FAMILIES took their teddies to Coate Water Country Park on Saturday to enjoy a walk in the woods and a special kind of picnic.

About 22 children took part in the event on Saturday between 10am and 11.30am exploring the park and learning about the great outdoors.

To make it extra special the youngsters, aged between five and seven, brought along their teddy bears to enjoy the fun.

Michael Lilley, one of the park rangers who led the session on Saturday, said: “It’s one of the regular events that we run in the park to encourage people to come and enjoy it. This event in particular is to encourage children to come along.

“The children explored the park and collected leaves and grass and mud to see how it smelled and they find the birds on the lake with a guide who told them what each one was.

"We hid a few of the teddies, which they had to find, and we took them on a trail through the park.

“Then at the end they built shelters for their teddies using leaves and twigs and branches they found so their bears could have a good rest.

“It was a great day and it went really well.”

For more details on events at Coate Water, call 01793 490150 or email swindonrangers@swindon.gov.uk.