In addition to its other attractions, Guernsey boasts several public parks that are used by islanders participating in sporting activities as well as by people who just wish to enjoy walking among the abundance of trees, flowers and shrubs, and parents who can find plenty to keep their offspring amused in the various play areas.Probably the most popular public park in Guernsey is Saumarez in the Castel.

This former country estate has wide open spaces that are perfect for games, an ornate rose garden and a large children’s play area.

A small stream winds through sections of the park, and a large pond is home to a number of friendly ducks. People can often be seen feeding them, although signs nearby warn that this could lead to an unwelcome explosion in the population and problems for the pond’s ecology.

A small gazebo has been built over the edge of the pond, providing a closeup view of the wildlife.

During the summer Saumarez Park hosts a number of events, such as the horse and harness competition, goat shows, the Donkey Derby and the spectacular North Show.

There are two car parks, and a nature walk from the park to the west coast is a wonderful way to spend a balmy spring or summer afternoon.

If the weather turns nasty, there’s a cafe that is open all year round and not far from this is the National Trust of Guernsey’s Folk Museum, which it runs in association with La Societe Guernesiaise. The museum contains a number of historic farm vehicles and implements as well as displays reconstructing various aspects of Guernsey in days gone by.

Le Guet (‘Get’) at Cobo in the Castel is a popular place with youngsters, thanks to its dense growth of fir trees which give it its more common local name of ‘The Pine Forest’.Ideal for games of hide and seek, and there is often a rope swing or two to be found, Le Guet also features a watch house that dates back to the Napoleonic era but was also extended and used by the German occupying forces in the 1940s.

Parts of the watch house are open to the public, although some sections have been closed for safety reasons and to prevent vandalism.

The watchtower is a superb place to take in the nearby scenery, with a commanding view of Cobo Bay and the Castel parish.

Beau Sejour Centre in St Peter Port features a wide variety of indoor activities, such as swimming, squash, badminton and a cinema. The centre takes its name from the adjacent park area, which is used for football in the winter and softball in the summer.

Nearby are two playgrounds, one featuring activities for toddlers and the other aimed at older children. Between the playgrounds is a refreshment kiosk, run by the centre, which is open during the summer.

Alongside Beau Sejour park, the other side of a high granite wall, is Cambridge Park. This basically comprises a large grassy area that is used for various sports. A tree-lined avenue, named after Sir Winston Churchill, runs along the outer edge of the park. This leafy walkway is notorious as being the place where the last duel was fought in Guernsey. A short walk from Cambridge Park is Candie Gardens.

There are no football pitches or playgrounds here, and instead the gardens provide a home for the acclaimed Guernsey Museum and Art Gallery and a cafeteria that is open to all.

The grounds extend to finely trimmed lawns and well kept flower beds and are the perfect place to take a relaxing stroll, or simply to sit and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Near the entrance to the upper part of the gardens is a statue of Queen Victoria, while further down the path and at the edge of a sweep of green that overlooks St Peter Port Harbour, is a statue of one of the island’s most famous former residents, Victor Hugo.

Through a gate and down a sloping path are the lower gardens, where skilled gardeners have re-created the atmosphere of a traditional Victorian flower garden.

Delancey Park in St Sampson’s is undergoing something of a facelift, with the parish’s millennium project including the creation of a new play area for children and the construction of a refreshment kiosk.

For the time being, the park is used for sport and there is a small children’s playground atop a rise that includes swings and slides. The fact that this can be a particularly chilly spot at any time of the year is partly responsible for a plan to move it to a more sheltered section of the park.

Next to this play area are the remains of a monument erected to Admiral Lord de Saumarez, a famous islander who was a contemporary of Lord Nelson. Today this large two-tiered square of stone is popular with children who enjoy climbing and jumping off it.

Adults can enjoy the stunning views of St Peter Port and the neighbouring islands of Herm, Sark, Jersey and, on clear days, Alderney and France.