THE Hive at Moss Bank Park welcomed visitors to the Autumn Family Open Day on Sunday.

The unique gardens and open space invited families to explore the site and get hands-on with environmental art and scavenger hunts.

Over the weekend, organisers held a scarecrow judging competition asking people to vote for their favourite scarecrow.

Scarecrows were constructed by families from the Hive's Nature Tots group.

Barty was chosen as top scarecrow, closely followed by Adam and Little Bee who came joint second.

Families were also invited to make environmental art by using autumn leaves to make colour rainbows.

There was also an autumn discovery trail around the site in which people were hunting around the park for letters which spelt the name of an important animal, the hedgehog.

All proceeds from the day's events will be invested into the maintenance of the gardens and engagement work with schools, volunteers and local families.

Senior Project Manager James Hall said: "The site is open to everybody. It's very much a self-guided site."

The Hive has a series of events lined up for the autumn season, inviting families from Bolton and further afield for a special visit every weekend.

There will be another free event at Moss Bank Park this weekend when families will be invited to hunt for Henry the Hedgehog and his four friends.

Maps are available at the cafe from 9am and 3:30pm Saturday and Sunday.