A wander around Golden Acre Park

I recently took a trip out to Golden Acre Park in Leeds — a huge, peaceful haven filled with winding woodland paths, a shimmering lake, and vibrant floral gardens.

Through the Woods

The first place I headed was along the path through the woods. It was a bright, warm early-autumn morning, with soft golden light filtering through the trees and a clear blue sky overhead.

A lone tree caught my eye — wonderfully photogenic — so I wandered around it, searching for the best angle. My favourite view ended up being framed between the branches of a nearby V-shaped tree.

The walk itself was calm and relaxing. I switched between my wide-angle and mid-range lenses, grateful for the cavernous pockets of my coat that meant I didn’t need to keep removing my backpack whenever I wanted to change gear.

Eventually, the path led me to a small bridge crossing a quiet stream which is where I decided to end my walk through the woods and head back. On my return trip through the woods I took one more shot and although the woodland colours were stunning, I couldn’t resist experimenting with some black-and-white edits — the way the shadows and pockets of light danced across the ground was too striking to ignore.

By the Lake

After leaving the woods, I made my way towards the lake. Despite the brilliant blue skies, I again preferred the black-and-white version of my photos here; the contrast brought out the drama of the clouds and deepened the shadows across the water.

The lake’s main attraction, of course, was its lively residents — the ducks and swans. Golden Acre has a small gazebo that juts out over the water, offering the perfect spot to watch them glide and squabble. I was lucky enough to arrive just as a mother and her children began feeding them, so I swapped to my telephoto lens and captured the chaotic beauty of ducks, swans, and seagulls scrambling for food.

The Gardens in Bloom

From there, I wandered toward the gardens and, along the way, came across three striking trees that stood apart from the rest — their shape and colour so bold they demanded a few photos of their own.

The gardens were alive with colour, filled with the most beautiful blooms. I was especially drawn to the red-and-white dahlias — I’d love to have a garden full of them someday.

My final photographs of the day ended up being my favourites — and perhaps the best macro shots I’ve ever taken. I managed to capture a hoverfly just as it landed delicately on a flower, and I couldn’t have been happier with the result.

Final Thoughts

Exploring Golden Acre Park was such a treat. It’s one of those rare places that offers something new each time you visit — shifting light, changing seasons, endless perspectives. I’ll definitely be returning, camera in hand, ready to discover it all over again.

If you’ve ever been to Golden Acre Park, I’d love to know — what’s your favourite time of year to visit or photograph it?