Thank you to Lou, our work experience intern, for putting this post together.
Love Parks Week is an annual campaign that celebrates green spaces, parks and the effort needed to maintain them by our local communities. This year it runs from 28th July – 6th August, so now is an excellent time to get some fresh air and boost your mental health by appreciating your local parks.
To help us determine the best parks in Brum, we considered factors such as variety in form, colour, landscape elements, and range of activities and with that we formed a list of the top five parks in Brum and the surrounding area that are sure to have something for everyone!
Our Top 5 Picks:
- Lickey Hills Country Park
- Walsall Arboretum
- Kings Heath Park
- Woodgate Valley Country Park
- Cannon Hill Park
Lickey Hills Country Park
Lickey Hills Country Park is located in the southwest of Birmingham and 24 miles northeast of Worcester. The 524 acre park (about twice the total floor space of the Pentagon) is situated just south of Rednal and close to Barnt Green. It is half a mile west of Cofton Hackett. It is one of the oldest parks managed by Birmingham City Council.
Lickey Hills has a Green Flag Award and is designated as a Country Park. The park itself has a vast variety of footpaths and bike trails, a playground and free parking. It covers various habitats like woodlands, heathland, and grassland so its environment is very diverse.
The Park Rangers are based at the Lickey Hills Visitor Centre, where you can also find information, maps, books, postcards, and gifts. The café serves light snacks, and there is good indoor and outdoor seating. However, the café only accepts cash.
Its nearest train station is Barnt Green, and it can also be accessed from Longbridge Station. Its nearest bus route is the 19 stopping at: Lickey Square, Parish Hill, Lickey Church.
Walsall Arboretum
Walsall Arboretum is a Victorian public park located close to Walsall town centre. First opened in 1874, it now spans 170 acres (about twice the area of a large shopping mall) and includes Hatherton lake, the country park and the extension.
The park includes gardens, green spaces, play areas, and sports facilities. You will see a wide range of flora and wildlife. It has over 10,000 different species of trees and shrubs, which make a perfect backdrop for wedding photos.
When it comes to sport and leisure, the Arboretum caters for all age groups. Many activities take place in the park, including walking, park runs, fishing and playing sports.
Its nearest station is Walsall Train Station and its nearest bus route is the X51 platinum or 934/935 platinum stopping at: Queens Road, Orwell Road and Greaves Avenue.
Kings Heath Park
Kings Heath Park covers around 35 acres (about half the area of The Vatican). It was the first urban park in Birmingham to achieve Green Flag Award status. It’s located in the Kings Heath district of Birmingham, which is managed by Birmingham City Council. For a time, the park was used as the setting for the popular ATV programme Gardening Today.
The area around the main house and conservatory features high quality seasonal bedding schemes, herbaceous borders, alpine outcrops, heather beds, trees, shrubs and a refurbished pool area.
Facilities include a tearoom, bowling green, plant nursery and two playgrounds. Its nearest station is Bournville and its nearest bus route is the 11A stopping at Camp Hill School.
Woodgate Valley Country Park
Woodgate Valley Country Park is a 450 acre park (about twice the total floor space of the Pentagon), located in the centre of Bartley Green and Quinton. There are many mixed, mature hedgerows, meadows, woodland, and small ponds. The Bournbrook runs through the park.
Over 250 species of plants have been found at Woodgate Valley, the damp meadow areas being especially rich and producing wonderful displays of wildflowers in spring and summer. The meadows also attract many kinds of butterflies and over 90 species of birds have been recorded in the park.
The park is designated as a country park and a Local Nature Reserve.
The nearest station is the University Station and its nearest bus route is the 23 platinum stopping at Tibatts Close.
Cannon Hill Park
Cannon Hill Park is made up of 80 acres of formal parkland (about the area of a large shopping mall), and 120 acres of conservation and woodland plantation (about half the total floor space of the Pentagon).
The park is also home to the Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Centre and the Midlands Art Centre.
Cannon Hill Park has a Green Flag Award. The nearest train station is Five Ways and its nearest bus route is the 63 stopping at Pebble Mill Road.