It is hard to believe that the City of Birmingham is home to numerous parks, numbering somewhere in the region of 200, nine of which have been presented with the prestigious Green Flag award, the latest recipient being Aston Park. The Green Flag is a sign to visitors that it is a well managed and maintained site offering excellent facilities. The award also encourages parks and green spaces to achieve high environmental standards

The other Birmingham Green Flag parks are Lickey Hills Country Park, Cannon Hill Park, Ward End Park, Kings Heath Park, Sunset and Moonlit Park, Castle Vale Centre, Handsworh Park and New Hall Valley Country Park,

Birmingham also has five parks classed under the heading of Premier Parks, namely Cannon Hill, Kings Heath, Handsworth, Sutton National Nature Reserve and Lickey Hills Country Park.

Cannon Hill Park

Cannon Hill Park, the pride of Birmingham Parks, stands less than two miles from the centre of Birmingham and has been awarded Green Flag Status. The Green Flag award encourages parks and green spaces to achieve high environmental standards.

 The park contains bowling and putting greens, tennis courts and for wildlife enthusiasts, walkways alongside the River Rea. There are also designated routes for cycling enthusiasts to follow. The park also contains two lakes and provides adequate facilities for the fishing enthusiasts.

The park contains a wonderful and varied collection of trees; there is also a wildlife meadow which is re-sown annually with field poppies, cornflowers and corn marigold, all of which provide a display which is unusual to find in urban areas. There is also a conservation area within the park which includes an area of some five acres known as the RSPB Centenary Plantation. The RSPB is a charity organisation whose aim is to ensure a protective and healthy environment for birds and wildlife.

The park is an ideal venue for families with its children's play areas and rowing boats for hire on the lakes during the summer period. There are a number of picnic areas and refreshments are available at the Garden Tea Rooms. The Midlands Art Centre, which is based in the park, also has a cafe and bar available for use by park visitors.

The Ranger Service, based at the Information Office, organises a regular programme of events for both families and schools.

There are two car parks available one off Edgbaston Road directly opposite the Edgbaston County Cricket Ground and a smaller one off the park entrance in Russells Road.

Kings Heath Park                    

Kings Heath Park covers some 35 acres of land. 

The areas around the main house and  conservatory are made  up with high quality seasonal bedding arrangements, herbaceous boarders  alpine and heather beds , and a refurbished pool area containing fountains,  seating, new pathways,  with the extensive planting of herbs and shrubs, both native and exotic , creating a perfect blend of both  high quality landscaping and nature conservation.

The park also boasts palm trees, why not visit, sit under them and imagine you are in an exotic part of the world? The park also has a bowling green and children's play areas to suite various age groups, including toddlers.

Handsworth Park

Handsworth Park, designed more than 100 years ago, by landscape designer and nurseryman Richard Hartland Vertegens, has a Grade II listed status, indicating its significance as an excellent example of a 19th century town/city park.

Prior to its restoration the park had lost much of its vigor, however, following some 10 years of hard work by the Handsworth Park Association, local residents and city council employees within the parks service it has now been returned to its former Victorian magnificence, with a superb range of community facilities. The rejuvenation is one of the most noteworthy park improvement schemes in the West Midlands. There was a necessary funding of some £500,000 to be found to upgrade both the park and its buildings and major contributions came from the Heritage Lottery Fund, European Regional Development Fund, Single Regeneration Budget, Advantage West Midlands as well as the city council.

Today, the park is extremely popular with families, children and the ever increasing number of dog lovers/walkers.   

Sutton National Nature Reserve

Sutton National Nature Reserve, which is located approximately six miles from the city, is not just another park it is a nature reserve which consists of woodland, heath land, marshland and wetland, there are seven lake's , with each section displaying its own variety of plants and wildlife.

 The parkland here covers some 2,400 acres, an historic landscape which is ideal for those who enjoy a walk in the park, jogging, orienteering, fishing and nature watching. Also available for use are play areas for the children, restaurants and picnic areas.  For the cycling enthusiasts there are also designated cycle routes available.

The park also promotes a visitor centre which provides exhibitions and displays based on nature conservation. There is also information on future events, nature trails and guided walks.

Sutton Park is also included in the English Heritage list of Parks & Gardens. The site is also a scheduled Ancient Monument due to its numerous sites of archaeological interest.

This former royal deer park has retained a number of its original features, including prehistoric mounds and a Roman Road.

In 1997 the park was designated a National Nature Reserve and is also deemed a site of Special Scientific Interest. On some days, cattle and wild ponies can be seen roaming and grazing

Lickey Hills Country Park

The Lickey Hills Country Park and is located some 10.3 miles South West of Birmingham and although fully managed by Birmingham City Council actually stands in the County of Worcestershire but with a Birmingham address.

The park covers an area of 524 acres and lies to the southwest of Birmingham and the park consists of semi natural ancient woodland, coniferous plantations, heath land, and amenity grassland. The park also boasts an eighteen hole municipal golf course, bowls, tennis courts and formal gardens, as well as a visitor centre, with toilets, an information facility, cafe and children's adventure playground.

Yearly, some 500,000 visitors make use of the park and its facilities each year. Park Rangers administer the day to day management of the park and also provide an education service to schools and interested groups. There is also a comprehensive programme of guided walks, talks, and public events.

If you intend to visit a park, woodland or open countryside, please be aware of the fire safety codes as fires can easily be started. Every year fires destroy thousands of acres of open countryside, woodlands, heath lands, cultivated fields, wildlife habitats etc.

Some fires are started deliberately but the majority are due mainly to carelessness. Listed below are some of the dos and don'ts associated with fire prevention.

Never throw lighted cigarettes out of car windows, such actions can ruin fields of crops, woodland and open countryside.

Always extinguish cigarettes, matches and pipe tobacco properly.

Barbecues must only be used in safe and suitable areas and they must never be left unattended.

It is important to keep young children away from barbecues as they can easily be burnt or splashed with hot fat.

Always ensure that a barbecue is fully extinguished and cold before throwing its contents away.

Avoid using open fires in the countryside.

Never leave bottles or glass anywhere in the country and/or parklands. Sunlight shining through any form of glass can quickly start small fires which can quickly become seriously large. Either take them home with you or place them in waste or recycling bins.

Another important point to remember is that fires can cause loss of life and put fire fighters lives in possible danger whilst they are fighting and controlling them.

If you do see a fire in the countryside, report it as quickly as possible. Quick action may minimise the spread of the fire. Do not attempt to tackle a fire that cannot be put out with a bucket of water and leave the surrounding area of the fire as quickly as possible. Fires can quickly spread, especially if there is a slight wind or windy conditions prevail.

Enjoy yourself but please be careful.