Since the Covid-19 pandemic, people are outside walking more than ever. According to Livingstreets, walking for leisure increased by 1.2 million in the UK during the months of March and April in 2020. It was a chance to step out of the house and indulge in quieter public places during stricter lockdown rules, helping with people’s mental wellbeing. 

If you’re local to Manchester, you might not realise that there are various green areas of the city at your fingertips. There are many parks and fields that are free to roam when the city can feel repetitive.

Here are some great green spaces to take advantage of living in Manchester:

Fletcher Moss Botanical Gardens

Fletcher Moss Botanical Garden is located in Didsbury between the River Mersey and Stenner Woods. It’s made of botanical gardens and wildlife habitats, making it a truly beautiful site to see. There’s also amenities available on the site, including a family-run cafe and a coffee van located at the entrance to the gardens. 

The area has various paths that lead to different areas of the gardens, making every journey new and exciting. There’s also a lawn area that allows visitors to take a break from walking and soak up the sun with a picnic or a book to relax. The gardens are the ideal spot to get away from busy city life and take a long, relaxing stroll.

Heaton Park

Heaton Park is a public park local to Manchester that covers 600 acres of land. Situated in the area is an 18th century country house known as Heaton Hall. The building is open to visit as a museum and can be used for hosting events in the area. As well as being a large green space for the city, it also has a golf course, boat lake, botanical gardens and an observatory – plenty to do for visitors. 

The large landscape makes it an ideal place to escape the city for long walks and nature photography.

Didsbury Park

Didsbury Park is one of the first public parks to be built in the city in the 1920’s. It’s known to locals as the ‘secret park’ – hidden away from the main social spots of Didsbury. The park provides a beautiful and luscious green landscape for visitors, brimmed with green fields, floral displays and plenty of woodland.

It’s a great area for families too as the park has playground facilities as well as a football pitch, bowling green and pavilion. There’s certainly something for everyone and Didsbury Park is a hidden gem amongst the green spaces available around Manchester.

Debdale Park

Debdale park is an inner city park located near Gorton, Manchester and is one of the largest inner city parks spanning 45 acres. Close to the park lies two reservoirs for licensed fishing and various water sport activities from windsurfing to canoeing. The park also provides trails for cyclists and are recognised by the UK Cycling Network.

As well as cycling and water sports facilities, the park provides play areas for families, a members-only bowling green, tennis courts and a skate park – plenty to do for the locals and visitors alike. The area stretches far enough that would appeal to walkers too.

Platt Fields Park

Platt Fields Park is a large public park located in Fallowfield. It’s home to Platt Hall – a Georgian estate that was once home to the Worsley family for 300 years. The park itself lies south of Wilmslow Road and is made up of different gardens – community orchards, educational gardens, jubilee gardens and an environmental area.

The park is home to a large lake which is used for boating and fishing. Situated in the centre of the lake is a central island sanctuary that can be accessible via boat. As well as a lake, the park is home to a boathouse and visitor centre, making it perfect for visitors to enjoy the site. The area spans a total of 170 acres, making it the perfect location for a long, leisurely stroll.

Alexandra Park

Alexandra park is a 60-acre park in Manchester and has been open to the public since 1870, making it one of the city’s oldest green spaces. 

The park has a great community background with many volunteer projects and events that take place within the park, including political rallies and heritage events. Visitors can expect to see a large fishing lake, cricket and football pitch, community orchards and a children’s playground.

The park has a lot of open green space and trails for those who wish to venture the route around the entire site.

Prestwich Forest Park

Prestwich Forest Park is situated in Bury, Manchester and spans across approximately 494 acres. It’s made up of several parks – Philips Park, Drinkwater Park, WaterDale and Prestwich Clough. The parks range from open fields to wildlife habitats – plenty of places to explore and lots of wildlife and nature to discover. 

As well as indulging in the natural wilderness, there are many events that take place in the park, play areas for children and mountain bike trails for cyclists. Prestwich Forest Park is perfect for locals and visitors to embark on long walks and discover what nature has to offer.

Marie Louise Gardens

Marie Louise Gardens runs between West Didsbury and Northenden and is one of Manchester’s smaller green spaces to visit. With 4.75 acres to explore, it’s also a hidden gem, located in the heart of a suburban area away from main roads. 

Regardless of the area size, people tend to spend 1-2 hours walking around as there’s a dense variety of wildlife, trees and garden displays to explore and escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. For art lovers, a small gallery is open to visit inside a small building on the grounds and there’s plenty of greenland to take a picnic and indulge in the landscape.

As a PC repair and tech support service in Manchester, we understand the importance of local green spaces around the city. For enquiries, head to our contact page.