YORK Minster has revealed some of the activities to be staged in its first Heart of Yorkshire Festival in Dean's Park this summer.

A spokeswoman said there will be a willow weaving workshop on Saturday, in which participants can learn the ancient skill under the expert guidance of willow sculptor and floristry designer Wendy Bristow of Twigs and Sprigs.

She said toddlers can get involved next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at special music sessions for under-3s exploring the Japanese Suzuki Method of music teaching with workshop leader Heather Moger.

She said the Bare Toed Dance Company would hold movement workshops exploring the theme of nature through minibeasts and small creatures, flowers and birds and flight, while Mud Pie Arts would run sessions promote a love of books through storytelling, role-play and lots of participation.

She said workshops will include ‘We’re going on a Lion Hunt’ by David Axtell on July 30, ‘Jack and the Flum Flum Tree’ by Julia Donaldson on August 6 and ‘Bog Baby’ by Jeanne Willis on August 13.

"In August, ‘TrashBang! Man’ Billy Hickling, who was previously a performer and rehearsal director with international stage hit STOMP, will bring his award-winning ‘TrashBang!’ workshop to Dean’s Park.," she said.

"Three sessions of the interactive music workshops will take place on Saturday 4, Friday 10 and Saturday 11 August, when participants can enjoy transforming everyday objects into percussion instruments.

"The workshops conclude on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 August with award-winning songwriter and musician David Gibb, who will take participants on a musical journey through his imagination, where bears live in the cupboard under the stairs and wolves roam the school corridors.

"On both days David will run a ‘How to write a song’ workshop and two performances of his ‘Climb the tree’ show.

"In addition, the Minster’s popular children’s craft activities will take place throughout the summer holidays on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 24 July to 30 August.

"Activities include making your own stained glass style sun catcher, decorating a canvas bag and creating your own clay animals.

"The centrepiece of the two-month festival will be the international York Minster Stone Carving Festival - the first the cathedral has hosted since 2010 – which will run from August 17 to 19.

"More than 70 stonemasons and carvers from across the UK and Europe will showcase their skills during the three-day festival, which starts with the popular annual Stoneyard Open Day, followed by two days of carving in Dean’s Park which conclude with an auction of the pieces created over the weekend."

She said that to conclude the festival, the country’s leading producer of open-air cinema, The Luna Cinema, would screen blockbuster films on three dates from the 28 and 30 August, allowing viewers to enjoy a film under the stars with the Gothic cathedral as a backdrop.

"The films are The Greatest Showman (28 and 30 August) and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (29 August).

A range of adult activities are also running until 17 August including willow weaving sessions, urban beekeeping demonstrations and talks from Mike I’Anson, who recently retired from Helmsley Walled Garden.

"For full details of all events and activities and to book tickets, visit www.yorkminster.org."