I'm doing it again; I must get to the water. I am a Gremlin. I need to multiply and water is my…read moresavour. In that case I could do a lot worse than Hemsworth Water Park and Play World. Now this badger has two lakes; the largest lake is available for pedalo rides and has sandy beaches; the smallest lake is in a more secluded area to attract wildlife. It's perfect if you want to do a Freddie Flintoff and fool around for a while. It's also ideal to see some great things of interest in this beautiful world we have around us. I'm going all John Lennon on you now. You've also got loads of grassed areas and picnics are no problem either (except the fact it's always freezing and wet in England). Then throw in the Play World bit. This is where I need to fall back and remind myself that I'm not a child any more. For "real" kids though it's got with a tower slide, climbing frames, a toddler's sandpit area and a miniature railway. Toot toot. Once again I've found you a corking day out with a difference but do check what is open if you go before the Easter holidays. You have been warned.

I find myself in something of a quandary. I value the provision of these islands of nature greatly…read moreand will always defend them from the encroaching urban sprawl but I find that I cannot get very excited about Hemsworth Water Park, Nice enough lakes and the ducks were very duck-like, the grass was probably just as green as any other park and the children's play area as clean and well maintained as the best of them but the other play area which is rather grandly called Playworld was locked up thereby saving us a few quid for an experience we could get for free in any half decent public park. I left with the feeling that I had wasted fuel driving to Hemsworth as there are better parks much nearer to where I live.

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.

Just beyond Adel is Golden Acre Park, a place I've gone to regularly since I was a child, and loved…read moreevery time. You can get to it from the main road out of north-west Leeds, or, like I do, through the woods between Adel and Cookridge. It's perfect for any outdoor time you need - walking, running, dog-strolling or just chilling out and tossing a frisbee around. It's a very well preserved park - there is never any litter or stray dog muck, and the warden and gardeners do a splending job keeping it looking pretty whatever the weather. In the middle of the park there's a huge pond with loads of interesting wildlife to look at - but don't anger the geese (I've been chased by them a few times) by just feeding the ducks. There's ample free parking and a nice little cafe, making it the perfect park.

This is the sort of place that really, I mean *really*, makes me miss being at home in…read moreGloucestershire. It is just so beautiful. I think the fact that we are so lucky here in Leeds so as to have such a well maintained and beautiful green space just on the outskirts of the city centre is a real marvel. I can't imagine many other cities being so lucky! The main deal here is the walking. I won't bore you with more detail than that, I am sure you'll know how to put one foot in front of the other, but this is what we're talking about here. Sunny/crisp days and a lengthy stroll - it's great for the system and great for the soul. Bring your dog, your wife, yourself, your camera. Use your imagination, if you will, there is more fun to be had here and it is all for free. Whether it's the wildlife, the greenery, the air or the escape there are endless reasons to come and see what this place is all about. I heart WY and I heart Golden Acre Park. The end!

Lotherton Hall was always a place where families could their children, pack a picnic and spend a…read morewhole day walking around the fantastic aviary (bird sanctuary) in the picturesque grounds. The House itself being the only one "Chargeable" place that for the first or second visit was value for money. Unfortunately, when Lotherton Hall brought in other charges - by restricting the public from free use of the play park and aviary, the popularity dropped, and so rightly so. Not everyone wanted to visit the House (as I have said, one or two visits is sufficient), and certainly not pay for the privilege of having a picnic with their own food. A shortcut through this charge is by Leisure Card, so I understand, which is one of The National Trust or National Heritage. Besides this, it is with what I believe to be a ridiculous fee, you can access all areas, as long as you have a car full of people. For first timers the experience will be found to be awesome, magical for the kids, and breathtaking for the bird lovers among you.

Lotherton Hall is a great family day out with bird gardens, A deer park and plenty of grounds to…read morewalk around. To our discredit we've not ventured into the house so we cant pass comment on that however the rest of place is great, our only niggle is the food I'd take your own they literally cant fry an egg. The bird gardens have a wonderful range of birds, with reasonable sized enclosures so that they dont look too cramped.

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...

i always visit the park every sunday , i carnt belive its actualy free its like something you see…read moreand think you would have to pay a entrance free , a massive pond for fishing , park for the children , sand pit , slides and swings. i usualy go fishing on the pond with a reasonable price to fish , lovely people and litter free!

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.

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

My kids and I thoroughly enjoyed the grounds. There's so much to see, including a pond with water…read morefowl, and an old mansion that looks right out of a book! There are so many green fields, I wish I were a native, so I could bring my dogs out here to run.

Roundhay Park is an enormous old park just outside the centre of Leeds. It has been a public park…read moresince 1871 and sprawls across 700 acres including parklands, lakes, woodland, greens and carefully landscaped gardens. It also contains canal gardens and Tropical World, a favourite among primary school children across Leeds thanks to its butterfly house and aquariums. The park itself is beautiful and a perfect place to lose a few hours wandering on a sunny afternoon, to take a picnic, go for a run or walk the dogs. There are events held in the park across the year (including the recent, and new for 2016, North Leeds Food Festival - if they run it again this one is well worth looking out for). Other spots worth investigating are the cricket oval and tennis courts as well as the Monet Garden, which was inspired by Claude Monet's garden at Giverny. That said, just exploring the park aimlessly is likely to bring you across so many interesting and beautiful spots that it almost seems a shame to visit with a particular goal in mind. Especially if you're likely to have many opportunities for return visits.

I'm now a fully fledged animal explorer. It's not an illegal thing; I mean it in a purely innocent…read moreway. Luckily my animal needs are more than met thanks to some great projects and places in the Leeds hood. Letchmire Pastures is just one of them. It's primarily a wetland and grassland covering 13 hectares and was born out of the demise of the coal mining industry near by. The River Aire is close to it and its main pull is the variety of ponds that offer homes to a wealth of dragonflies and toads. The best time to explore these areas is the spring and summer months, where you'll be able to see different kinds of dragonflies going about their business. You'll also get plenty of birds in the area and the grasslands attract copious amounts of insects. This isn't a place to go walking a dog, more walking yourself and taking in the wildlife but it's an ideal place to get at one with your inner hippie or help the kids with their biology homework. A good area and a feast for animal lovers as long as you don't expect elephants on the plain or marauding wilder beasts.