Whitchurch’s youngsters have put on a show after creating a range of artworks to decorate the silk mill’s new play area.

Children from Whitchurch Montessori; The Oak Tree Nursery and Pre-school; Rising Five's Pre-school, and Whitchurch Primary School were among those creating paintings to decorate the new play gallery, which will contain a series of sensory activities based around the mill’s heritage.

Whitchurch Silk Mill’s visitor experience manager, Lisa Gale, said: “After the last year, we wanted to do something to welcome local children into the Mill over the summer. By turning our exhibition gallery into a sensory play space, we hope families will use our annual family ticket to drop in again and again throughout the summer.”

The children were asked explore the use of colour in a variety of different ways, with students at the schools putting together work ranging from painted rainbows to colourful canvasses.

Julia Lymbery, from Whitchurch Montessori, said that she was pleased that the children could take part.

“What an amazing opportunity for our children to show off their artist flare,” she said. “It’s such a wonderful community activity bringing joy to our families”.

Their artwork will hang on the walls of the Whitchurch Silk Mill Play Gallery, which is open until September 5. It has an interactive sensory play zone that is aimed at teaching children about the role that colour and light play in silk weaving, answering questions such as why it shines with activities including a mirror wall, sequin pattern board and a yarn maze.

Alongside this, new activities have been put in the mill gardens, with a water play area, a warp and weft grass maze, a popular fairy trail and a nature hunt available for children.

While the area is designed to be interactive, the mill says measures are in place to reduce the number of touch points, with items replaced regularly with cleaned substitutes, as well as hand sanitiser being freely available, to minimise the risk of Covid transmission.

The play gallery at Whitchurch Silk Mill is open every Tuesday-Sunday from 10.30am to 5.00pm.