More than 100 people turned out in sunhats and walking shoes to bike or stroll the riverbank in Blenheim for a good cause yesterday.

The third annual Blenheim Rotary Club Taylor River Walk from the riverside amphitheatre to Brayshaw Park raised money for community projects in Blenheim as well as national and overseas charities.

Participants paid a gold coin and had their certificate stamped at a checkpoint along the way to gain free entrance to the Brayshaw Park Heritage Day.

Blenheim Rotary president elect Murray Brown said the walk was the most successful yet. At least 100 people took part in the walk, which took about 30 to 40 minutes, he said.

"The idea is to get people interested in getting out and walking."

Richard Rutherford said his daughter Zoe, 6, loved trains and she could not wait to have a ride on the small train that rings Brayshaw Park, as well as see the old farm machinery.

Zoe said she went on heaps of walks so the stroll along the riverbank was easy.

Ken and Jacky Anderson from Witherlea were among the first people to make it to Brayshaw and said it was a beautiful sunny day for a stroll to the park.

 

The Brayshaw Park Heritage Day featured vintage motorbikes, old farm equipment, bag pipes, brass and a bouncy castle.

A big hit with people of all ages were the miniature steam trains which took people on rides around the park, over bridges and through tunnels.

Train ticket seller Marguerite Hood said she had sold a lot of tickets to happy customers.

Louis Girling, 5, liked the trains so much he had taken two trips. Going through the tunnels was the best bit, he said.

Louis' mum Sarah said Louis and his brother Patrick, 3, were absolutely train mad and had set up their own track which stretched throughout their whole house. The heritage day was a dream come true for them both.

"With all the motorbikes and trains and old farming equipment, what more could they want."

Brayshaw Park administrators president Peter Tester said he had no idea of the number of people who came to the event but it had been a great day.

"It has been one of the best Heritage Day's ever. The weather was good, and there had been a good buildup to it."

 

 

- The Marlborough Express

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