Family fun in store at Summerhill play day

Organised as part of National Play Day, the day will begin with an official cafe launch before families can enjoy a whole host of free taster sessions and activities suited to all ages and abilities. 

Visitors are invited along to Summerhill Country Cafe at 10am to try a selection of snacks, cakes and drinks and watch as the ribbon is cut to officially open the cafe at 10.30am.

The cafe is currently open Mondays to Saturdays from 9am until 5.30pm, and Sundays for roast dinners from 11am until 4pm, offering a selection of vegan and vegetarian-friendly dishes, gluten-free options, and a dog-friendly seating area.

Following the launch, families can enjoy face painting and Xplorer activity sessions from 10am onwards, while the Council’s Sports and Physical Activity Team will host a range of sports sessions in the paddock area from 12pm onwards.

A range of additional activities will follow on from 1pm until 4pm, including archery, climbing, slack lining, and a Cleveland Fire Brigade engine on site for budding fire-fighters to explore. Indoor activities will include arts and crafts led by Artrium, fruit snacks from Tesco, bird-feeder making with RSPB, and activities with EDF Energy and Heugh Battery.

Jay’s Animal Encounters will also be on site for children to meet some unusual creatures. Sessions will run at 12pm, 1pm and 2pm, and small charge will apply. Spaces are limited, therefore families are advised to book in advance by calling Summerhill on 01429 284584.

Gemma Ptak, Hartlepool Borough Council’s Assistant Director for Preventative and Community-Based Services said: “We are excited to officially launch the Summerhill Country Cafe on the same day as National Play Day.

“The cafe is such an important asset to the site, so we would encourage local residents and those from further afield to come along and celebrate the opening of this fantastic cafe with us – however, the fun won’t stop there.

“We understand how difficult and often expensive it can be to keep children entertained throughout the summer holidays, and so encourage families of all ages to come along, get involved in National Play Day and enjoy the wide range of free activities we have in store throughout the day.”

Hartlepool Borough Council has recently been success in securing a £280,000 grant to deliver a four-year project to bring families closer together through sport and physical activity.

The Council’s Sports and Physical Activity Team will be available on the day to speak to families about what they would like to be able to access to support the planning of the programme that will start later this year. Families are encouraged to come along and share their views.

For more information, please contact Summerhill Country Park and Visitors Centre on 01429 284584.