Words: Vickie Jamieson
Photos: Simon & Sarah Cullingworth
Bramley junior parkrun celebrated its 200th event by throwing a fancy-dress party where participants ran the 2km course dressed as unicorns, Spidermen, Sonic the Hedgehog, knights, princesses and stormtroopers.
At the end participants were rewarded with a slice of birthday cake and a new game on the Love Exploring smartphone app.
Chloe Hall, 10, received her 100 junior parkrun wristband before the participants set off.
Chloe has completed 100 junior parkruns since she first took part back in 2018. She said:“I like parkrun because it gets children up in the morning to do exercise and they get some fresh air. Also, we have some fun events when we get to dress up and sometimes there’s cake!”
Leeds City Council used the event to promote its ‘Love Exploring: Mega Mini-Beast Hunt’. Love Exploring is a free fun way to encourage families to be active together and inspire people of all ages to explore their local parks and discover some of the city’s treasures.
The Love Exploring app uses augmented reality to bring to life amazing sights on a smartphone – opening up the undergrowth world of mini-beasts and uncovering some fascinating facts. The Mega Mini-Beast game runs until 6 June across a number of the Leeds parks.
Councillor Jools Heselwood (Lab, Bramley and Stanningley) was there to support the promotion. She said:
“Love Explore is a fantastic app and really encourages children to get outdoors to hunt dinosaurs and now mini-beasts; although they’re not so mini when you find them!! We still have the dinosaurs in Bramley Falls and now a mini beats trail in Bramley park and Bramley Falls Woods.
“There’s a great game on the app now where you can hunt mini beasts while earning points for your school at the same time-and points make prizes. Go hunting!”
If you are interested in getting your child involved in junior parkrun you can find out more here. You can also volunteer with the junior parkrun team on a Sunday morning. No previous experience is required and everyone is welcome; contact bramleyjuniors@parkrun.com for more details.
You can find out more the Love Exploring Mega Mini-Beast Hunt here.