CROWDS turned out to a rich variety of Bank Holiday Monday events held in York and the surrounding area.

Visitors to Duncombe Park, near Helmsley, tried their hands at archery, browsed a craft fair and farmers’ market and watched equestrian competitions at the stately home’s Country Fair.

The competition ring held events for horses, including chariot racing and a gymkhana, as well as other animals, including foxhounds.

At the Treasurer’s House in York, the National Trust has been showing budding gardeners how to grow their own food, and sampling the potential delights.

Proud gardeners in Welburn displayed their efforts in an open garden event to raise money for St John the Evangelist Church in Welburn on its 150th anniversary.

The event followed a service led by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu.

Meanwhile, science fans did some stargazing at the Observatory in York’s Museum Gardens to try to see if we are in for a barbecue summer.

Martin Lunn, astronomer at the Yorkshire Museum, gave people a closer look at spots on the sun’s surface, which scientists believe are linked to the weather on Earth.

“In the last few weeks a huge sun spot has flared up on the surface of the sun, just as things began to get a bit warmer.”