Photographers share beauty of Birmingham Commonwealth Games venue

John BrayBBC News, West Midlands
News image@alisonjmatthews A swan and cygnets at Sutton Park@alisonjmatthews
Sutton Park is a 2,400 acre National Nature Reserve and is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest

Six miles north of Birmingham city centre lies Sutton Park which will take centre stage as a Commonwealth Games venue in a month's time.

The beautiful green space will host the Birmingham Commonwealth Games triathlon events.

There are five medal events in the Birmingham 2022 triathlon competition: Individual women, individual men, para individual women, para individual men and a mixed team relay event.

Sutton Park is one of Europe's largest urban parks. Inspired by its beauty, local amateur photographers have been sharing their images with the BBC Midlands Instagram page.

News image@andrew_martin_photography Greenery surrounding the lake at Sutton Park@andrew_martin_photography
The park has open heathland, woodlands, lakes, wetlands, and marshes
News image@edphillips_media Sun-soaked Sutton Park@edphillips_media
Sutton Park has been used for recreation since the 19th century when there were two horse racing courses in the park
News image@edphillips_media A freight train passes through Sutton Park at sunset@edphillips_media
A railway line runs through the park, which once had its own station. The line is now used by freight trains
News imageElliott Brown A boy in a sailing boat at Sutton ParkElliott Brown
The park is popular for a number of sports including mountain biking, sailing and canoeing
News image@kirstydown A lake at Sutton Park@kirstydown
Sutton Park has seven lakes and thousands of anglers fish there every year
News image@marcusthomasuk Leaves turn yellow on a tree at Sutton Park@marcusthomasuk
In 1957, 35,000 scouts from 37 countries set up camp in the park for the World Jubilee Jamboree
News image@missclanger Wild ponies Sutton Park@missclanger
Wild ponies have grazed at Sutton Park for centuries
News image@photo_cynth A wild pony in Sutton Park@photo_cynth
The ponies graze on heathland, which covers 465 acres of parkland
News image@missis_teapot Walkers on Ryknield Street in Sutton Park@missis_teapot
Sutton Park's Roman road is usually known as Ryknield Street and is about 1.5 miles (2.4km) long
News image@sean.a.rhodes Sutton Park@sean.a.rhodes
In 1989, work began to restore the heathlands which saw large areas of birch trees and gorse cleared
News image@timmins_john Sutton park@timmins_john
There is a model aircraft flying field in Sutton Park. Pilots are members of the Sutton Park Model Aero Club
News image@victoria_beavon Wintry conditions at the lake in Sutton Park@victoria_beavon
BBC Midlands Today will be turning the spotlight on the park on 28 June at 18:30 BST on BBC One
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