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?
Large park with canal-side patio cafe, adventure Play Areas are suitable for children between the ages of 2 and 14, picnicking and fishing opportunities.
Children must be supervised at all times. Colouring and worksheets available for children.
Colliery
This popular Glossop Park has a large children's play area and a miniature railway plus lots of sporting opportunities.
This former ironstone quarry has a wonderful children's play area as well as a network of long and short trails through 83 hectares of mixed woodland. The park is home to the Quarryman's Rest Cafe, Jungle Parc UK and the Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway museum.
Jungle Parc high ropes adventure course
Barnford Park is located in the heart of Oldbury, a park donated to the people of Oldbury. With beautiful parkland offering gentle walks, a maze area, children's play area, multi-use games area, community pavilion and grass sports pitches there's something on offer for all ages to see and do.
Lepe Country Park has a wonderful mix of habitats for you to explore; discover what lives along the shore, bird watch over the Solent, North Solent National Nature Reserve and Dark Water Estuary, spot a variety of insects attracted to our wildflower meadows or stroll along the cliff top lined with Monterey and Corsican Pines.
Once the home of Earls and Lords, Haigh Hall is surrounded by 250 acres of park and woodland, with magnificent views across the Douglas Valley to the Welsh Hills. Along with spectacular views across the Douglas Valley to the Welsh hills, there are 250 acres of park and woodland surrounding Haigh Country Park.
This park's vast open spaces are perfect for family fun, picnics and games as well as their regular events. Gorgeous sensory park nearby if you have younger children.
Near to the Riverside Park is Lockside Park Sensory Garden which overlooks Newark’s picturesque town lock.
Brixworth Country Park is a national showpiece for accessible countryside, providing access for all irrespective of physical or mental ability with features like easy access trails, and their wheel chair accessible bird hide.
Discover the story of the last Gnomes left in England on BB's Little Grey Men Trail.
Trail leaflet and audio tour available in the Country Park shop.
Sywell Country Park offers meadowland and lakeside walks, with a small arboretum of exotic trees and Edwardian buildings still surviving from its past role as a water supply reservoir with a water works heritage trail to guide you round.
Recreation
With heathlands, woodlands and ponds, Yateley Common offers a variety of experiences to visitors. You can walk, cycle and horse ride through 193 hectares of varied and wildlife rich surroundings. The Common also offers visitors the opportunity to fish, bird watch, and get involved in practical conservation through volunteering.
Adventure playground, nature trails, accessible paths, sculpture trail and nature viewing platform. Plus excellent Discovery Packs for hire from the friendly visitor centre including a pond dipping kit and binoculars!
Forbury Gardens is a delightful Victorian town garden, created at the height of the urban parks movement. The gardens have recently undergone major restoration. They are located between the town centre and the ruins of the 11th century abbey, not far from Reading Station. The ornamental gardens have a wall around which provides a peaceful and tranquil retreat.
Considered by many to be the most beautiful lake in Wales, Lake Vyrnwy is tucked away in a landscape of rolling meadows, towering crags, rushing waterfalls, mysterious forest and moorland.
Victoria Park is a popular local park with children's play areas, tennis courts, grass sports pitches football and cricket, skate park area, ornamental lake, gym equipment and wildflower. It is a popular park for events and activities.
Dartmouth Park is located next to West Bromwich Town Centre and Sandwell Valley Country Park. It is currently undergoing a £6 million restoration project that is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and BIG Lottery.
Lodmoor Country Park is just a 15 minute stroll from Weymouth Esplanade and through Greenhill Gardens.
You'll discover a host of independent attractions providing something of interest to entertain everyone. Access to most of the park is free and you can enjoy the numerous sport and recreation areas, wander around the footpaths and nature reserve or enjoy a picnic or barbecue.
Dartmoor National Park Authority is a special purpose local authority created under the Environment Act 1995.
Brunswick Park was opened in 1887 to celebrate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. The park offers a range of facilities including outdoor gym equipment, children's play area, multi gamed area, tennis courts, skate park area, bandstand, football and circular walks.
3 hectares of green space, with a children's play area, sports areas and a park for skating and BMX. Their latest feature is the waterfall, which is lit up at night.The vast yet friendly Kidwells Park's latest feature, The Waterfall, features a bridge, ornamental planting and is lit up at night! It's an enchanting little stop on the way through, but there's actually plenty to do here too!
Daventry Country Park was created in 1968 as part of the nationwide Countryside Act. This movement sought to provide communities with green spaces to use and enjoy. The reservoir (130 acres of open water) was dug out and completed in 1804, taking eight years to finish.
A great park in the heart of Matlock with bowling greens, children’s boating lake, interactive play area, miniature railway and a skateboard park. There are also tennis courts and a putting green. Free to visit.
Offers crazy golf and children's play area for 3-12 year olds as well as natural green space and a cafe.
An enormous green space with woodland children's play area, a selection of way marked nature trails with panoramic views, hidden sculptures and 1,200 rare and exotic trees in the Arboretum! Plus park cafe, picnic spots and BBQs.
Peaceful and attractive riverside park with lots of green space for informal play plus equipped play areas for toddlers and juniors, zip slide and BMX track.
The Bushcraft Company offer residential school trips with a difference, taking students into the wild and giving them real back-to-nature experiences they will never forget.
A 15-year-old boy fell 60ft over the edge of a cliff whilst on a geography school trip, miraculously only suffering minor injuries.