POOLE Park was humming with children and parents enjoying themselves as a family fun day sported more than 20 activities to try.

Mayor Cllr Phil Eades entered into the spirit by clambering into a swan pedalo on the boating lake with daughter Victoria, 13.

Youngsters had the chance to try the crazy golf, help Dorset Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers make nest boxes, have their faces painted and much more as the adults learned about Borough of Poole’s bid for Heritage Lottery Funds.

“It’s about raising the profile of our bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund,” said Martin Whitchurch, council greenspace development officer. “We hope to get in the region of £2.5million in funding for improvements to the park.”

The first stage of the bid takes place in August and the fun day was part of a programme of six weeks of public engagement to generate support and ideas.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity that the borough has given young people in the local area to tell us what they would like to see in the future in the park,” said Cllr Eades. “It’s great to see so many young people trying out the activities and enjoying our park.”

Hannah Lammiman from Parkstone, whose son Dylan, 4½, was helping make a nest box, said: “Events like this are so nice for the children. It encourages them to learn about the environment.”

Louis, 11, and Lauren Hill, eight, from Broadstone had played tennis, loved the swan pedalos and the crazy golf and were looking forward to having a go on the radio controlled boats.

“They are loving it,” said their dad, Steve Hill. “I think Poole Park is perfect as it is, don’t put a skatepark in here.”