West Midlands Wellbeing Walks
To mark Mental Health Awareness Week, the team at Midland Mencap have rustled up our Top 5 Parks in the West Midlands. From beautiful parks and playgrounds, to riverside walks; the West Midlands has beautiful locations to give you the space to breathe, take a minute and enjoy all that nature has to offer.
1. Sutton Park
Located in Sutton Coldfield, Sutton Park is where the majority of our Parkride sessions happen. This large park has plenty of space to cycle, with children’s playgrounds and open fields to enjoy a leisurely stroll around.
From a visitor centre to a golf course, to seven different lakes, you are sure to have a relaxing day at Sutton Park. The centre offers toilets, baby changing facilities, a gift shop, interpretive displays and maps.
There are many different entrances to the park, increasing accessibility from across the area of Sutton Coldfield and wider Birmingham.
Join in with our Parkride sessions and visit Sutton Park!
2. Walsall Arboretum
Based in Walsall’s town centre, this park has a lot to offer! Reaching over 170 acres of land, there is plenty of wildlife and gardens to explore. There are also sport facilities, a mini golf activity and children play areas for a range ages.
Whether you enjoy fishing, walking, running or simply soaking up the sunny rays, Walsall Arboretum has so much to offer the West Midlands. You can even take a ride on pedalos or try out their free skate park.
Majority of the park is wheelchair accessible, and the pathways are flat, increasing ease for everyone.
3. Edgbaston Reservoir
IIf sailing or rowing are more up your street, Edgbaston Reservoir might be the park for you. You can also fish, if you apply for a permit.
With just under a 2-mile path around the reservoir, the area brings a sense of calmness located just outside Birmingham City Centre.
It can be accessed by foot or there is local parking nearby and is well-worth a visit during the summer.
4. Sandwell Valley Country Park
From farms, to parks, to playgrounds – Sandwell Valley Country Park has it all! Offering a fantastic experience for families, this area offers a huge range of activities to get involved with.
Enjoy the beautiful scenery whilst cycling through one of their many cycle routes throughout the park on either your own bike or you can choose to hire a selection of their bikes for a small fee.
If you have children from the ages of 5 – 13, their extensive playground allows children to run free in this brilliant area. Not only is there a sandpit and designated picnic area for families, but the playground also offers climbing nets, a rope bridge, an eight-metre-high tower with a slide, swings, a double zip wire, a dragon roundabout, a suspension bridge, a play tractor and trailer and timber sculptures, too.
In addition, there are weekly wellbeing and health walks available to book. They are a great way to boost your mental health and enjoy all that nature has to offer.
5. Coombe Abbey Park
Lastly, Coombe Abbey Park is based near Coventry, with 500 acres to explore. The park itself is home to Deer, with stunning lakeside walks available to wander along, too. From countryside to woodland, you’ll find a whole range of wildlife to watch and enjoy.
If you enjoy bird feeding, there are spots around the park that you can purchase bird feed from. Experience nature firsthand! There is also a small gift shop based in their Discovery Centre, where you can find all your accessibility information and interactive displays.
Children can enjoy the play area, too, but if you fancy something more on the adventurous side, the park offers axe-throwing, a zip line and a climbing forest!