Ever since I was a wee gal I've been coming to Lickey Hills park - from school geography trips to…read morehuge picnics , it has something for everyone. As soon as you come in, theres a huge park for kids which is actually great fun for the big kids too ;) take my advice for it! And as you go deeper into the park, you realise what an incredible sigh of relief this park is as it gives you a break from the busy, industrial city ; instead offering you serenity and beauty. You wouldn't even think it's in Birmingham! Rolling hills, towering trees and a blanket of green surrounding you; each area is beautiful. Even if you do get drenched by the rain like I did, it's definitely worth it! A must for those seeking an escape!

If you're looking for the best views of Birmingham, Lickey Hills Country Park is the place you…read moreshould go! This very popular landscape, placed between Rednal and Barnt Green areas, is a 524 acres park with a visitor centre, golf, tennis and bowls and also a wonderful view provided from the top of the Beacon Hill, the highest point of Lickey Hills. It's a huge public space that is perfect for walkers not afraid of a bit of adventure and also families that can have a good use of its recreation park. There is a cafe nearby the recreation area and you may need some food and drinks after walking through the park. I have been to Lickey Hills with a group of very enthusiastic friends and I can tell that in the end of the journey to Beacon Hill we were all tired but happy because the perspective we have of some parts of Birmingham from that point is quite impressive. If you thinking about making some walking, make sure you have plenty of water and comfortable trainers to face this hilly walk. We had a lovely picnic up there and it was really a good idea to have some food to compensate all energy spent during the journey. We worth it! There is a free car parking at Lickey Hills. The bus number 62 service from the city centre and the Barn Green train station are the other options to get there.

So, this is quite a cute, quite small park I'm Wolverhampton. It isn't a bad size at all, but not…read morequite big enough to get far in enough to pretend you aren't in a town. It's quite well kept, even in winter, and busy enough to feel fairly safe. However, we walked around the park to see the birds and the wildlife, and didn't expect to see so many MASSIVE rats!! I wouldn't scoff at one or two, because it's nature, and it can't always be controlled, but there must have been upwards of thirty. I would avoid going at dusk, or be ready to run a little bit, as they definiteky aren't shy!

I love Wolverhampton...it's got so much beauty. Canals, parks and great Comunity spirit…read more Had a lovely day helping with a project to share the love. The kids from Gatis street Comunity centre did a workshop creating amazing hearts and then we spread them all over whitmareans to West Park.

You could be forgiven for not knowing about Martineau Gardens…read more Rather inconspicuous, it sits alongside a busy junction in the Edgbaston area and doesn't warrant much attention from the road. Once through the gates you find yourself in amongst fruit trees and carefully nurtured plants and flowers, on this occasion we didn't venture past the club house but had already witnessed an almost surreal scene of classes being given on the lawn with a tree being the focus of the lesson, needless to say the world of traffic noise and commuter squabble is soon forgotten. The staff were friendly when approached and assisted with our guesswork as to exactly which fruits blossomed within the protective netting of various beds. Martineau Gardens is a welcoming place and offers a great deal for anyone interested in the simple joys of gardening. Events are held regularly and more information can be found at their website: http://www.martineau-gardens.org.uk/visitor-information/plants-produce/

An oasis of calm just set back from busy Edgbaston roads…read more Volunteer gardeners are friendly and always willing to help. Produce and plants are also often for sale (wood chips, seasonal vegetables and fruit and preserves) There are always interesting things growing and it's good for a look around any time of year. They even have a mulberry tree, not many of those in the area. Their events are worth visiting as there's always a lot going on (from Seed swaps to Apple Days)There's also a great play area with large wooden ship for the tiddlywinks to have a play on.

This is one of several parks in the area and possibly the least interesting one, but that's not to…read moresay it's not a good park. It's really just a large, open, square grassy area surrounded on three of its four sides by roads. I tend to walk my dogs over there when it's quiet as they can have a good old scarper about. There are three football pitches that dominate the space - two full size and one smaller, kids pitch. During the winter months there are goal posts erected by the council and on Sunday mornings there are usually one or two games going on. In the summer months it becomes extremely popular with students and gets invaded by literally hundreds of people enjoying BBQs, games and drinks. In fairness to those people they generally clean up after themselves and the park doesn't resemble Glastonbury festival the next morning. Recently some gym equipment has been installed in the park and, so far at least, this has remained intact and hasn't been vandalised, which I suppose tells you something about the area. As such it's popular with joggers who break up their runs with a few exercises.

Selly Park is a large, spacious area of parkland, and makes for one of the main University of…read moreBirmingham student hang-outs during the summer months. The park is a very good size, meaning that there's enough room for defacto areas to emerge daily for those wanting to play football or with a Frisbee, and those who just want to sit on the grass and soak up the sun. The park caters for all, being a perfect flat site for joggers and runners to loop around, and there's a well-equipped play park for young children that should keep them entertained for a good while. Recently, there has been some outdoor cross trainer exercise machines installed at various points around the perimeter for those wishing to break up their rigorous exercise regimes with... more exercise. The centre of the park lacks much identity, but large trees line the outside, making it a pleasant location.

Barr Beacon park is the highest point in the West Midlands. On a clear day you can look all around…read moreyou and see views of Shropshire, the Black Country, Birmingham, Staffordshire and Cannock Chase. It`s landmark is the bandstand. The park has some nice walks, but sadly lacks a playground for the children as the existing one was taken out, and recent plans for a visiter center on the park have been shelved. It is also, sadly, popular with a certain canine hobby of some people in the car park! This place is in desperate need of some money put into it, as it is a really beautiful spot.

Beautiful views. good parking, wonderful hidden park on a hill…read more Can be plenty of people up here as well, lacks any real facilities on the site.

This small, suburban park was established on 1905 by The Muntz Family, who owned much of the…read moresurrounding land at the time. As there is a primary school at the end of the road the park is always busy before and after school. The main part of the park is a large, open grassy area which is popular with the local kids who play football there almost daily, whatever the weather. There is an enclosed play area with swings, climbing frames, and so on, that is clean and safe. At the bottom of the park is 'The Dell', which in the 1920s was used for outdoor dances and community get togethers. These days the dell is a more of a small nature reserve, with many birds boxes attached to the tree and wild-flowers growing in summer . Dogs are allowed in the park, although most dog owners generally tend to walk their animals in the nearby Selly Park.

I spent a year living directly across Umberslade Road from Muntz Park, and I grew quite attached to…read moreit over time. It may not have the size of the neighbouring Selly Park, and the houses surrounding the park only serve to emphasise this difference in size, but it's a great place to while away the hours. Selly Park can get extremely busy, particularly on sunny summer days, and if you like your relaxing on the grass with a healthy dose of silence, then Muntz Park is a much better bet. It's got a small kids play park that's often used when the local school finishes for the day, and a football pitch which is used on some weekdays by youth teams, but other than that it's mostly empty, making it the perfect place to relax, be it on the grass or on one of the several well maintained benches.

Football pitch grass available all year round local team plays Saturday and Sunday league football…read morehere. Pavilion also available with bathroom facilities. Cricket pitch also available on right hand site of the field before the local allotments. Kids play area with swings and slide also here now. Dog walkers are here all day long and forest is at the back of the field which leads to the canal. Parking on site is decent sized for 20-30cars Max.

this park has been recently renovated and had quite alot of money spent on it. it as new play areas…read moreand paths and also fences around the perimeter. it can be accessed from a variety of roads - rednal road, the fordrough, staple lodge roa. it has two play areas - the play area on staple lodge road is more suited to older chilren. it has a climbing frame with slide, roundabout, swings, basket swing and multi sport playing area. the other play area is for younger children as it contains a smaller climbing frame, a see saw, caged swings and bouncy animals. these are lovely places to take the children to just beware that sometimes there can be larg groups of youths hagning around and on one occasion the play area was vandalised with dog poo.