouragement to keep the kids off the streets and active. That's not to exclude other age ranges but the facilities include tennis courts, football pitches, basketball court, playground and even a teen shelter. You've also got a bowling green for those a tad older. They are also big on sports camps throughout the summer months and have a popular annual bonfire. The Friends of East End Park are also devoted to improving and maintaining the park itself, so it's pretty much well looked after. You could do far worse than a trip out here if you want something of an outdoors nature to do.

Most of us know about the delights of Golden acre Park but I think Breary Marsh Local Nature…read moreReserve needs a shout out too. Situated bang next door, it's just of the A660. Much of the nature reserve is a site of special scientific interest, reflecting its importance for nature conservation. It's easy to see why. With so much woodland and plants you'll feel a million miles away from the hub bub of the city centre. Old birches stand along side interesting ferns and mosses. These obviously attract some wonderful critters too and when the season is right you'll see a beautiful blanket of bluebells. Just don't go picking any or it's punishable by death. Okay not quite but still just say no kids. Have a stroll on the nature trail and celebrate the fact we have such areas of beauty in a busy city. Superb.

Sometimes we all need to get a nice big helping of fresh air to blast away those work blues or for…read moreme likely hangover. Luckily we're spoilt for choice here. One such place I love to go is Potternewton Park. It's out of the city off Harehills Lane and is well maintained. You've got formal gardens and picnic areas for a start. The active among you can also feel the deep burn with a game of tennis. Lesser assertion is needed for a cheeky spot of bowls and there is often some football going on. What it's also good for is bringing the community together with some annual events. The West Indian Carnival and Reggae Concert is a must. It's a vibrant mix of costumes, music and food and is great when the sun basks down and lights up a beautiful summer's day. If you feel like some greenery and open space then look no further.

Potternewton Park is a great green space in the Chapel Allerton/Harehills area. The surrounding…read morestreets are full of beautiful old style terraced houses and so it's a lovely addition to the area for the local children and teens to go for a wander. I've driven past it so many times on the way to work it seemed only right to stop by and check it out. At the top end there are some really lovely shrubbery arrangements, which I realise isn't the thing most people are interested in, but I quite enjoyed sitting and eating a sandwich with all the greenery around me. Further down there is a play area for the younger kids, which certainly looks more exciting than the likes of parks from when I was a kid, and there are basket ball courts and a skate area for the older ones too. As an adult there is simply a large expanse of beautiful green parkland for an afternoon stroll/sunny picnic. All in all it's a lovely place to visit if the busy roads and city life is stressing you out.