May 24 of every year is European Day of Parks. So today we celebrate some of the European parks we love most. Enjoy these photos, then tell us which is your favourite European park and why!

We love…Phoenix Park, Dublin

Phoenix Park in Dublin, Ireland is one of the largest city parks in Europe. In 2012 it celebrated its 350th anniversary!

Phoenix Park in Dublin is one of the largest enclosed recreational spaces within any European capital city.

Around 30% of Phoenix Park is covered by trees, which provide stunning seasonal backdrops to the park.

One of the most stunning historical links to the past is that Phoenix Park was originally conceived as a Royal Deer Park – the deer are still there today (perhaps not the original deer though!).

We love…Villa Borghese, Rome

Villa Borghese Gardens is the second largest public park in Rome, Italy. Originally a private vineyard, the Gardens are well over 400 years old.

Villa Borghese today contains a gallery, several Imperial Roman-style features (decorative only!), important attractions…and even a seasonal outdoor cinema!

Villa Borghese has stunning avenues of trees along its wide pathways which capture the sunlight beautifully.

We love…Kensington Gardens, London

Kensington Gardens in London is one of the Royal Parks. Once the private gardens of Kensington Palace, the gardens today are a beautiful 275 acre public park enjoyed by millions of people every year.

Kensington Gardens are around 280 years old and it features many of London’s iconic tourist scenes – Round Pond, the Peter Pan Statue, the Albert Memorial, and the Princess Diana Memorial.

Kensington Gardens’ Round Pond features the stunning white swans – contrasting our black swans in Centennial Park!

Kensington Gardens provides a beautiful natural space in the heart of one of the world’s great cities.

We also love…

These are just three European parks that we love. In reality, however, how can you possibly stop there. Europe is full of stunning parks – just think about such iconic places such as:

• Vondelpark, Amsterdam
• Park Guell, Barcelona
• Hyde Park, London
• Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris
• Tuileries Garden, Paris
• Englischer Garten, Munich
• Łazienki Park, Warsaw

…and we could go on.

So tell us then, what is your favourite European park – and why?

Happy European Day of Parks!

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European parks certainly provide stunning scenes, but sometimes a photo snapped in Centennial Parklands reminds us what we have right here in Sydney. This photo that was tweeted to us yesterday by Sydney Morning Herald photographer, Dallas Kilponen (‏@pelagicpictures).

Great shot Dallas – thumbs up from us! (Image courtesy Dallas Kilponen/Fairfax Media)

We continue to celebrate the arrival of the Head On Photo Festival in Centennial Park with a great series of park visitor-submitted photos. Earlier this year, Kelsey Hulme sent us these great photos. They were simply a series of photos that captured her favourite aspects of Centennial Park.

Kelsey said: “I love this park so much. It makes me feel so at peace and happy when I’m there.”

And this is why…

“These woods make me feel like a kid again!”

“The bird life here is so unique and so many different types living together.”

“Plenty of hiding places in the Park.”

“Beautiful trees in the Park!”

“I feel at peace in the Park.”

“Birds resting in the Park.”

Great shots Kelsey – thanks for sharing!

Have some great shots of your own?

Have you some great photos of Centennial Parklands? Share them with us – we always love to see how others see this place!

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Head On Photo Festival is on until 23 June 2013. Want to know when and where the exhibitions are? Download our Centennial Parklands iPhone app and have all the info in your pocket!

Click the image to download the Centennial Parklands app

It often takes an outsider to capture a scene or moment that we, more familiar with Centennial Parklands, may miss…or may even, heaven forbid, take for granted. We continue to celebrate the arrival of the Head On Photo Festival in Centennial Park with some photos taken by Sydney-based British photographer, Mark Condon.

These are just two stunning shots Mark has shared with us and provided the Parklands to use. We loved them and wanted to share these with you.

This image is taken from the top of Mt Steel, Moore Park. In the foreground is Bat and Ball Field – image by Mark Condon

This stunning image of a horse was taken at the Equestrian Grounds in Centennial Park – image by Mark Condon

A little about Mark…

Mark has become a Centennial Park convert. Our work here is done!

Mark Condon is a British wedding photographer at Gold Hat Photography. He has lived in various countries around the world (Japan, UK, Australia) and most recently has been living in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney for the last five years.

After Mark sent us his photos to share, he revealed that – despite having lived relatively locally for five years – he hadn’t really spent any time in Centennial Parklands. We were abhorred!

He has spent some time running around the perimeter, and more recently riding his new bike in the Park, but only recently did he come to appreciate the amazing amount of activity that occurs here every day.  He has since assured us that the combination of a great park, great weather and the spaces provided, Centennial Park has quickly become one of his favourite places this country has to offer.

He recently undertook ‘Project 35′ which aimed to capture 35 photos taken on 35 consecutive days with a 35mm lens. Some of these (two featured above) are from Centennial Parklands. Check out his great results!

Mark’s blog and Facebook page provide more examples of his work, and his Gold Hat Photography website outlines his professional photographic services.

Thanks for sharing your shots, Mark, and making them available for the Parklands to use!

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Think you can compete with these great photos? Why not share your great photos of Centennial Parklands with us. We’d all love to see them.

And just as a forewarning, shortly we’ll be entering the Pinterest world, for an even better way of sharing photos. If you’re on Pinterest, keep an ear out and then you’ll be able to pin, re-pin and create Centennial Parklands boards for the world to see!

In celebration of the Head On Photo Festival coming to Centennial Park, we continue to look at some great photography from our park visitors. Yesterday was sunshine, and today, birds. And some great new shots have come in from our intrepid regular volunteer photographers, Dominic and Daphne Gonzalvez.

Cattle in Centennial Park?

No. Cattle Egrets actually! A flock of them…

First was this recent sighting – a flock of Cattle Egrets near Duck Pond.

Getting a little Grebe-y!

A popular local feathery resident is the Hoary-headed Grebe….

This feathery little fellow, called a Grebe, was enjoying an autumn dip in the sunshine

Pink ears?

A recent spot was these ducks called Pink-eared Ducks…

Pink-eared Ducks – do they really have pink ears?

Sometimes you need to be a little hard-headed!

Just like these little guys – a family of hardhead ducks…

Hardhead Ducks – no helmets required for these guys!

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The Head On Photo Festival opened on the weekend and you can come and enjoy three exhibitions. The one in the Vine Video below is about from ‘Macro Wildlife‘!

Today, as the temperatures start to cool down, we just had to post this fantastic photo of sunshine in Centennial Park – as taken on the weekend by park visitor, Lucy Pryor. Surely this will warm you up!

Sunshine in Centennial Park – image by Lucy Pryor

Speaking of photography, the Head On Photo Festival has started and there are three great exhibitions to enjoy in Centennial Park this year. All the details are on our Quick Guide to the Head On Photo Festival.

Head On Photo Festival is on until 23 June 2013

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Snapped a great photo in Centennial Parklands? Share it with us and you may feature as our Photo of the Week!