Outdoor family events to keep the kids busy

THE ‘ParkLives’ initiative starts in Bridgend County Borough next week, bringing a series of free familyfriendly outdoor activities to parks and green spaces throughout the school summer holidays.

Funded by Coca-Cola, and supported locally by Bridgend council, the ParkLives sessions will make the most of the great outdoors in Bridgend, Porthcawl and Maesteg.

Most of the action is taking place at Newbridge Fields in Bridgend. Every Thursday from July 27 to August 31 there will be hour-long activities including mini gladia- tors, gladiators, zumba, an assault course, balance bikes and Parkour to choose from.

The mini gladiators and gladiators sessions involve obstacle-based games for children and their families, while there will be more obstacles to negotiate when running, jumping and climbing around a Parkour course that will be suitable for all abilities.

During the school holidays there will also be free ParkLives family Tai Chi and wellbeing sessions every Thursday at Newbridge Fields, every Monday at Porthcawl Wilder- ness Lakes, every Tuesday at Kenfig Nature Reserve, and every Friday at Maesteg Welfare Park. There will also be walking and Nordic walking sessions on offer too.

Families can sample some of the ParkLives activities this Saturday at Newbridge Fields between 1pm and 3pm as part of a special free event to launch both ParkLives and the Summer Reading Challenge which is returning to local libraries.

The full schedule of ParkLives activity sessions can be found by visiting www. bridgend. gov. uk/ schoolsout