00:00Sutton Park in the royal town of Sutton Coalfield is one of the largest urban parks in Europe,
00:08covering around 2,000 acres of heath, woodland and lakes. The City Council says it attracts more
00:15than 2 million visits a year, making it one of the region's most used green spaces. From the
00:21air in winter you can really see its scale and the patterns of water and woodland across the
00:27landscape. And earlier I went to the park to meet some of the people enjoying it.
00:31Well I'm in the heart of Sutton Park right by Towngate, I'm with Mac and Sarah. What brings you to the
00:38park today? We just wanted to get out so we come out for some fresh air, the weather's changed a bit
00:42warm, I've been stuck in all weekend so we decided to come for a walk, grab a coffee. What's it do
00:46for your well-being coming here? Oh just mental health really with it you know coming out, getting
00:51some fresh air, feeling like you're doing something. As Mac said with all the snow we've
00:56been stuck in for the last couple of days and you do get a bit cabin fever. Next up
01:00is Roy and Alan, what brings you to the park today? We're in a walking club and we come
01:05out every Monday, well bar Christmas and we're all out today and we left them
01:09having a little lunch at the back. So you're the faster walkers? We're the faster walkers. Yes,
01:13yes. What do you love about coming to the park?
01:16Scenery. And you can get a good mileage in. The wildlife and we like starting out, as Roy said, we're a bit quicker
01:26than the others. I'm now with Tony. Tony, thanks for joining us. What brings you to the park today?
01:31I've just been for brunch at Brands and then we're taking the dog for a walk to Blackroot and around.
01:38What do you love about this park? It's different every time of year. You come in the snow, the frost,
01:46the sun and there's lots of different features to the park. It's woods, heathland, the streams,
01:53the lakes. Yeah, and it's very good for dog walking and just to get out in a big open space out the city.
02:00I love the autumn colours when the leaves pour but even at this time of year it's quite beautiful isn't
02:05it? It is, yeah. Autumn's probably favourite with all the autumn colours. Well thanks so much for your time
02:11and enjoy the rest of your day. Welcome. Thank you. Sutton Park's story stretches back centuries from its
02:18time as a royal hunting ground to the charter that helped protect it for public use. That legacy still
02:25shapes the park today. In 1997 it was designated a National Nature Reserve, recognising its valuable
02:33habitats and helping to safeguard the landscape for future generations. Alongside that status it has
02:41attracted millions of visitors over the years. And today's visitors have shown whether it's for dog
02:47walks, fresh air, exercise or a quiet moment away from busy lives. Sutton Park continues to offer space,
02:54scale and escape whatever the season.
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