Nostalgia games were winners at holiday park’s day of old fashioned fun

Snakes alive: youngsters enjoy a close encounter with a rescued adder at the fun day’s popular petting zoo

Giant snails, sack races and ceramics helped pack a Lancashire holiday park with visitors recently when it staged a free family fun day for guests and the local community.

Moss Wood caravan park, in Cockerham near Lancaster, held the end-of-summer event to celebrate what it described as “one of English tourism’s best years ever”.

The fun day saw youngsters and grown-ups enjoy a raft of traditional sports and games, including three-legged races, hook-a-duck, splat-the-rat, crazy golf and welly wanging.

Among the different stalls was a display of sculptures and ceramic art created from largely recycled materials, and a tombola challenge which raised funds for the Royal Artillery Association.

The highlight for many children was a petting zoo which brought along a selection of mainly rescued creatures and mini-beasts from snakes and lizards to giant snails, rabbits and tortoises.

Based in the nearby village of Pilling, “Little Zoo To You” is, like Moss Wood caravan park, a business member of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust.

According to Henry Wild, his family’s park wanted to celebrate a year in which many people in the UK chose a staycation over going abroad:

“I believe a lot of people this summer will have re-discovered the delights of an English holiday, so we decided to theme our day on traditional pleasures and pastimes,” he said.

“The old-fashioned games were a great success, and harked back to what leisure was like when Moss Wood first opened over forty years ago.

“The petting zoo won many fans, and also taught some valuable lessons about animal welfare and wildlife, subjects about we’re especially sensitive at Moss Wood.

“I think it’s fair to say that nobody missed their digital devices that day!” added Henry.

Visitors to the event were also able to view the different initiatives which have led to the park being a long time winner of the David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level.

They include a wild flower wilderness attracting honey bees and butterflies, a 1.5km nature discovery trail, and a spring-fed lake which is magnet for a host of different aquatic species.

Moss Wood provides holiday homes to buy as well as pitches for touring caravans and motorhomes. There is more information about the park at www.mosswood.co.uk