Thursday 01-04-2021 - 10:29

If you live anywhere in Manchester or Salford, chances are you have a local park pretty close to where you live. You might have been there for a picnic with your mates, to go for a run, or just to get out of your halls/house/flat for a bit. Local parks are great, but there’s only so much time you can spend there before it starts to feel like the outside version of the same four walls.  

The think about Manchester is that there are loads of different green spaces to explore, but a lot of the really nice ones are tucked away in some pretty random corners of the city. I have lived in Manchester most of my life, and am still finding places to explore that I have never heard of!  

Most of us are pretty busy working and studying from home, and spending most of your time indoors can make your head feel a bit fuzzy. Making time to get outside a few times a week (preferably every day) is great to get you out of your head. When you’re outside, it can be great to listen to some sick choons or a sick podcast, but I challenge you to go for a headphone free walk, and just observe the sounds and the gentle activity going on around you.  

The places I am about to list are not just your average local park with a tatty playground, and a boring pond with a load of rubbish in it – these locations are pretty big, and have loads of different parts to explore. Public gardens and nature reserves are the best!  

Chorlton Water Park 

This is located right between Chorlton and Didsbury. It’s easily accessible by bus, and it’s got everything! A massive lake with different types of birds, a playground, a river path, a forest, and trails that lead to the Pennines! In the summer, there’s usually an ice cream van, and if you walk round the lake, you might spot some guys fishing.  

The ducks and geese are super entertaining to watch. The geese are always starting beef with everyone, and the noises made by the coots are hilarious! Around this time of year, the swans will be starting to have babies, so look out for adorable, squeaking grey balls of floating fluff!  

The canal path leads all the way to Didsbury, and Burton Road, where there are loads of quirky coffee places and brunch spots. Kenworthy Woods can be found not far from the main lake, and you can walk for miles through the trees. If you have a bike, the main water park area is a great ride with a few hills to challenge yourself with. The only thing is though, it’s best to come during the week If you want a bike ride, because the crowds on the path are not the easiest to navigate.  

Fletcher Moss Park 

Fletcher Moss Park is a nature reserve and botanical garden that is connected to Stenner Woods, Millgate Fields and the River Mersey. It’s not too far away from the Didsbury Village tram stop, and is open every day of the year, with free access for all. The gardens contain some beautiful plants and a few rare trees, as well as some colourful birds such as ring necked parakeets.  

At Fletcher Moss, you can walk along the riverbanks, stomp through the woods, and admire the flowers. Especially with spring here, now is the perfect time to come at the weekend. The gardens are maintained on a weekly basis by a group of volunteers who do everything from pulling up weeds, to pruning the bushes.  

Fallowfield Loop 

The Fallowfield Loop is a great one for cyclists and walkers. It’s great if you like a long trek, but it's also great for if you just want a bit of a stroll. This long path will take you from Fallowfield Sainsburys all the way through Chorlton, Levenshulme, and Gorton. It’s part of the Sustrans Cycle network that stretches all the way across the UK.  

You’ll see people walking their dogs, bringing their kids for a bike ride, and in some places, you’ll find clumps of blackberries (they ripen around August) that are safe to pick and bring home. This is a great place to come of a sunny evening, as the glow of the golden hour sunsets reflects through the trees, creating some nice lighting effects that look great on the ‘Gram!  

Heaton Park  

Heaton Park is a local park, but not like the boring ones I mentioned earlier. It’s a whole 600 acres of open fields, forest paths, and gardens. It contains the grounds of a stately home, and has a café and a petting zoo! If you’re lucky, you might spot a gang of fluffy Highland cattle hanging out close to the main route into the park... 

Also, it’s the largest park in the whole city, and the largest municipal park in the whole of Europe. So if you like your record breaking statistics, this is the park for you.  

Located in Prestwich, this park has its own tram stop named after itself, so you can get there super easily. If you climb up on the hill near the house, you will be able to see sweeping panoramas of the city, with the hills looming up behind it. It has a lake, and loads of wildlife to spot.  

Reddish Vale Country Park 

If you go to Reddish Vale, you will literally think you have left the city and entered the Peak district. This is a country park located in Stockport. You might have to travel slightly further to reach it, but like the rest of Manchester, it is easily accessible by bus or train.  

It’s a place that links a load of different trails that will take you into the heart of the Peak District. Here, you can spot a variety of different wildlife, such as herons (the ones with the really long beaks) and kingfishers (small, colourful birds that fly really fast.  

Reddish Vale Farm is at the centre of the park, and runs horse-riding lessons for all ages, so if you’re lucky, you’ll see horses and ponies being ridden down the paths.  

This place has so much variety, with winding woodland paths, riverside walks, and open fields. You’d hardly believe something as wild and free existed in one of the UK’s major cities.  

To find out how to get around Manchester from where you are, the Transport for Greater Manchester website has easy-to-use online tools that can help you plan your route.  

What are you waiting for? This springtime, carve out some time to be out in nature in between revision sessions, assignments and exams.