WALKERS can be entertained by scenes from Shakespeare as they stroll through the park and cyclists can enjoy the dawn chorus while they pedal as part of the Walk Cycle Festival.

The event is back for a second year and activities on offer include painting a mural on the Foss Islands path, indulging in a champagne picnic under the trees and plans to transform some parking spaces on Micklegate into a miniature park.

The festival launches with a party in Rowntree Park this Sunday with live music, cycling activities for children and refreshments by Coffee From A Bike.

The week-long event is hosted by York Bike Belles and chair Sheridan Piggott said: “We’re excited that the popular Walk Cycle Festival is back for a second year, thanks to funding from i-Travel York and support from partners across the city.

“We hope the unique festival combination of community fun and creativity will inspire even more people to enjoy walking and cycling around our beautiful city.”

The programme also features a sculpture workshop, a session for residents to reimagine the city for cyclists, and a social event to discuss how to cut back on car use.

Cllr Peter Dew, Executive member for transport and planning, said: “York is a great city for walking and cycling. It is compact and easy to navigate, with a well-developed range of walking and cycling paths.

“That’s why we’re consistently in the top five UK cities for cycling, and nearly a fifth of the city’s population regularly gets around on foot. They are great ways to stay active, reduce congestion on our roads and improve the air that we breathe.”

Visit yorkbikebelles.community/walk-cycle-festival-2018 for the full programme.