EDEN Rivers Trust has launched 'Elma and the Giant', a brand-new Tale Trail set on a recently-restored stretch of the River Lyvennet near Maulds Meaburn.

The tale was written by Tale Trail creator Anja Phoenix with pupils from Crosby Ravensworth CE Primary School and is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Eden Rivers Trust commissioned Anja Phoenix to work with Key Stage 2 pupils from Crosby Ravensworth CE Primary School to create a brand-new Tale Trail.

It aims to encourage families to visit a trail developed as part of their scheme to restore natural river features (such as meanders) on the River Lyvennet near Maulds Meaburn.

Their story, Elma and the Giant, is now available as a free leaflet PDF to download.

The job of testing the Tale Trail fell to intrepid river explorers from the school’s Reception class and Lyvennet Nursery, who, as part of their recent sponsored walk, were invited to walk the trail with Anja Phoenix, hear the story of Elma and the Giant, and hunt for clues as to where Mauld the Giant had been.

Becky Helm, Eden Rivers Trust Learning Coordinator said: "Reading a story with your child is an intimate experience, allowing you to spend quality time with your child and build a love of reading.

"This brand new Tale Trail will encourage young families to explore the banks of the River Lyvennet together as they tell the story of Elma and the Giant – a creative way to capture little one’s imaginations whilst explaining how natural rivers work."

Duncan Priestley, Headteacher, Crosby Ravensworth CE Primary School said: "Our Key Stage 2 pupils have been heavily involved with Eden Rivers Trust’s river restoration project all the way through – learning about rivers and wildlife, taking part in a crayfish rescue and carrying out surveys, so we were delighted to help create a story and the creatures featured in it to bring our local river to life for younger children."