 The (in)famous geese! 
A Breath Of Fresh Air
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Recommendation added: 23/06/2006 00:27
By: dewberry (YSUK rating +700)dewberry has been thanked 3 times for this contribution
"Back in 1873, Miss Ann Ryland gave 57 acres of her vast estate to the people of Birmingham with the wish that this land should be made into a public park for everyone to enjoy. It was a hugely popular attraction then and remains so now, over 120 years later.
It lies on Pershore Road in South Birmingham, adjacent to the fantastic nature centre which I reviewed some time ago and it's worth combining the two visits to make a day of it. The park is huge, the 57 acres have been added to and Cannon Hill is now one of the largest and best maintained parks in Birmingham.
There's so much to do here and the environment in different sections of the park is extremely varied, so I won't bore you with an in-depth description of every square metre. What I will say is this park is fantastic from start to finish.
There are several entrances into the park, but I'd recommend using the main gate which is located behind the large car park on Pershore Road because this will lead you to the focal point of the park – the lake. This is a large body of water cut into the main grassy area, the water is always clean and there's a lovely fountain in the centre which is great in the summer when you're sitting down with a picnic. Fishing is allowed in the lake, but because of the hordes of hungry Canadian Geese it's not usually very successful!
My children love the geese, they're very tame and ALWAYS starving (or greedy!) to the point that my nervous seven year old refuses to even handle a sandwich for fear of getting mobbed! You can hire a small pedal boat and go out onto the lake which is fun in the summer as the boats tend to let a bit of water in, and it's always good to get wet when you're boiling hot.
The grassy area which I mentioned before is big enough to play a game of rounders or football, and often impromptu games of cricket will break out which are open to anyone. There's a real friendly family atmosphere in this section and it's always been the place to set out your picnic blanket to watch (or join in!) the fun.
When we go to Cannon Hill we'll first have a wander around the park, taking in the beautifully tended flower beds and generally feeling at one with nature. There are some wooded areas which are pretty much left to their own devices and these are great for the kids as they can climb the trees or play hide and seek. Pathways through these sections are well maintained and easy to navigate.
The cycle route which runs alongside the River Rea is lovely, most of the time you'll be cycling under a canopy of overgrown trees with some of the branches literally brushing your head as you pedal past. It can be an energetic cycle too, with plenty of twists and turns along the route and a few hilly areas where the tow path closed in places so you need to take a diversion.
Another place worth a quick mention is the wildflower meadow which in the summer is bursting with colour and absolutely packed with an array of specially sown wildflowers. It's gorgeous and left as untended as possible, with the exception of a little watering, to create a brilliant wild area. There are a few benches dotted around and when the weather's good it's a great place to sit down and take in some natural beauty.
When you've exhausted yourself you can pop along to the main path which runs alongside the main lake and visit the MAC centre. This is an arts academy of sorts, running workshops for both children and adults which is very popular in 'arty' circles. The main reason I visit the centre, however, is for the fabulous café and bar (and the toilets if I'm honest, after walking round the park for a couple of hours!). The bar is limited to lagers and a few spirits, but the drinks are very reasonably priced and it's lovely to drink a cold lager & lime at the outside tables when you're hot and worn out.
The café is quite upmarket with a lot of chrome and glass inside. They serve the usual sausage rolls and chips on polystyrene trays to eat outside, or you can choose a more substantial meal from their menu. Typical dishes include curry, jacket potato & salad and Chilli Con Carne – all the food I've had from here has been fantastic, decent size portions and competitively priced with high street cafes. The coffee in particular is worth a mention because it's absolutely gorgeous, rich and very strong – gorgeous with lots of sugar and cream.
To find Cannon Hill Park is easy. From Birmingham City Centre take the A441 Pershore Road and the park is signposted along with the Nature Centre approximately two miles down the road on the left hand side. You really can't miss it as the large free car park is visibly signed 'For Cannon Hill Park'. The numbers 45 and 47 buses will drop you directly outside the main entrance to the park, both of these can be caught in Corporation Street in Birmingham City Centre.
Cannon Hill Park
Pershore Road
Birmingham
B5 7RL
Tel: 0121 4424226 (Park Ranger Service)"
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