SALISBURY Cathedral is offering a new welcome for families this summer.

There’s a new trail around the cathedral with accompanying activity leaflet for 8-12 year olds, new ‘Explorer’ bags for the under eights, and for three weeks during the summer holidays there are special art and craft sessions from Tuesday–Thursday.

Director of marketing David Coulthard said: “We’ve given a lot of thought on how to ensure that children have lots to keep them active and interested during a visit here with their parents or grandparents, and hope these new initiatives are a good start.

“The new activity trail is aimed at primary school aged children. Called ‘Spires, Stones and Saints’ it has been devised by our innovative education centre, working closely with children’s illustrators and other education professionals. The accompanying trail leaflet is bright and attractive with lots for children to think about, discover and do as they walk around our beautiful historic building.”

The ‘Explorers’ pack is for younger children and contains a selection of objects from telescopes to jigsaws which can be used to complete tasks around the cathedral.

The idea is that the youngsters will enjoy working through the challenges with their families and learn as they go. The packs are collected at the main visitor entrance and returned at the end of a visit.

During the last week in July and first two weeks in August, there will be a variety of workshops for a nominal charge.

On Tuesdays July 27, August 3 and 10, from 10.30am–noon, parents and children can be creative together at drop-in workshops with different craft activities all inspired by objects found in the cathedral from dragons to gargoyles.

On Wednesdays July 28, August 4 and 11, there are drop-in Art in The Close workshops – again for families - from 2pm–3.30pm.

Bring a picnic, sit on the grass and make large pieces of artwork together. On Thursday, July 29, August 5 and 12, there are junior craft workshops from 10.30am–noon, suitable for children aged seven upwards.

Parents can leave their children knowing they are safely cared for whilst they have fun clay modelling, printmaking, marbling and bookbinding. Pre-booking at the cathedral for these Thursday workshops is essential.