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.

So my quite frankly surreal and random love of water is a bit of a problem for someone living in…read moreYorkshire isn't it? Ha, I laugh in the face of your chortles. Of course not. We have water and plenty of it. We've also got electricty and phone lines outside of London too. I know, it's surprising. What I'm talking about is "real" water and what better place to go than Eccup Reservoir. It's a pearler of an area for some real clarity and fresh air. Beautiful walks ahoy then sailor and more natural splendor than you can shake a stick at. They've also invested heavily in preserving the glourious Red Kites and it is now home to over 100 of the bad boys. Great to see them in full flight. So twitchers can have a field day and the rest of us can also enjoy the array of wildlife on offer. There are also rumours and various sightings (not sure if Special Brew was involved) of a mysterious big cat in the area. Personally I don't believe them as the Yeti would've eaten it. A sure fire hit and worth a trip out to Alwoodley for anyone's money.

My boyfriend convinced me to go on a cycling mission to Eccup reservoir recently. He has a knack of…read moremaking a million miles away sound really close and as I was pressed for time I began to whinge part way there when I realised this wasn't the 15 minute bike ride I'd planned for, being about seven miles up hill! Upon arrival I stopped whingeing immediately. The sun was just beginning to set, and the reservoir, which is HUGE looked absolutely breathtaking! We stopped to catch our breath and as we gazed out across the water I couldn't believe we were within cycling distance of home. Before it got too dark to see much we cheekily jumped a couple of gates to get closer to the water. The reservoir was so still and the trees formed silhouettes against the darkening sky as we stood on the pebbly shore. If you feel the urge to get out of the city for some peace, fresh air and beautiful views, Eccup reservoir is the perfect place!

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...

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!

A fantastic park in Leeds -- comparable to Heaton Park in Manchester in terms of size and…read morefacilities. There's certainly lots to do for all ages. As one might expect, there's acres of space to walk the dog, run around in, play games or just explore; there are several very attractive more formal gardens; there's a children's playground, two lakes, bandstands, a folly, a Visitor's Centre, at least one cafe, etc etc. And, of course, there's Roundhay Tropical World, which has a Qype entry in its own right. Car parking isn't too bad, although on the day we went (admittedly during half-term) we were lucky to find a space. There was also a slight lack of signage -- since this was our first visit, we could have done with more maps around. Some of the maps we found seemed to be Emergency Maps designed to show where the nearest life-belt was rather than anything more substantive about the place. That said, it is an excellent place for some fresh air -- highly recommended.

This park is huge and has something for everyone - Flat areas of grass for sports and picnicing;…read moreplay areas; wooded areas for mountain biking and dog walking; lakes for rowing; The Mansion and Cafe for food and drink..... It can get very busy when there is the slightest bit of sun. But there is another car park on Weatherby Road, or on street parking on Princess Road or Park Lane. For dog walkers - 'The Gorge' is always a lot quiter than walking round the lakes!

Away from all the shops and the busy Roundhay Road, there is a nice little patch of green for…read moreleisurely strolls, a simple sit down on a bench or in summer months a picnic and a game of frisbee or the like. This is a small park but big enough to take your dog (or any other walkable pet you may have) on a leisurely stroll without having to walk round and round in circles to get a good chunk of exercise. Their is also a small childrens play area up at the opposite side from the main road which is suitable for a little leisurely play. There are a small selection of climbing frames and a roundabout to keep them, or you, occupied and happy.

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.

The gardens a re lovely to wonder around in the summer time. There is plenty of open space for…read morelittle ones to burn off some energy too. If you wander futher through the gardens down towards the lake you will come to a lovely play park for the children. Be warned though there is a small fairground nearby too so we tend to walk along the lake edge to avoid the children seeing it. Also along the lakeside there are ice cream vans and a little restaurant/cafe to order food in (we do this on spur of the moment trips otherwise we take a picnic). You can pretty much spend the entire day at roundhay there is that much to see and do. In the autum we take the kites with us too.

Great place for young or old lovely gardens with large duck pond featuring lots of wild…read morelife,ducks,swans and fish .Whether you just want a relaxing walk or want to take the kids to feed the ducks or go for a cup of tea and a cream bun at the little cafe with in the grounds.Also good access for the disabled.

Park Square is situated just a stone's throw south of Leeds Town Hall. It is surrounded on four…read moresides by grand Georgian terraces (mostly housing offices), and this, coupled with its immaculate lawns, makes the park resemble something out of Mary Poppins! It is ringed by black metal railings, making it quite a formal park, with very clear paths and benches placed at regular intervals. The grass is trimmed short, almost imploring you to stick to the path...but oh so inviting for bare feet in the sun! It is a lovely place to lie on the grass in the warmer half of the year, and this is the time that the flower beds come to life. Their simple patterns are designed by local school children, which is a pretty sweet idea! Recently, however, I found that one of the flowerbeds had been used as advertising space for a Leeds -based barristers...what!? Flowerbeds as advertising space!? That's just not on...and wrong on so many levels. People lounging in the park want picnics and peace and quiet - not barristers...go away! Leeds in Bloom...what are you thinking? We do not want every single flower we see to be inadvertently advertising something thank you very much!

Steeped in history, Park Square was originally built in 1788 to create a high class residential…read moreestate on the site of the medieval park of the manor of Leeds. Its residents comprised of merchants, clergy, lawyers and surgeons. This has remained accurate to a certain extent, due to the vast amount of solicitors and legal establishments surrounding the square. I consider the square to be similar to the ones interspersed in London's urban sprawl. It provides a wonderful oasis of calm, a site for escapism from the highly accelerated speed of the city. The area positively reeks of affluence, but is not overly exclusive, I do not feel like an imposter whilst there. There is a constant stream of young professionals clutching armfuls of legal files, bustling around the square. It did remind me of watching ants at work. The people watching opportunities in general are fantastic! Accompanied with a snack, it is a most relaxing venue. Although Winter has rendered the park fairly barren at the moment, smatterings of purple crocuses are beginning to brave the cold climate, signalling the optimism of Spring is fast approaching.

It's early days yet, the official opening isn't until 26th August, but a lot of this newly…read moredeveloped attraction is up and running. There has been a livery stable here for a long time and this included a saddlery and farm shop. Now Swithens farm are about to launch their petting corner, play barn, improved farm shop and cafe. The shop stocks local produce including meat from the farm as well as a strange assortment of household items, the produce seems competitively priced and is obviously nice and fresh. A selection of sausages and burgers are also for sale crafted by the resident butcher. I haven't yet tried the cafe but a glance at the menu shows reasonable prices (coffee £1 and a full breakfast £3.50). Trust me, I WILL be trying it out. The staff are friendly and there are lots of smiles (will they stand the test of time?) I suppose there might be some explaining to do when your child finds out that the burger they enjoyed was the mummy of the calf they were just petting :/ I will be checking Swithens Farm out again so expect an update.

Visited Swithens Farm after having been recommended it on the Streetlife website…read more My goal was to find a local farm shop selling lots of locally grown produce, as an alternative to buying from supermarkets. Despite some high hopes, Swithens Farm didn't live up to that goal. There was very little fruit and veg available (half a box of Apples, a few lettuces and some sprouts was about it). The rest of the farm shop was stuff you would expect to find in the supermarket (Coca Cola, Crisps etc).