Parks and Gardens

Parks and Gardens

What are they and what do they involve?

As a type of outdoor activity, parks and gardens are organised areas that usually feature a grassy open space with extras such as mazes, outdoor sculpture and adventure playgrounds. They are different to wildlife/nature venues in that the contents of a park or a garden have been designed for a specific purpose, and

What are the benefits?

Parks and gardens are excellent for ensuring students don’t spend all their time indoors, are great ways to get them interested in nature and the outdoors in a relatively safe environment.

What students is it suitable for?

Although generally suitable for all ages, younger students will probably enjoy the novelty and excitement of parks and gardens more than older teens; however, if there are activities aimed for all ages everyone can have fun!

Costs?

Parks and gardens are usually public areas and therefore free to access, but some privately owned venues may charge a small entry fee.

Safety Implications?

As with all outdoor venues, younger groups should be carefully supervised to ensure they don’t run off!

National Organisations?

Parks and Gardens UK

 

See below for a list of venues and providers of this kind: 

Thornton Reservoir

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
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Thornton Reservoir is a peaceful and picturesque location that offers a network of trails and footpaths around the reservoir and through the neighbouring woodland areas. There are also links with longer trails including the Leicester Round and various other public footpaths. This scenic reservoir also has a popular fly fishery, attracting anglers from all over the midlands.

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Markeaton Park

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
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Well kept parkland with play centre, light railway, splash pool, pitch and putt golf, stunning horticultural displays, a fishing lake and football pitches.

This scenic park has over 207 acres of parkland and is one of Derby's largest parks attracting over one million visitors a year making it one of the most popular parks in the East Midlands.

The park offers a wide range of activities and attractions for people of all ages.

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Leasowes Park

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
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Newly restored to its former glory, historic Leasowes Park was designed by the poet William Shenstone beginning in 1743 and continuing until his death in 1763. Shenstone created his garden from farmland; forming a diverse landscape of wooded valleys, open grassland, lakes and streams.

Grade 1 historic landscape

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Batsford Arboretum

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
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A wonderful place for kids to let off steam and enjoy the outdoors. Follow the streams, dodge the waterfall and find Foo Dog and the Big Buddha hidden in our arboretum and wild garden.

Batsford Arboretum is a wild garden with a unique collection of trees and plants, and it’s heaving with wildlife! Check out the nesting boxes including those for owls, search for bugs and identify trees from their beautiful leaves.

Silver winner of the Cotswold Tourism Awards Large Visitor Attraction of the Year 2014 and home to the country's largest private collection of trees and shrubs.

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Warley Woods

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
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Smethwick's 100-acre, Green Flag award winning community park which is managed through a Community Trust - with its mix of open meadow and nine-hole golf course - has some of the region's most beautiful woodland, offering nature walks, trails and free parking. Only three miles from the centre of Birmingham, it really is the perfect retreat.

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Lickey Hills Country Park

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
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Activities include Tri Golf fun course, adventure playground, the visitor centre where you can pick up trail maps for the circular walk and sculpture trail, plus plenty of open space to ramble and explore.

The play equipment is suitable for 3 to 13s and there's loads of space for traditional games so bring your bats and balls, frisbees and kites! Tri Golf is like mini golf but with equipment designed especially for kids.

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Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
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Fifteen acres of safe, secure, clean landscaped gardens with lawns and four glasshouses for children to explore. Indoor and outdoor activities for children and all the family. Picnic areas, outdoor theatre and music during the summer months.

As well as self guided trails and activities, there is a programme of nature related, environmental and creative family activities held on selected dates throughout the year including crafts, games, quizzes and wildlife studies. Led by experienced, friendly Environmental Activity Leaders, no need to book and there are no age restrictions.

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Jephson Gardens

Colourful floral displays from spring to autumn!
Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
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Flower-filled park containing a sensory garden, an exotic glasshouse, a lake with ducks and swans, and a boating pond. There is also a nearby ship-themed adventure play area (see full details for information).

Things to enjoy

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Ashbourne Recreation Ground

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
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Peaceful Memorial Garden with bandstand, plus recreation ground that has 2 sports pavilions, a cricket pitch, 2 football pitches, a junior football and rugby pitches, and a bowling green. Great children’s play area. Free to visit.

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Draycote Water Country Park

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
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Whether you come to unwind or have fun, there's plenty for all at Draycote Water. Activities range from birdwatching and game fishing to walking and water sports. Dogs are only allowed in the Country Park.

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