CHILDREN and young adults from Keighley will play a key part in a new nature trail at Bolton Abbey.

Members of the Kids Club at Highfield Community Centre spent a day with Yorkshire Dales National Park Outreach Officer Catherine Kemp painting 10 terracotta plaques which will be hidden along the route in Strid Wood in the estate grounds.

The plaques show the face of the Green Man – a face surrounded by leaves and branches that is the ancient symbol of life, death and rebirth.

The finished plaques, which are about 10ins in diameter, will be hung up in the woodland as part of a summer 'Green Man Trail' that runs from May to November.

Catherine said: “About 18 children joined in the painting session and they had a great time.

“Once the trail is open, we will be taking them out on it to see if they can find their handiwork dotted about in the trees.”

Last year the Estate invited artists to create a sculpture trail. This year it decided to involve community groups to make the replicas of the Green Man.

But the children from the Community Centre are not the only ones to be involved.

The YDNPA hosted a residential weekend in Kettlewell for 25 members of the Roshni Ghar Project and the Asian Women’s Centre in Keighley as part of the Mosaic Partnership scheme. The group also produced their own green men for the trail and spent a day at the Abbey.