Event: Portugal - Lisbon

Monsanto Ecological Park

When:	Daily; not Sun
Where:	Monsanto Ecological Park
Costs:	Free
Opening Hours:	Mar-Sep: Tue-Fri 9.30am-5pm; Sun and bank holidays 2pm-5pm

Intergrated within the 1000 hectares of woodland that make up Monsanto Forest Park, Monsanto Ecological Park is a leafy refuge from the bustle of urban Lisbon.

The park's commitment to the natural world can be seen by the inclusion of a fenced-off area (to keep humans out, not the animals in) which can only be visited by making an appointment. That still leaves more than enough space freely open to the public, where there are recreation areas for playing sports, shady retreats to picnic in and nature trails to follow. This is even more impressive when you realise that the North Park area (which also boasts a playground and adventure park, complete with climbing tower and slide) was joined in 2001 by South Park and West Park areas.

But it's more than just a wide open space - the park is devoted to promoting awareness of environmental issues and conservation. The Information Centre has a permanent interactive exhibition, where visitors can calculate a tree's age and learn how to make a nest in their back garden, among other activities. There are also temporary exhibitions, covering subjects ranging from forestry policing to sculpture, as well as a Resource Centre and Leisure Activities Centre.

Whether you want to explore the flora and fauna, play games out on the grass or just picnic in the shade, Monsanto Park is the best place near Lisbon to get back to nature.