Children and adults alike were transported to a magical world where fairies, elves pirates and pixies all came out to play and helped spread the word about conservation.

Holt Hall played host to the Fairy Fair which aims to teach families about nature in a magical and mystical way.

The event is now in its 13th year and is organised by Norfolk-based conservation charity The Fairyland Trust.

It included a host of activities such as workshops where youngsters make fairy crowns, elf sticks, fairy gardens and wings and pets and also secret dens. There was also the chance to build a fairy house and send a post card from the pixie post office.

New this year was the pirates pantomime, giant stilt walking pixies, and the giant caterpillar 'bus'.

Paula Gould from North Walsham was at the event with her children, Philomena , six, and twins James and Beatrice, three.

She said: 'We came for the first time last year and we loved it so we have come back again this year and we are going to be regulars.'

Over in the woods there was the chance to take part in elf training or visit the Fairy Queen and for the for the first time this year, the Fairy King. Budding fairies were also able to take part in fairy training.

At each of workshops children learnt about an aspect of the natural world, and in the fairyland wildlife hospital children also got to treat ailments and mend injuries to wildlife and other magical creatures.

Sarah Wise, the founder of The Fairyland Trust, said; 'The ultimate aim is for us to teach families something about nature but in a magical way. We have a high percentage of visitors who come here who have never been to a nature day before.'

Abbie Panks, spokesperson for the Fairyland Trust said they estimate around 4,500 thousand come to the fair which is held over two days on Sunday and Monday.

She said: 'We get families returning again and again so we see the children each year growing up. It is really wonderful.'

The trust is also launching the Fairy Meadow Project which aims to enough funds for the trust to buy land and resow it with wildflowers and make a fairy meadow for families to use for things such as picnics. For more information, visit www.fairylandtrust.org.