Familes soaked up the sunshine and enjoyed a range of activities in Raincliffe Woods for yesterday's event, which was this year called the Secret Wood Sustainability and Biodiversity Fair.

The seventh annual Secret Wood event was organised by Scarborough Council, Natural England and Scarborough Conservation Volunteers.

This year's highlights included birds of prey, an iron age village and archery, as well as coracle boat and bird box making.

Environmentally friendly issues were also covered with a range of stalls from organisations including the North Riding Badger Group, Energy Saving Trust and the Renewable Heritage Trust.

Scarborough College Combined Cadet Force, who use the wood for training, were on hand to show off their survival skills such as shelter building and camouflage.

The 1st Scarborough Scout Group also made broomsticks for the children, bread twists on a fire and displayed camp gadgets and an outdoor shelter called a bivouac.

Roger Burnett, parks and countryside manager for Scarborough Council, said: "The thing that's really great this year is the number of children who attended the event and enjoyed all of the different attractions.

He said: "They're seeing that Scarborough has much more to offer for youngsters."

Among those enjoying the event were Charlotte and Lee Moon, of Peasholm Crescent, who were with their children Ella Grace, five, and George, two.

Mrs Moon said: "It was our first year and we'll definitely come again. There were so many things to see and it has been very well put together."

June Sellers, 65, of Londesborough Road, who brought her grandchildren Ben, seven, and Ryan, five, said: "We never miss the event and like everything about it. We like the children to be aware of nature and observe the things around them.

"I think the children need to be forward thinking about green issues because this is going to be their future."

Scarborough Mayor Cllr Janet Jefferson added: "There was such a diversity and it also reminds me of my childhood when we used to go to the woods in York. We used to cook in the woods, get water from the spring and eat our Sunday dinner."