Through out August we want to give you the chance to explore some of the fantastic 'dear green' space Glasgow has to offer.
That's why we're offering double points (up to 150 per week) for visiting any one of 10 Glasgow Parks. Not only that, for each park you visit for the first time using your app you will receive a 250 BetterPoints bonus!
As you visit all the park just watch you points add up - by the end of August you will be well on the way to being able to redeem your points for a well deserved voucher.
Here are the parks you can visit to take part!
Alexandra Park
The Park takes its name from Princess Alexandra, the wife of King Edward VII, who officially opened the Park in 1870. The main drive boasts a fine example of a cast iron drinking fountain and popular 40 foot high, (Walter MacFarlane) Saracen Fountain gifted to the City after the 1901 International Exhibition. The highest point of the Park gives views North to Ben Lomond and South to the Tinto Hills.The main pedestrian entrance into the park is through the ornamental gates leading from Alexandra Parade into an impressive seasonal bedding display and small formal rose garden.
Bellahouston Park
This extensive park has many features and facilities to tempt visitors and local residents to its grounds. It boasts formal gardens and open parkland in which to relax and take in views over the city and beyond. Quiet contemplation can also be had at the House for an Art Lover. For the more active and adventurous there are extensive sports facilities.
There are several points of horticultural interest such as the walled garden with its fine collection of ferns and daffodils collected by the 19th century plant collector Peter Bar who lived locally. It also boasts a wide variety of herbaceous perennials, wall-trained shrubs, Chrysanthemums, Dahlias, and annual borders. The House for the Art lover also has a less formal garden consisting of mixed shrubs and herbaceous borders with a collection of heathers and heaths.
Cathkin Braes Country Park
Cathkin Braes County Park covers a large area in the south east of Glasgow, approximately 8km from the city centre. It is rich in history and a familiar landmark on the southern skyline reaching 200m above sea level, the highest point in Glasgow. The park is renowned for its panoramic views over the city and beyond. The east side of the park was designated a City-wide Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) in 1989 and the farmland in the west in 2009. The whole park is a proposed Local Nature Reserve. The country park represents one of Glasgow’s richest habitat mosaics, with areas of long-established or ancient woodland, species-rich unimproved grassland, dwarf shrub heath, marsh, bracken and thorn scrub areas. The mosaic in turn supports a diverse range of animals, notably invertebrates and birds. The country park is home to Glasgow's international mountain bike trail which featured in the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Darnley Mills / Darnley Country Park
Dams to Darnley Country Park is a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation in the southwest of the City. Its mosaic of habitats supports a diverse range of animals and plants and provides an attractive area for walks. The park lies in the valley of the Brock Burn and there are attractive walks along both sides of the burn in the northern section habitats include: grassland, wetland, open water (pond), scrub, wooded river valley. Diverse species in the park including: Dippers, Sedge Warblers, Reed Buntings, Buzzards and Orange-tip Butterflies. Waulkmill Glen to the southwest of the park is the Site of Special Scientific Interest. This narrow valley is noted for its geology, particularly shale and limestone faces.
Victoria Park
Originally acquired by the Burgh of Partick, Victoria Park, was named for Queen Victoria's golden jubilee in 1887. The park is extremely popular with the public being one of the most visited parks in Glasgow. It contains extensive formal and informal gardens, an arboretum, a boating pond, bowling greens and tennis courts.The park also contains the Fossil Grove museum which houses pre-historic fossils known as lycopods or giant clubmosses. There is also a recreation ground, a children’s play area with equipment suitable for children with disabilities, and the park features a hidden maze, cycle route and orienteering course. Victoria Park is listed on Historic Scotland’s Gardens and Designed Landscapes Inventory.
Glasgow Green
Glasgow Green is the oldest “public park” in Britain and the rich diversity of Glasgow Green’s historical associations is unequalled in the UK. The common lands of Glasgow Green were used by the people of Glasgow for washing, bleaching linen, grazing cattle, drying fishing nets and for swimming. The current layout of Glasgow Green dates back between 1816 and 1826 when major landscape works were completed reinforcing the Green’s status as Glasgow’s people’s park. These works were implemented by Dr. James Cleland, Glasgow’s Superintendent of Public Works. Glasgow Green’s historical past is well documented along with many of the buildings, bridges and monuments being either grade ‘A’ or ‘B’ listed. In summary Glasgow Green is located in attractive grounds in the heart of the city, attracting over 2 million visitors each year and has won Scotland Alba Saltire Society Awards for the refurbishment of the Doulton Fountain.
Hogganfield Park
The main attraction of the park is Hogganfield Loch, a large shallow loch with a wooded island. Hogganfield Park is excellent for birdwatching or simply walking. Access is very easy, with a tarmac path all the way around the loch edge. There is a wide variety of waterbirds on the loch, including some rarities.Lethamhill Golf Course is adjacent to Hogganfield Park and can be accessed from Cumbernauld Road.The park is also one of 46 City-wide Sites of Importance for Nature Conseration or SINC's for short.
Pollok Country Park
Glasgow's largest park, Pollok Country Park has been voted the Best Park in Britain 2007, and Europe's Best Park 2008.
The extensive woodlands and gardens provide a quiet sanctuary for both visitors and wildlife.The Park is rich in rural history formerly being part of the Old Pollok Estate and ancestral home to the Maxwell Family. The Park is also home to the world famous Burrell Collection and Pollok House. The Walled Garden contains many features of interest to gardeners of all ages. Mature yew hedges section the garden into compartments containing seasonal bedding, collections of plants such as Hosta's, Fuschia's and herbaceous displays, which are complimented by the displays within the adjacent glasshouses. Car parking is available at the Burrell Collection and the Riverside car park.
The park also contains 2 alloment sites.
River Kelvin Walkway to Botanical Gardens
Kelvingrove Park - This Sir Joseph Paxton designed park is a 34 hectares/85 acres site and a classic example of a Victorian park. Its design and setting on the banks of the River Kelvin enhance and complement the many magnificent buildings which surround the world renowned Art Gallery and Museum prominently featured within it.
Glasgow Botanic Gardens -Explore the 'A' listed Kibble Palace, named after the Victorian John Kibble who brought the glasshouse from his home at Coulport, Loch Long, to Glasgow in 1873. This architectural treasure is a curving iron and glass plant-house where temperate plants from various areas of the World are displayed. Below the small dome, near the entrance, is a popular fish pond with an Australian Soft Tree Fern growing on an island. Separate sections sit to the north and south of the entrance dome. The north transept houses a display of carnivorous plants while the south transept, which has an open multipurpose floor area, houses a collection of plants that are native to the Canary Islands.
Dawsholm Park is a 33 Hectares/ 81 Acres site. Large areas of the park have been left in a natural state. The park is a firm favourite with bird watchers and naturalists alike.
Springburn Park
Springburn Park has one of the most beautiful rockeries in Scotland, a garden of peace and three wildlife ponds. The park is filled with evergreen and flowering trees, shrubs, rhododendrons, heaths, rock and alpine plants.Situated in the north of the city in the park is bounded by Broomfield Road, Balornock Road, Balgrayhill Road.Springburn and surrounds, and contains a variety of listed buildings, monuments and sporting facilities set within landscaped areas. Facilities include synthetic football pitches with changing accommodation, multi-pitches, three bowling greens, a cricket pitch, and children’s play area. Dominating the southwest corner of the park is the now derelict A listed Winter Gardens. The Winter Gardens is now the oldest structure that was gifted as part of the formation of the original park.
For more information on all of Glasgow's park please visit the Glasgow City website.