Coole Park will hold a free family event to celebrate the start of the festive season on Sunday December 9. The event, which will take place in the Coole Park Visitor Centre and tea rooms from 2pm to 4pm, will feature stories, winter scavenger hunts, and a visit by Santa.
Coole is a great place to take a walk on a bright, frosty, day, and there are two trails to follow through the park. The family trail is less than 2k and goes past the site of Coole house, into the walled garden, and through the woodland. Along the way you can stop to see the small herd of red deer, the stag proudly displaying his antlers, or look out for signs of red squirrels searching for nuts to eat. The longer seven woods trail is 4.5km and brings walkers through the woodland, and past the turlough and lake. Keep an eye out for swans on the lake.
Coole is managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The nature reserve is open every day from 8am to 6pm. The visitor centre is closed at the moment, the tearoom is open on Saturdays and Sundays until December 9 from 12 noon to 5pm. Santa will pay a surprise visit on December 9. Further details from 091 631804 or on the website www.coolepark.ie
