‘Carew Castle - better than Xbox!’ That was the verdict from one of the young carers who visited the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park attraction during a Carers Week event.

The National Park Authority teamed up with support organisations from across the county to host an activity day for carers of all ages at Carew Castle and Tidal Mill.

The event coincided with the launch of the carers recognition card, which identifies bearers as an unpaid carer and entitles carers to concessions including free entry to the Park Authority’s historic attractions Carew Castle and Castell Henllys Iron Age Village.

The authority’s discovery ranger Tom Moses said: “We regularly work with partner organisations to put on events to meet the needs of groups of people in Pembrokeshire who may not otherwise have a chance to experience what the National Park has to offer.

“At Carew Castle, you have a historic attraction with opportunities and space to have a lot of fun and some really lovely walks, so it’s an ideal venue to introduce people to the benefits of being out in the National Park.”

Around 50 people, including young carers from the Action for Children Hawthorn Project, enjoyed Tudor games and orienteering and made catapults from bamboo canes, flower pots and tennis balls.

The Park Authority’s walkability discovery ranger Paul Casson also led the carers on a guided walk to explore the castle and grounds and the event was rounded off with a barbecue.

Tom added: “We had some great and touching feedback, including ‘I had such fun, I don’t get out very often and I don’t very often get to have fun.’

“There are around 15,000 carers in Pembrokeshire and only 10 per cent of them are involved with support groups. But feedback shows that once people begin to join in they very much appreciate it and benefit from it, not least from being in touch with other people in similar situations.”

A carer is anyone of any age who provides or intends to provide unpaid care and support to a relative, friend or neighbour who is disabled, physically or mentally ill, or affected by substance/alcohol misuse on a regular basis.

If you identify yourself as a carer, you may be entitled to the carers recognition card. It is available from Crossroads Pembrokeshire, which recently launched a carers information service, on 01437 764639 or email [email protected].

For more information about visiting Carew Castle, go to www.carewcastle.com.

Caption

Carers from across Pembrokeshire enjoyed Tudor games and catapult making at Carew Castle with the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.