AN all weather 'shade sail' has been unveiled at Skipton's Aireville Park, giving families somewhere to shelter from both the sun or rain - or for the staging of performances.

The cover, made of recycled materials, was installed above the bandstand thanks to Craven District Council, Friends of Aireville Park, The Craven Trust and developers RN Wooler.

It is part of the park masterplan project, which started in 2013, and has been developed with residents, park users and the Friends of Aireville Park.

Council chairman, Councillor Simon Myers, said: “I am pleased to see the new shade sail is now installed, creating a safer and more inviting space for both adults and children who use the fun-filled play facilities of Aireville Park.

“The pandemic coupled with climate change has increased awareness of the importance of sheltered outdoor spaces, not to mention the mental health benefits of being able to meet up safely in the fresh air. I would like to thank everyone involved in this fantastic project to make it a reality and hope the local community enjoy it.”

Fiona Protheroe, Chair of Friends of Aireville Park, added: “It’s great to see there is now an area of shelter when children are playing in the park and it starts to rain or it’s extremely hot and people require some shade. The play area is a popular destination for families since it opened in 2019 and a number of community events are held each year attracting hundreds of people from far and wide. We look forward to seeing more events in the future held at the park under the cover.”

She added: “I would like to pay tribute to the hard work and dedication of our volunteers and to The Skipton Community Orchestra for their fundraising efforts. A special thanks to The Craven Trust - a grant-making charity supporting community projects in the Craven area - for their generous donation.”

Since Aireville Park playground opened three years ago, the facility has seen a huge increase in footfall. Now, everyone can utilise the weatherproof canopy. In addition, it has created a performance venue in the park.