When I lived in Whitworth Park (the halls, for I am not a vagrant) my parents came to pick me up on…read morethe way up to visit family in the north-east. Due to the fact that my Mum is always early and my Dad is always thrifty, they had brought a picnic and suggested eating it in the park. The problem was that it was March and not even a particularly warm or dry March, so we huddled up against each other and sat on a cold, graffitied bench and ate our tuna sarnies. That was the only picnic I've eaten in Whitworth Park and pretty much the only time I've sat down in there. On the other occasions I was put off by the combination of tramps, builders and school kids, which made it hard to relax. I found it much more pleasant to sit in Whitworth Park (the halls) or walk for 20 minutes to Platt Fields Park. But still, I quite like this park. It is a nice green break from the monotony of curry houses (if approaching from Rusholme direction) and university buildings (if approaching from other direction). I just want to know how they keep on putting the cone back on top of King James' head. Anyone?

After trekking around, looking for a place to relax, I saw this well-sized park and figured it'll…read moredo. And it did! Fairly decently sized, this is a good park right near the university that offers visitors the chance to choose from a plethora of space. Thankfully, my visit did not coincide with hordes of screaming children, so I was able to stroll about and find a seat and enjoy a quiet park. Even sitting next to the playground I was free of yelling and gallivanting children. Although there was a random woman who walked up to the Hamster Wheel and decided she needed a workout (she seriously just walked in it for a couple minutes like it was a treadmill...see my photo for proof!). Granted, this time of year the ground was a bit wet and muddy, but I think this could be a lovely space on a warm (and dry) day to just sit under a tree and breathe the fresh air.

Sandhills is one of the small parks near to where I live that I love to have a wonder about on a…read moresunny Sunday. It's part of the Irk Valley redevelopment project. It actually used to be a quarry, 's just a pleasant sweeping field of lush, green grass. It's perfect for walking the dog or for having a short stroll. Exactly what a park should be good for. Obviously at night time it's a place for young 'uns to have a drink from a plastic bottle of cider, but during the day it's a nice place to get some fresh air. This park isn't suitable for football though - it's on a big hill!

Undoubtedly my favourite park in Manchester. There is everything: trees, flowerbeds, a little lake,…read moretables to have a picnic, benches. Also, there's usually plenty of events going on, such as markets, cricket matches and other cultural or social activities. It is the ideal place to do sport. Running is a standard thing to do, and it is possible to find some panels around the park which show the various lengths for the paths you can choose, so that you are always able to figure out which distance you have covered. There is a cricket pitch, where local teams plays over summer, and four tennis courts, which can be booked online for free. In most cases there are a few available, so you can just turn up and play, but especially on weekends I would recommend to book in advance. Recently I have noticed that a ping pong table has been installed close to the tennis courts. Close to the lake there is a cafe that is actually run by Tea Hive, the coffee shop in Chorlton. On weekends it is open until 5pm, while on weekdays it closes at 4.30pm.

In the whole of the United Kingdom, Alexandra Park Manchester comes second! Yep, that's rights, out…read moreoff the whole country, it's the second best... in the category 'parks called Alexandra Park'. Beaten only by its London rival Alexandra Park, which features miles of hills and a palace, this medium sized green space in Moss Side can hardly complain about its ranking. Plus it couldn't complain anyway because its a park not a person. Apparently the park was an important space in the Victorian period, but I've forgotten what it was like then, so I'll just focus on the now. Basically it's a big green space with some nice paths to stroll around and a nice little lake. More impressively is the fact that it plays home to an annual Caribbean Carnival! Less impressive that that but still worth of note is that it host many amateur football games an an annual 5K run. For this kind of thing you'll want the athletics webpage rather that the park one displayed above, that's at : www.openathletics.org.

Don't call it a comeback,i've been here for years!…read more Hey,hey folks,it's me! Back from the dead again. What's 4 years of inactivity between friends? Nothing,that's what! So what have you all been up to? Nothing? I wish I never asked...... I figured I should make a comeback with The Gardens,not the surrounding bits but the gardens themselves. I'm one of those lost souls that you have probably tutted at on a Saturday afternoon as you walk past PG and see the whole of humanity laid bare before you. People with dogs? Check. Surly teens? Check. One legged pigeons? Check. A dude shouting about Jesus through a megaphone? Check. People showing that Spice is the variety of life? Check. Little kids playing in the fountains? Oddly,check. Me,Mrs Z and some of our friends who have popped into Morrisons for some cans before probably heading to a gig somewhere to get our Metal on? Check.. I love people watching and the gardens is the best place to do it on a nice sunny afternoon (both of them)... It's a bit (a lot) different after dark so should only be tackled by experienced moody dodgers.. The Manc microcosm..

I walked past here during my time in Manchester. I did not know what it's called untill now :)…read more i was here during summer so it was full of people and rides. The metro trams go through which I think looks good. I never stayed for long so I don't know much else around. Looks like a good place to sit and just relax, watching people, have your sandwich and watching the trams go by.

The Sackville gardens are now filled with those lapping up the sun, idyllic. This nice piece of…read moregreenery near the Piccadilly station and Canal Street is a perfect haven for the students at the North campus, the average shopper or stroller by. Ran by the Friends of Sackville Gardens, a voluntary group set up in 2008 consisting of residents and general volunteers, the gardens remain a great place to relax. In 2006 it was awarded a Green flag award which recognises quality in parks around England and Wales. I definitely encourage those walking near by just to stop by and have a sit in the gardens.

Okay so it's not exactly Central Park but this small garden which is located almost exactly half…read moreway between Oxford Rd and Piccadilly train stations has a great bench and memorial to Alan Turing the mathematician and pioneer of computer science.

Ah, Peel. Do you know it for the lazy summer days spent out on the grass with herbal refreshments…read moreand snacks, reading textbooks or novels, chatting the afternoon away with chums in the hazy summer heat and moving onto the Pint Pot for a sharpener in the beer garden? Or do you know it via clinging onto your personal alarm for dear life as you hastily traverse the darkened and frightening pathway to Castle Irwell Student Village? Rather like a masked vigilante... or accountant... Peel Park takes on an entirely different persona when night falls. Throughout my years as a University of Salford student, I looked to the park with caution. All I heard were complaints from my fellow classmates about having to walk through it after dark and fearing for their lives. In fact students went on a protest walk with torches to ensure their safety in this park as it's the quickest route to a lot of student accommodation. But it wasn't until I got a job as a university ambassador that I actually had to learn a little history about the park, as well as point visitors in its direction. And do you know what? Let's just say for the record that it's silly to walk around on your own after dark *anywhere*. That is what the Salford University excellent free bus service is for. It takes you to every single university site. Therefore there's no need to be walking here after dark. And now that we've got that out of the way, maybe I should tell you how I really feel about it. The five stars tell you everything you need to know. This is a vast and beautiful park that any university, nay, any city for that matter, would be lucky to have. Enter Peel Park, even stand on the edge of it as I used to do on my university tours, and you don't feel as if you're in an urban environment. Enveloped my old university buildings and with the gorgeous greenery behind you, you can't even hear the traffic of the nearby dual carriageway. And I can provide you with this personal insight - prospective students and their parents gasped with glee, smiled, said things like, 'Wow' and 'That's beautiful'. The park is extremely well maintained by Salford City Council and is full of delightful topiary and gorgeous flowerbed arrangements. It's a perfect spot to stop for a picnic in the summer or take a frosty, cosy wrapped up walk in the winter. Peel Park was actually one of the first three public parks for the people of Salford and Manchester to be opened back in 1846. Since then it has thrived, and I came upon the knowledge that I only knew a small part of it. To my surprise it leads to football pitches complete with changing rooms, it contains the Marie Curie Field of Hope, a flood obelisk, a section of the Irwell Valley sculpture trail and a well-equipped play area for 4-14 year olds. It's also surrounded by a number of breathtakingly pretty buildings including the Peel building on campus, a truly amazing building that it lit up from below at night and provides rather a spectacle, and the Salford Museum and Art Gallery. Who said Salford was grotty and urban? Be gone with you. We have a much nicer park than any of those trampy ones in Manchester City Centre. So there.

When I was bored of my job and couldn't see where my life was heading I…read more thought about doing a Masters at Salford. Having studied at Manchester, I didn't really like the feel of Salford Uni. However, one thing that the uni did have that Manchester didn't, was an amazing park. Whitworth Park really does look like a small back garden in comparison to this large urban park. Unfortunately it was not quite warm enough to sit down and enjoy the atmosphere of the park, so I had to make do with a quick walking tour. I must say that although it was very pleasant in the daytime, there is no way I would consider walking through it at night. That would just be stupid, but probably no more stupid than walking through Platt Fields in the dark. I rarely have reason to cross the river to Salford, and I can't say that this park alone is really worth the 20+ minute walk from the city centre. However, if I had have chosen to go ahead with said Masters then I can certainly imagine that I would spend many a lazy summer's day here with my textbooks before giving up and popping open a can.

A last minute decision on a damp, drizzly winter Sunday, but a good one. Forgot how vast this place…read moreis! Walked down the hill past the hall and round the lake, slowing to admire the signets and stop the dog munching all the food left for the birds! Round the other side of the lake, the woods are incredibly quiet; it's easy to forget you're right on the edge of such a large city and the motorway is about a mile away. This is the highest point in the city and the views are amazing.

Fancy a picnic in Manchester? Don't look at me like I've escaped from a mental unit, there's plenty…read moreof places to take a basket, blanket and a punnet of Scotch eggs in the city. If you don't believe me, you've clearly never seen the rural idyll that is Heaton Park. Easily accessible by the Metrolink from the city centre, Heaton Park in Prestwich is historical, green and gorgeous. It's home to a golf course as well as Heaton Hall, a beautiful manor which you can view by partaking in guided tours, the exciting kind where people wear costumes. There is literally far too much going on here for me to include in this little introduction but some noteworthy events include Oasis's huge homecoming gigs where they decked Heaton Park out like a festival. Technologically it was a nightmare, but good old Noel Gallagher promised refunds if they didn't get the sound sorted. Another thing you must, MUST do in Heaton Park is try and catch an open air Shakespeare production. They make the most incredible use of the surroundings, but an insider's tip is to bring a mackintosh, umbrella and perhaps even a flask and foldable chair. The former two are obviously due to the inclement Manchester weather, the latter... well, we all need our home comforts. Actually, add some kind of chewy sweets to that list, you choose your favourites. Just don't rub it in, the poor actors have to do this in all climates and are probably dying for one of your Skittles. Anything more I can add? Relay races for dogs (I'm totally serious, it's an opportunity for dog owners to meet and interact), health walks, horse riding, learning activities... the list goes on and on, and look out for the festivals and music performances. Heaton Park is a buzzing, thriving community all its own, so if you fancy some fresh air and culture, hop on the tram and bring sensible shoes. You'll love it here.

Platt Fields is the biggest and best park in the area. Its green hills stretch out, well, about a…read morefive-minute walk, behind Fallowfield. So Manchester is not the best for green spaces. Nonetheless, Platt Fields isn't bad. I couldn't recommend it for a long afternoon walk or a day-trip with the extended family, but for a kick around with a bunch of mates or walking a dog it'll do just fine (as long as your dog isn't a fussy one). Its got plenty of open green space for football, and during the summer its pretty busy so you can always find people to have a game with. It does have a little cage for 5-a-side games but its gets so muddy its practically unplayable and you're better off setting up your own goal posts with jumpers just like you did as school. If you didn't do this at school, its achieved by taking two jumpers and placing them on the ground, creating a space in between them that serves the function of a goal. You then kick the ball into this structure. Its also got a skate park, if that's your thing, but later on this tends to be frequented by hoodlums and WKD. The lake is absolutely the highlight, and contains plenty of floating birds to feed. It does have boats which apparently can be rented out, though I have yet to see this occur, possibly through lack of demand, as you would be able to cross the lake in well under a minute. The boats can be put to good use collecting balls that are inadvertently kicked into the lake, but the park wardens are an obstacle. It also has some swings, but they're rubbish.

Coming from a village where it cost you about 3 quid to see a rubbish fireworks display, I was…read morehappy to see the abundance of free bonfire night celebrations organised by Manchester Council. This bonfire night is not as big as those in Heaton Park and Wythenshawe Park, but unlike the village celebrations, it is always on bonfire night itself (remember remember the 5th of November, not the 9th or 10th!) and is always packed with students and families. It's a pretty standard affair - everyone crowds around the barriers forgetting that the fireworks are actually going to be high in the sky, then rushes over to crowd around the giant bonfire. There are of course the obligatory hot dog and donut stands with plenty of rides including the one which launches a pair of you high into the sky above the park (it's good fun, trust me). If you want some free bonfire night fun but don't have a car and don't fancy the crush on the metro to get out to Heaton Park, then PFP is the place to go.

It's always nice to have a public park on your route home from Deansgate. Walking through it…read morethough, well... that's a different story. Because Islington Park is scary. And I don't want to sound like some naive little middle-class flibbertigibbet who's been wrapped in cotton wool during her upbringing and writes about life rather than living through the gritty realism of it, but when you see someone peeing in the middle of an open grassland area, near what presumably is supposed to be a scenic little bench to sit on, it unnerves you slightly. It's a popular spot for dog walkers, and not the kind with poodles and schitzus, the kind with illegally bred pitbulls. (Oh my, imagine if they cross-bred a pitbull and a schitzu! You could call it a schitpit.) I've also seen many a can of Special Brew consumed with relish on the presumably urine-ridden bench by unkempt looking gentlemen in clothes older than them. It's a very strangely emblematic borderline between Chapel Street's more affluent residences, healthy and wealthy Spinningfields, and the crumbling ancient and burnt out buildings, the boarded-up newsagents and the council habitation area. Talk about a buffer zone. I'm not trying to cast snobby aspersions on anybody here, but there's a reason the street's being regenerated. I just hope the TNT doesn't destroy entirely the old-world Salford charm. You have to squint to see it, but it's there. It's there in pubs like the Crescent, King's Arms and New Oxford, it's there in beautiful buildings like the Courthouse, and it's there in the converted Royal Hospital in which I reside. The plan is to enlarge and modernise Islington Park, and I for one think this is a great idea... if it works. One cannot forget that right behind this park is the dubious area around St Philip's Primary School where fireworks are set off in broad daylight, a tower block more depressing than your average Mike Leigh film resides and the streets around Islington Mill which look to be the perfect setting for a horror film. As it stands now I don't like to spend too much time here. It looks to be a dangerous hotspot and one of the reasons Salford gets an undeserved bad reputation. So let's watch this space and see if the regeneration breathes some much-needed life into this park, but manage to keep that almost intangible sense of Salfordism rather than brainwash it into the 21st century. Because just think, if the park epitomised the best of both worlds, it'd be the ideal place to walk your aptly symbolic schitpit.