A BUZZARD flying just above the tree tops caught my eye as I waited my turn beside the go-kart track at Stockeld Park.

The seasonal attraction near Wetherby, whose Summer Adventure is in full swing, is set within ancient woodland, attracting the occasional bird of prey in the sky as visitors enjoy the different activities on offer.

Our queue was fairly fast moving, and it wasn’t long before I was doing my best to keep up with much fitter youngsters pedalling around the ring on go-karts along with other have-a-go parents.

After several laps, and thankfully no mishaps, my children and I moved on to the nearby inflatable slide, where I decided to sit back and spectate as they clambered up the ladder-like steps before whizzing down the slope at speed numerous times before they set their sights on the giant, bouncy pillow.

With energy waning and lunchtime looming we ambled through the Enchanted Forest – an attractive wood, set around a lake, with individual adventure play areas along the route – before we stopped for a rest and a picnic halfway round.

The Enchanted Forest lives up to its name, with enchanting statues and features like an interactive musical tree, a talking troll bridge and magic mirror which speaks to your reflection.

A new forest attraction this year is the Spider’s Lair, a climbing play area complete with slides, zip wires and rope tunnels. This webbed wonder was a popular place during our visit, with plenty of appeal for children of different ages.

Slightly further on are the Buccaneer Boats on the lake, which you can hire for a fee, with a new mermaid statue looking on close to a larger-than-life crocodile lurking by the water.

The forest activities could fill most of the day, especially as you can also take in the sights and sounds by whizzing along a dedicated trail on electric scooters, which is great fun, for adults and youngsters alike.

But there is a lot more to Stockeld Park to enjoy than the forest. The retro roller rink, where you can borrow skates, helmets and knee pads, is a highlight for my sons despite the inevitable bumps and bruises, while the large Maze can take some time to conquer – if you don’t cheat by looking at the maps discreetly hidden under wooden flaps, with added attractions along the way, such as drums to bang and a Dr Who Tardis in which to hide.

If the weather is inclement, there are indoor craft areas and inflatables, a shop, cafe and an ice-cream parlour which provided the perfect end to our long, fun-filled day.

* A special Pirate Weekend is being held on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 August. On Sunday, August 14 visitors can enjoy three themed shows with special guest CBeebies star Gem the Pirate, from the children’s TV show Swashbuckle at noon, 2pm and 4pm.

Look out for plundering pirates as they bring the Enchanted Forest to life with seafaring tales. Visit in fancy dress and see if you can walk the ‘catwalk’ plank to win the prize of first mate and a booty bag of goodies.