Parks and Gardens

Parks and Gardens

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?

Parks and Gardens UK

 

See below for a list of venues and providers of this kind: 

Staunton Country Park

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
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Have a rainforest experience in the Victorian glasshouses, get lost in the maze, follow one of our trails or enjoy the beautiful gardens. Visit the farm or have fun in our fantastic new play barn.

Education and Learning

Staunton is a unique site that will enable you to teach the many areas of the curriculum all in a single location! The Education Programme is led by a dedicated team. Recognising that the programme will attract a wide range of differing needs, we are able to offer you a choice of options to suit your requirements.

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Beacon Park

More than 70 acres of beautiful gardens and open space
Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
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Beacon Park is set in more than 70 acres of beautiful gardens and open space.

Museum Gardens is the formal part of the park. With its stunning floral displays and avenue of trees, along with the centrepiece fountain, statues of Captain Smith of the Titanic, King Edward VII, and Erasmus Darwin, it is a must-see on your visit.

Beacon Park also has several play areas, crazy and proper golf, plus a shiny new skatepark, pond dipping, kids' mission trail and loads of sporting facilities. Oh, and a park!

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The Rye

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
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The region's second largest park features an adventure playground, football pitches, permit fishing and pleasure craft is for hire.

The Dyke on the Rye is large stretch of open water which is fed by water from the Abbey School grounds and allows permit fishing along part of the lake with pleasure craft for hire at the western end. The water spills over a waterfall and into a stream that flows out of the park toward the east. Children will love the little waterfall.

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Abbey Park

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
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A lovely park that is free to visit and has plenty to keep everyone amused, including children’s play area, skate park, a bandstand, boat trips on the river, and water play fountains!

The setting includes a natural terrace with excellent views over the river Avon from the higher levels. There are plenty of open grassy areas, a lily pool, and lots of lovely trees and plants to enjoy. The park also has plenty of seating and picnic benches to use, plus a variety of artwork to appreciate, and historic features that include a bell tower and clarion.

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Glenariff Forest Park

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
0

Glenariff Forest Park is one of the 9 Antrim Glens, and has over 1,000 hectares to explore, half of which is full of trees, the other a mix of small lakes, open spaces, lakes and waterfalls. Several trails to follow, including the Waterfall Walkway. 

There are a number of other trails, which will give you great views and chances to see wildlife such as the hen harrier, Irish hare, and red squirrel. The trails vary in length from the Viewpoint Trail, which is about half a mile (0.8km) long, to the Scenic Trail, which is 5.5miles (8.8km) and offers amazing views to enjoy.

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Balmacara Estate & Woodland Walks

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
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This traditional Highland crofting estate is a diverse mix of Scotland?s most beautiful landscapes. It encompasses croft and farm land, woodland, moorland, villages, coastline, saltmarsh, lochs and offshore islands, and offers stunning views across the water to the mountains of Skye and Applecross.

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Willen Lake and Park

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
0

Beautiful lakeside park offering, windsurfing, sailing, canoeing, water skiing, wakeboarding, cycle hire, fishing, miniature railway, mini golf and playground! Wow!

There are beginner and improver tuition sessions available for every kind of activity, plus taster days and other options so you can try your hand at several new skills before deciding which to pursue with full gusto!

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Gheluvelt Park

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
0

A great park with a formal area, plus a wildlife conservation area. It also has a brook, duckpond, bandstand, and playgrounds with separate areas for different ages. Splashpad for kids in the summer. Free to visit.

It straddles Barbourne brook, plus it is close the river Severn, so there is plenty of wildlife to look out for including kingfishers, mute swans, grey squirrels and more. There is also a large pond with a number of ducks to feed.

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Abington Park

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
0

Big park with historical features, plus playground and fitness trail, Abington Park Museum and also features a specific garden for the blind.

Abington Park sits on the site of a medieval village, with some buildings surviving over seven centuries.

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Abbey Fields

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
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Grassy slopes, the lake, historic buildings, old trees and hedges recall Abbey Fields’ past, while the new play area contributes to the modern side with a fully fenced in zone for the little ones to run wild on the equipment. 

Adjacent there is also a 25-metre heated indoor pool and outdoor pool in the summer.

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