This park makes the perfect end point to a sunny afternoon stroll
A couple having a picnic under a Cherry Blossom tree (Image: Andrew Teebay/Liverpool ECHO )
Having recently moved to south Liverpool, I was stunned by the amount of green space on offer. The vast expanses of Princes Park and Sefton Park, which sit within minutes of each other, boast grassy fields, playgrounds and even lakes with plenty of spots to soak up the summer weather.
Set across 235 acres it is difficult to tire of Sefton Park and each evening stroll or morning run seems to lead me down a new path or immerse me in a new patch of woodland. I spend less time in the smaller Princes Park, though I often pass through it and its ornate grade-two listed entrance is a pretty sight on my commute into town.
As much as I would probably be quite content spending most of my evenings and weekends gazing across the Sefton Park boating lake or enjoying an ice cream by the pagoda, sometimes the need for novelty strikes.
I’m lucky enough to live right above both Sefton and Princes Park, which is perfect – except for when I feel the need to get a little bit further from home. Seeking an outdoor stroll that allowed me to stretch my legs a bit more, I decided to give another local park a whirl.
Located a stone’s throw away from the bottom of Penny Lane, Greenbank Park is a perfect alternative to Sefton and Princes, and offers many of the same amenities.
This small but stunning green space is a south Liverpool gem. The perimeter of the park is lined with mature trees and at this time of year the green grass is the perfect backdrop for a peaceful pause on one of the many benches overlooking the fishing lake.
Summer evening sunlight over the lake (Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool ECHO )
For nature lovers, a tranquil afternoon can be spent watching water birds dart underneath trees that overhang into the water.
I visited in the late afternoon to early evening and sat on the east side of the lake, which proved the perfect spot to catch every last ray of the July sun.
The park is also home to a well-kept old English style walled garden, rose beds and a children’s playground.
An angling permit is required if fishing in park lakes(Image: Andrew Teebay/Liverpool ECHO )
While it doesn’t have the expanse of Sefton for a long walk or run, it provides the perfect end point to a loop of the area and a recent slow Sunday was spent grabbing brunch on Smithdown Road, before mooching down Penny Lane and ending up at Greenbank Park.
Once nestled in its cosy and welcoming space, you wouldn’t imagine you were just a few streets away from a busy main road and the surrounding area is equally as verdant with Greenbank Lane providing a quiet residential setting for the park.
When the evening sun sets, the park is close enough to plenty of pubs and restaurants to continue your summer’s evening including The Watering Can, an award-winning café bistro located on Greenbank Road.
Though it might be dwarfed by two more famous parks to its west, Greenbank Park is a quieter spot to watch the world go past, enjoy a book or simply soak up the sun.