When it comes to walking, parks can often be overlooked in favour of more epic scenery or more challenging routes. But for new parents, a walk in a local park can offer great solace; particularly as many parks have toilets and changing facilities, as well as play areas for the older kids and sometimes even a café for a crucial caffeine fix.
Throughout the pandemic, our local parks and green spaces have provided a vital escape – allowing us to get some fresh air and giving us a much-needed morale boost during lockdown.
We asked some of Team Blaze about their favourite parks. Here’s what they said…
Priory Park, Reigate
“We love going here. It’s lovely and big, and about half of it is paved so very accessible for pushchairs/scooters/little bikes. There's a big pond where you can spot loads of different birds. Plus, it has a fantastic child-friendly café in the middle, and a huge children's play area too. The other half of it is pretty wild, with woodlands and steep and multitudinous routes. The perimeter is about 5 kilometres in all, and as well as paved areas and the woodlands, there's plenty of wide-open grassy space for picnics and games. It’s just lovely.”
Ché, Surrey Organiser
Langley Park, Iver
“This is my absolute favourite place. It’s a beautiful space that is always calm and peaceful with so much to explore. It has some stunning features like an arboretum, lots of history, a lake and an incredible show of Rhododendrons in the spring. There’s an easy route along to the lake and back across fields and through a woodland of Sequoia trees, which takes in the best of the park. A cafe, lots of parking, baby changing facilities, a little play park and buggy-friendly paths make it a perfect location for a walk!”
Chrissy, East Berkshire Organiser
West Bank Park, York
“York boasts some beautiful parks, and West Bank Park in Holgate is no exception. This 16-acre hidden gem is a 20-minute walk from York City Centre and is a real escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. It was originally a nursery owned by botanist, James Backhouse, who travelled the world seeking out rare species of plants and trees to bring back for his clients. This means that the park is packed full of beautiful mature trees and plants, many of which you won’t find elsewhere in the UK.
“Explore the woodland and follow the marked tree trail to discover more about what you see. You can also visit the wildlife pond and bird-feeding areas, as well as the beautiful rose terraces. On Tuesdays and Thursdays a group of volunteers run The Little Friends of Westbank Park for 0-4 year-olds and the After School Friends for 4-7 year olds. You can find both groups on Facebook. If that’s not enough to entice you, there are two children’s playgrounds, a basketball court, a meadow, two bowls greens and a café. It’s a great way to discover nature for free without leaving the city.”
Erin, North Yorkshire Organiser
Draycote Water, near Rugby
“We love an 8km walk around Draycote Water. It has great views, fab spots for a picnic, a hard surface track, which is perfect for buggies, and so much to explore for toddlers. It’s our favourite park. And what’s more, there’s plenty of parking, a nice cafe, toilets with changing facilities and huge play area.”
Klara, Northamptonshire Organiser
Hughenden Park, High Wycombe
“This is our fave park, and we live right near it, which is even better! It’s a National Trust property but the wider parkland is council run and there’s free parking at the church. As well as beautiful parkland with lots of trails and places to find off the beaten track, there’s a really nice children’s playground on the Wycombe edge of the park. In the spring there’s an amazing display of daffodils and autumn is brilliant for some nice crunchy leaf walks. There’s a stream running through the bottom of the parkland, which is lovely for paddling or cooling dogs down! Loos and a cafe are available up in the manor courtyard, and you don’t need to be an NT member to access them.”
Jen, Buckinghamshire Organiser
Graves Park, Sheffield
“Our favourite park has to be this one. It has amazing views towards the Peak District, which gives you a sense of freedom and adventure, even when you're not there. The birds are amazing, and there are always new paths to find. For a longer solo adventure, it's also part of the 15-mile Sheffield Round Walk! There are also animals, a play area and a café. What more could you want?!”
Hazel, Sheffield Organiser
What’s your favourite park? Let us know.