What do you think of your local park? (British Parks In General)

Member Name: jennikitten

Product:	British Parks In General
Date:	06/02/09 (50 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap, fresh air, exercise

Disadvantages: Not all in good condition, weather dependent

I think that British parks vary incredibly not only in different regions of the country, but even in the same towns and villages. Where I grew up there was a small park near where we lived, but there was also a massive one around the corner called Bruntwood with gardens, open fields and 2 kids' play areas. It also offers a range of activities e.g. archery, which I think is very good. It has enough amenities so that you could spend the whole day there, which is ideal especially if you're travelling a fair distance. My dog absolutely loves it because it's a taste of the countryside for him - there's a small wood, a brook and lots of open space where he can run around freely and meet other dogs.

In Nottingham we went to Wollaton Park a few times (apparently it's great for snowball fights if you're around at the moment!). Again there's tons of open space, not really as much going on but the perfect opportunity to take a picnic, a frisbee or a book and relax. Particularly nice in sunny weather! One thing I've always found surprising about Wollaton is that it seems to stretch and it's always bigger than I remember! It even has wild deer that roam in some areas - my boyfriend said he saw a herd of them running through the snow the other day which must have looked beautiful. It's a lovely taste of nature even in the middle of a city.

Where I live now the countryside is just a few miles away so there isn't as much need for proper parks. However, there are lots of mini playareas for kids scattered throughout the town, and they are used frequently but still in good condition.

Park use is definitely declining as kids prefer to stay at home and play computer games etc. more now. I would definitely visit parks more if English weather wasn't so bad! Even if it's not raining, chances are it will whilst you're there or it will have rained enough before you've gone so that everything is muddy. I don't mind so much for myself but my dog has very short legs and gets completely covered in the stuff (and it seems to have escaped his doggy brain that waiting until he gets indoors to shake himself is a bad idea).

Also, I know that some parks are unkempt and suffer from irresponsible dog owners. There can alo be problems with graffiti and strange people hanging out. Going to the park works better as a family/pet activity I feel. It's not exactly the best time of year right now unless you have a lot of snow like we do, but come the spring it can be edcuational for kids to learn about nature, and in the summer it's a cheap and relaxing day out.

Summary: I want to start parking more!