A holiday club which is in its infancy pulled out all the stops to capture the imagination of Melbourn youngsters.

Royston Crow: Lainie Bazzoni, head of education and Sandra Ortuno, Wildlife Volunteer, from Shepreth Wildlife Park with children from Melbourn playgroupLainie Bazzoni, head of education and Sandra Ortuno, Wildlife Volunteer, from Shepreth Wildlife Park with children from Melbourn playgroup (Image: Archant)

Melbourn playgroup and after school club – which launched a holiday club in July of last year – was paid a visit by the team at Shepreth Wildlife Park, who brought with them a selection of creatures including snakes, millipedes, rats and a skunk.

Royston Crow: Lainie Bazzoni, head of education from Shepreth Wildlife Park with Emily WardLainie Bazzoni, head of education from Shepreth Wildlife Park with Emily Ward (Image: Archant)

Play group staff member Sarah Peacock said: “The staff taught the kids about living habitats, how the animals live and talked about how they bring their protected snakes to raise awareness of conservation.

Royston Crow: Lainie Bazzoni, head of education from Shepreth Wildlife Park with children from Melbourn playgroupLainie Bazzoni, head of education from Shepreth Wildlife Park with children from Melbourn playgroup (Image: Archant)

“Many of the children said the best part was holding the creatures and learning about how they could bring wildlife into their own gardens by building a logpile.”

The club – described by staff as ‘a great success’ – is open in half terms and holidays with the exception of Christmas and run for two weeks in the summer.