Barnes Park

Considered one of the most popular parks in Sunderland and one of the best walks to experience in the city, Barnes Park is just under two miles long providing a lot of space for people to enjoy. The Park is well outfitted with bowling greens and tennis courts for those who enjoy sports and play areas for children, bringing together the local community. The park when it was created was planted with Oak ash, elm and beach making it a very pleasant and reminiscent of English woodland that can be seen across county Durham. Locals regularly comment on their love of the sensory gardens and picking blackberries from the bushes in the autumn. A stream and duck pond are also a part of the attraction to the park, bringing more of nature into the city and adding to any walk. The park also has a Café which provides refreshments and a place for people to relax alongside a Victorian bandstand which is much enjoyed by locals. Another attraction in the park is a cannon which was dredged from the River Wear. Recently the park received £3 million in heritage lottery funding to refurbish it and maintain it for future generations.