Our Staff’s top picks of natural beauty spots
‘Connecting People to Nature’, the theme for World Environment Day 2017, implores us to get outdoors and into nature, to appreciate its beauty and its importance, and to take forward the call to protect the Earth that we share.
World Environment Day is the biggest annual event for positive environmental action and takes place every 5 June. This year’s host country Canada got to choose the theme and will be at the centre of celebrations around the planet.
World Environment Day is a day for everyone, everywhere. Since it began in 1972, global citizens have organized many thousands of events, from neighbourhood clean-ups, to action against wildlife crime, to replanting forests.
This year’s theme invites you to think about how we are part of nature and how intimately we depend on it. It challenges us to find fun and exciting ways to experience and cherish this vital relationship.
Here at kinex, most of us adore the city life, but sometimes you just need a break from the hustle and bustle, the bright lights and the brick; and we can all benefit from getting closer to nature. With that in mind we have asked our staff in our kinex offices around the UK where they like to venture to on a weekend.
- Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow
Situated in Glasgow’s trendy West End area full of quirky and idiosyncratic pubs, cafés and restaurants, visitors can while away a whole day with a jaunt to Kelvingrove Park. Located on the river Kelvin and bordering the famous Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, this gorgeous green space was established in 1852, and had previously been an empty woodland estate before being transformed by eminent gardener Sir Joseph Paxton, a member of parliament at the time. Today a busy public space containing a skate park, a bowling and croquet green and a number of interesting monuments, visitors can expect a lot to do and see during a stroll here. With the park having been the venue for a number of important exhibitions including the 1911 Scottish Exhibition of National History, Art and Industry, the area has played an important role in Glasgow’s cultural history. - Jesmond Dene, Newcastle
Jesmond Dene is a unique haven of peace and tranquility for the people of Newcastle. It is a narrow wooded valley that follows the river Ouseburn between South Gosforth and Jesmond Vale. This provides an important wildlife corridor right into the centre of Newcastle. There is a spectacular mix of native and exotic trees, and the Dene is home to a lot of wildlife, notably the Kingfisher, the Red Squirrel and many woodland birds. The Dene stretches for over three kilometres and has many areas of tranquillity, as well as ‘honey pots’ of activity. Jesmond Dene provides strong historical links with 19th Century industrial development and landscape design – Lord Armstrong’ s influence being very apparent. There is also a large network of paths and bridges throughout. - Roundhay Park- Leeds
Roundhay Park is one of the most popular parks in Leeds due to its size, grandeur and array of things to see and do. Three miles north of Leeds city centre, Roundhay Park covers over 700 acres of rolling parkland, lakes, woodlands, formal gardens and contains several cafes, two playgrounds, the popular visitor attraction Tropical World and much more. - Trentham Gardens – Stoke on Trent
Enjoy a great day out at Trentham. Visit the award-winning Trentham Gardens, for shopping and eating out, peace and quiet, fun and action! Indulge yourself at Trentham Shopping Village with shops, cafés, restaurants and the vast Trentham Garden Centre, it’s perfect for shopping. Walk with 140 Barbary macaques at the Monkey Forest or take a high rope adventure at Aerial Extreme. It’s a fun filled beautiful estate park with so much to see and do. - Castle Park – Bristol
Castle Park offers a blend of past and present, from the remains of a great medieval castle to the nearby bustle of a modern city centre. Nestled between Bristol Shopping Quarter on one side and the beautiful Harbourside on the other, Castle Park offers a quiet place to sit or stroll, whilst looking over the tranquil water. What’s more, children can explore the ‘castle’ playground. The park is also a focus for many pieces of artwork, from creative seats and a carved stone throne to a unique water fountain. The ruins of St Peter’s Church, which was heavily damaged during World War II, are unfortunately not open to the public.