An estimated 2,000 families visited Nottinghamshire Hospice’s ‘Party in the Park’ at Woodthorpe Park on Saturday, taking advantage of glorious sunshine and fun activities such as hula-hooping, African drumming, archery and plate spinning.

Visitors browsed craft stalls, met a rescue chameleon, held a snake or chilled out with an ice cream while enjoying sounds from talented acoustic performers at the event put on with Hoodwinked partner Park Lives.

Guest Emma Pugh said: “It was fab. I had a go at drumming which I’ve always wanted to do. I was rubbish at hula-hooping but I painted a tile. It was lovely to see everyone out on the park and so much going on.”

Party in the Park was one of a series of events put on as part of the Hoodwinked project. Trail maps were given out and children coloured in robin templates.

Although the main aim of the event was raising awareness of the hospice and promoting the Hoodwinked trail, bucket collections and stalls raised more than £1,500 For Nottinghamshire Hospice which will be match-funded by corporate sponsor Barclays bringing the total to £2,300.

Sarah Dunning, Corporate Fundraiser at Nottinghamshire Hospice said “We wanted to create a new event which bought the whole community together for a day of fun, laughter and making memories with their loved ones, something which is incredibly important to us at Nottinghamshire Hospice.

“The atmosphere was fantastic and it was wonderful to see all those families out enjoying the activities in the sunshine. We’d like to thank Park Lives, all of the crafters, entertainers and our wonderful volunteers for helping us put on such a fantastic event and Barclays for their generous offer to match-fund what we’ve raised. Party in the Park will return in 2019.”