Poor old Rectory Park is perhaps destined to forever remain in the shadows of its far bigger, far…read morewilder, far more picturesque counterpart, Sutton Park. Yet for Suttonians, Rectory Park is just as valuable a space and is arguably more practical. Generations of children have played football for various Sunday, school, cub, church and otherwise teams on one of the two football pitches (it's where my cub team used to regularly practice). The park is also home to Sutton Coldfield Cricket Club and is an ideal place to let your dog run wild (in a literal sense of running, don't let them go ripping people's faces off). What else? The small woods behind a car park on the entrance near Good Hope Hospital have been popular with illicit Diamond White drinkers for years and it's a good picturesque walk into Sutton from Falcon Lodge (the main entrances are on Rectory Road, Hollyfield Road, Riland Road and Coleshill Road). It also provides a handy hiding place for kids playing truant from the nearby Fairfax and John Wilmott Schools. It's maybe not the wisest place to be hanging around after dark these days, but then where is?

I once viewed a property in Riland Road off Rectory Road and remember being overwhelmed by the red…read morebrick Victorian pretty properties and the very friendly vibe. I've just been for a walk in Rectory Park and while it's far smaller than Sutton Park, sitting quietly on a bench you become immersed in a whole world of birds and animals. Only a stones throw from the centre of Sutton Coldfield and I could be in the middle of a forest. There has to be a great history to this place, it has a regal confidence about it, almost a spiritual feel. Highly recommend a good walk around Rectory Park to clear your head and heal your soul.

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 live close by and its a great place to go for a nice walk, small play area for the kids, also the…read morerailway that normally runs twice a week, at the moment the lake doesn't have that much water in as earlier this year was emptied to do repairs on the dam, the work now has been done and is filling up naturally, will be around 2012 before completely full again. see some pics and details at my site at http://www.kevinsimon.co.uk/?p=274

I agree with marg - a great place for a day out, whether you want to picnic, see or ride the…read moretrains, bring your boat or just walk your dog. There are two places for refreshment, a book/nic-nac store (inside a train carriage), plus a toy shop.

Wyndley Leisure Centre is a fabulous facility in the heart of Sutton Coldfield. The centre is very…read morewell equipped and with a diary full the latest in fitness and leisure activities. A bit a history for you; Wyndley was opened in 1970 and is the largest leisure centre of its kind in the Birmingham area, it has been developed over the years and boasts a list of facilities second to none including: A heated main swimming pool, 25m deep for diving practise, 1, 3 and 5 metre diving boards. There's also separate shallow teaching pool. There's a 400m Athletic Track with eight lanes available for casual use each day from 9.00am. There are five pitches for a game of 5-a-side. In the sports hall there are squash and badminton courts £6.45 for 40 minutes, which I think is a little expensive, there's a dance studio and of course, a well equipped gym. A Creche welcomes children aged 5 and under. There's a large car park, at the barrier you will asked to take a ticket but this can be redeemed at the reception after your visit so parking is secure and free. My advice is to book courts early on-line or over the telephone to avoid disappointment as they get very busy. All round very well run leisure centre, well done Birmingham City Council.

Since Serco has taken over there is a noticeable drop in the hygiene levels. The ladies changing…read morerooms, both the swimming pool and gym area, are filthy. The toilets in both areas are filthy and not cleaned throughout the day considering the long hours they are opened. The floor in the changing area of the swimming pool is covered in hair and I once came across faeces on the cubicle wall. Coming from the showers one has to navigate the dirty, muddy hair ridden floor - There is mud prints and hair all over the floor. The cubicles are filthy. An area of the floor in the locker area of the swimming pool is sunken, so dirty stagnant water collects and remains until the end of the day normally around 9pm when it is hosed down by a Life Guard. There appears to be no cleaners - The sanitary conditions are appalling. Before Serco took over these areas were cleaned.

Leasowes park and woodland covers over 140 acres, including the Halesowen Golf Club. The Leasowes…read morePark is one of the most beautiful natural landscapes i have seen. They have also been designed by a poet from the 18th century called William Shenstone (if your interested in history). The area consist of wooded hillsides, scenic grasslands and small lakes and streams. Free parking is available at the Leasowes Lane entrance. It's natural and in areas very wild, isolated and utterly without basic facilities. But having said that its great for getting back to basics for a proper old school adventure! Spend the day hiking, have a mini beast finding safari, or have the hide and seek tournament of your lives... there is lots of fun to be had here! This public space is a great bit of wilderness in a heavily industrialised area. A great place to come to escape from it all. A much used and loved place for family recreation, couples, friends alike. There are a few must see features to find like the bridge over the water feature, this place is great as you'll find nothing but green here. it truly is Lovely!

This is a lovely and green parkland located just away from Halesowen town centre. It was landscaped…read moreto closely resemble the natural environment, so there are lots of trees and winding pathways to help you explore the sizeable (143 acre) space. There is a fishing pond with a well-trodden path that takes about 20 minutes to walk around. It is a pleasant stroll through the woodland up to the golf course. The main problem is accessing the park by car as it can only be reached from the downhill carriageway of Mucklow's Hill.

Harborne walkway is a space of natural tranquillity in an urban environment. It was opened in 1981,…read moreoccupying the former short branch Harborne railway line. The railway line opened in 1874, as an early example of a commuter route into the new industries city of Birmingham. It took five years to build the 2.5 miles of track, with stations at Hagley Road, Rotton Park Road, and Icknied Port Road before terminating at New Street. This was much shorter that the 1866 proposal, which would have connected Bromsgrove to Halesowen, and connecting the Great Western Railway (in Soho) with the London and North Western Railway on Monument Lane. I had previously presumed that the railway line was a victim of Dr Beeching's Cuts in the 60's, whereby he oversaw the closure of over 1,000 rail stations in the UK (luckily we didn't follow his full recommendation and close over 2,000). However, the Harborne line closed to passengers in 1934, as people favoured the buses, which had less delays at the time. The line remained open for freight, serving the Chad Valley toy factory in Harborne, as well as the Mitchells & Butlers brewery at Cape Hill, amongst over businesses. The line was completely closed in 1963. Cut to present day and the line has been transformed into the most lovely walking and cycling path in the city. The path runs from Forest Drive / Park Hill Road in Harborne to Summerfield Park in Soho; where one can easily visit Edgbaston Reservoir, or join the Birmingham Canal to walk into the city centre. The full walk from Harborne to town is unsurprisingly the same as the original railway line: 2.5 miles. It brings one into town at Brindley Place, where there are ample options for liquid refreshment and nutrient. Along most of the walk, we could easily be forgiven for forgetting that we are so close to the heart of the second city. We could easily be convinced that we're walking in a rural part of the country. The only hint to city life is seeing the buses on the Hagley Road above our heads. The footpath is however, slightly busier (and less boggy) than those out in the countryside, being popular with dog walkers, families, cyclists, and runners alike. The route doesn't have any lighting though, so is probably best avoided after dusk. Although I love Birmingham and all of the culture, bar, events etc that happen in the 'big city', sometimes it's good to get away from all of the 'hustle and bustle' and be 'one with nature' - any more clichés I can fit in? Seriously though, it's great to be able to escape from all of the stresses of modern life without having to travel too far from home. Birmingham has 3,500 hectares of public green space, more than any other European city, and 250 miles of urban brooks and streams (I've not even mentioned the canals, nor Venice). To me, Harborne Walkway is definitely one of the city's 'hotspots', a must for any Brummie!

Great walk on a fall afternoon with the dog. Don't leave it too late as it can get quite…read morecreepy/dark in areas. It is a great green space in an urban area and well worth a visit. Lots of runners and other dog walkers. Interesting railroad history.

Sudbury Hall is National Trust property in the heart of Derbyshire. The car park is a fairly large…read moremarshalled area, on the opposite side of the road to the house, so there is a small walk to the house (disabled parking is to the rear of the house). The car park does fill up quickly though, so to avoid being shepherded onto the overspill field, get there for mid morning. The walk to the Hall snakes through the grounds, which are punctuated with mature trees like sweet chestnut and ash. The hall itself is a very impressive building with an imposing façade, which has been kept in magnificent condition. The path then splits, one side takes you to a church, whilst the other takes you into a courtyard of sorts, which houses the cafe, shops and the Museum of Childhood. There is also a temporary marquee, in which for small fee, you can learn a craft. Beyond this area is sizeable area of gardens and the front of the hall, which made for some great photographs. The grounds are well kept, but be aware that they are adjacent to large lake, frequented by Canada Geese and Swans, so tread carefully to avoid their numerous droppings! The cafe at Sudbury Hall is fairly large with both outdoor and indoor seating, with indoors having two levels. A good range of both hot and cold dishes, as with most National Trust properties, strawberry desserts, soups, casseroles, flapjacks etc. I plumped for what was obviously a homemade cheese scone, looked great, tasted awful, because it was way too salty. I can eat most things, but this was quickly put to one side, just proves looks can be deceptive! I was a bit sceptical about the Museum of Childhood being less than impressive, but I'm glad to report that these fears where unfounded. It was a fascinating insight into the history of toys and childhood, which worked with everybody because being young or old, there were toys here that sparked the memories. In the main room there was also three bedrooms from around the 1940s, 1970s and 1990s, stuck to the ceiling, a great use of space! One thing that struck me as we finished our visit was how well old toys were made in the past, rather than the built in obsolescence of today's counterparts.

National Trust property situated in Sudbury, near Ashbourne, Derbyshire. This beautiful 17th…read morecentury house is well worth a visit. The house itself is beautiful, as is the Museum of Childhood. My favourite though is the gardens which back on to a river. There's a small gift shop and tea room or take a picnic. It's free to park but about £6 for adults to visit the house and garden, or just over a pound for just the garden. National Trust members get in free.

Pype Hayes park is good if you live near. It is a good place to jog or walk around the pond…read more The annual bonfire every year is definately worth a visit. The fireworks are phenominal and as it's free then you can't miss out. There are rides and food bars and things available for all ages.

Good place for kids to have a run around and to have picnics…read more Every year they have a bonfire and fireworks display and its worth seeing.

Sutton's most famous closed station is Sutton Park which sat, as its name suggests just inside the…read morepark. The station shut in 1965 when passenger services through the park were withdrawn (the line, which ran from Birmingham to Walsall, is still used for freight). The bits of it which remain still sit just inside the park although the station buildings were demolished roughly 10-15 years ago. One platform is still accessible down the path from the railway bridge on Anchorage Road but is really not worth it as there's nothing left down there to see - unless you want to indulge in a little trainspotting. There is also a question of who owns the land, something I'm not sure about and so will advise against walking down there. There is always talk of the line being reopened to passenger traffic but this has never come to anything. Personally I'd love to get the train through the park as I think it'd be one of the most picturesque journeys in Brum. Going by the sorry state of Sutton Park station, I don't think it's something I'll be doing very soon.