HUNDREDS of families joined a spring picnic at a county beauty spot where they enjoyed activities, meeting the Gruffalo and exploring the woods.

Queenswood Country Park was the location for the event which also saw live music, drumming workshops, face painting and arts and crafts spread out under the trees, storytelling and yoga workshops in the yurt and WildPlay activities – including the always-popular mud kitchen and den building – through the Arboretum.

Event organiser, Hayley Herridge, said: "With the sun shining, the day really could not have gone any better. It’s great to see so many children outside enjoying themselves, getting enthusiastic about all the activities and exploring the woods too.

"We had lots of fantastic volunteers working so hard all day – we couldn’t have done it without them – and their efforts really paid off."

The event was funded by the Big Lottery’s Celebrate programme and was the second Gruffalo-themed event that has now been held at the site since the trail was installed by the managing partnership of Herefordshire Wildlife Trust and New Leaf.

This event was just part of the Easter holiday programme at Queenswood with Adventure Club, Get Crafty & Play and Lake Play sessions running each week as well as an Easter trail which is running every day.