NATIONAL park bosses have revealed their ambition to cater for younger visitors after creating a play area using natural features and staging a series of events for children.

The North York Moors National Park Authority has developed a natural play area at Sutton Bank National Park Centre, using landscape features to provide a place for adventure for youngsters.

It is hoped the tracks and tree stump stepping stones, stone built round-houses, treehouse and sand pools will inspire imaginative games at the gateway to the park, popular with older visitors for the views, walking and cycling trails.

The play area has been designed to link with the moors’ heritage and history.

Michael Graham, assistant director of park services, said more features would be added to the play area later this year.

He added: “We are increasingly seeing more families visit Sutton Bank, particularly since the opening of Sutton Bank Bikes last year."

As part of the drive to cater for families, the centre, which attracts around 100,000 visitors every year and was recently awarded a certificate of excellence from travel review site Tripadvisor, has run Little Boot Tuesdays events for three to seven-year-olds through the summer holidays.

Mr Graham said the sessions, which this week included a goblins and giants-themed event, had been fully booked.