Green Spaces and Walkways in Aberdeen

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Union Terrace Gardens

Johnston Gardens

Duthie Park Winter Gardens

The Green Spaces in Walkways in Aberdeen have long been famous for being outstanding. The parks, gardens and floral displays which include 2 million roses, 11 million daffodils and 3 million crocuses have led the city to win the Royal Horticultural Society's Britain in Bloom 'Best City' award many times, including a period of nine years straight after which it was banned to give another city a chance.^[1] Most recently it won the 2006 Scotland in Bloom 'Best City' award along with the International Cities in Bloom award. The suburb of Dyce also won the Small Towns award.^[2]^[3]

1 Parks
2 Gardens
3 Walkways
4 Footnotes

[edit] Parks

Aberdeen Beach and Queens Links is situated parallel to the long city beach. It is an extremely popular recreational area, visited by holidaymakers and city residents all year round. There is a large public sporting centre which contains the Beach Leisure Centre and the Lynx Ice Arena. There are cafes and restaurants along the esplanade with a fun fair and multiplex cinema located behind them.

Duthie Park (50 acres (202,000 m²)) opened in 1899 and is situated on Riverside Drive on the north bank of the river Dee. It was named after and gifted to the city by Miss Elizabeth Crombie Duthie of Ruthrieston in 1881 and opened by Princess Beatrice on 27 September 1883. It has extensive gardens, a rose hill, boating pond, bandstand, and play area as well as the David Welch Winter Gardens. First opened in 1899, the Winter Gardens are Europe's second largest indoor gardens.

Hazlehead Park (180 hectares (1,800,000 m²)) opened to the public in 1920 and is situated in the Hazlehead area. A large, heavily wooded park on the outskirts of the city, it is popular with walkers in the forests, sports enthusiasts, naturalists and picnickers. There are football pitches, two golf courses, a pitch and putt course and a horseriding school. The park has a significant collection of sculpture by a range of artists and heritage items which have been rescued from various places within the city and features Scotland's oldest maze, first planted in 1938.

Seaton Park 27 hectares (270,000 m²) opened to the public in 1947 and is situated in the Seaton area. Beside the park's south gate stands St Machar's Cathedral. There are flowerbeds and a walled garden beside the old stables, which have been converted for housing. The Cathedral Walk is always a resplendent sight in midsummer and one of the most popular with visitors to the city. There is an access point for the River Don and there is a walk from the park to the city boundary.

Stewart Park (5 acres (20,000 m²)) opened in 1894 and is situated in the Hilton area. The park was named after a former Lord Provost of the city, Sir David Stewart. There are sections is reserved for cricket and football matches.

Victoria Park (13 acres (53,000 m²)) opened in 1871 and is situated in the Rosemount area. There is a conservatory used as a seating area and a fountain made of 14 different granites, presented to the people by the granite polishers and master builders of Aberdeen.

Westburn Park (13 acres (53,000 m²)) opened in 1901 and is situated opposite and to the north of Victoria Park. With large grass pitches it is widely used for field sports such as football and ultimate. There is large tennis centre with indoor and outdoor courts, a children's cycle track, play area and a grass boules lawn. An open section of the Westburn (a small stream) runs through the park.

[edit] Gardens

Johnston Gardens (1 hectare (10,000 m²)) is situated in the Rubislaw area. It hosts many different types of flowers and plants which have been renowned for their beauty which have led the gardens to winning categories in the 'Britain in Bloom' competitions.^[4]

Union Terrace Gardens (1 hectare (10,000 m²)) opened in 1879 and is situated in the centre of the city. It is a popular rendezvous location in the heart of the city with locals and is filled with trees of over 200 years old and flowers arranged in the cities coat of arms in summer.

[edit] Walkways

The Deeside Way is a popular walkway and track that is used by cyclists and walkers. The trail runs from the Duthie Park to Peterculter along the former Deeside Railway which has had its tracks lifted.

The Formartine and Buchan Way is a walkway along old railway route the Formartine and Buchan Railway which ran from Dyce to Fraserburgh. The current walkway is along the entire old route where the tracks have been lifted much like the Deeside Way. The track runs almost parallel to the National Cycle Network track between Dyce and Auchnagatt, where the tracks cross over.