An estimated 5,000 people joined in the fun as National Playday brought an exciting array of free play fun to Yeovil Country Park on Wednesday 7 August.
The annual National Playday event is organised and funded by South Somerset District Council and offers a huge variety of activities and experiences for children and young people across South Somerset and beyond.
The flat grassy area at Yeovil Country Park became one big free play zone with young people getting involved in activities including a mobile climbing wall, circus skills, zorbing and face painting. BBC Radio Somerset also took in the atmosphere and broadcast their morning show direct from the event.
Many brave young people (and adults!) also plucked up the courage to touch some of the huge snakes that the popular ‘Bugfest’ team brought with them. Hundreds of people gathered round their shows and appeared to be enthralled and revolted in equal measure.
Organiser, Robert Parr, South Somerset District Council’s Senior Play and Youth Facilities Officer said, “The idea is to provide an excellent range of challenging and unusual free play activities for local children to enjoy. Events like this are important to meet our aim of improving the quality and quantity of play opportunities.
“It was encouraging to see good natured queues at all activities. One particular favourite was the Big Tree Climbing Company who were incredibly busy all day. Their tree climbing and zip line activities were not the kind of things that young people get to try very often and they really added a buzz of excitement to the event.
“We were delighted to see such large numbers at National Playday and everyone seemed to enjoy the relaxed nature of the event.”
For the first year the Playday had two stilt walkers who delighted young people as they walked through the crowd dressed as colourful giant bugs.
Cllr Sylvia Seal, South Somerset’s Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture added, “This is part of South Somerset District Council’s on-going work to increase and improve play opportunities for children in the district. There was a special relaxed atmosphere on the day and events like this can only encourage young people to try out different activities and gain new interests.”