AN innovative play scheme saw children and their parents take part in a mass family picnic and barbecue in the Yorkshire Dales recently – and there’ll be another chance to take part later in the summer.

The Hambleton and Richmondshire Play Ranger project visited Reeth during the school holidays.

Nineteen youngsters tried out den building; made kites, mud pies and petal perfumes; splashed in the river and enjoyed the picnic and barbecue. The project will return to Reeth in the summer holidays (August 17 - 22) when a different range of activities will be on offer including go kart making and sports.

The Play Ranger project – which is being funded by the Big Lottery Fund for three years - aims to take play out to rural areas where there is little or no play provision. The project has already been to Picton, Sessay and Scorton where the initial feedback has been very positive.

The project is aimed at five to eleven year olds and parents are encouraged to stay – children under the age of five must be accompanied. For further details about the Reeth programme contact play ranger, Nicole Graham, on 01609 767297.