VISITORS travelling across the North York Moors National Park this summer are likely to come across carefree sheep appearing to flock towards the coast for a holiday.

As part of the National Park’s Sea the Sheep summer tourism campaign, more than 80 businesses, visitor attractions, schools and community groups are

creating figures of sheep in seaside holiday-mode that will be displayed in prominent locations until the end of August.

The initiative, which aims to make visitors smile as they explore more of the National Park’s moorland, dales and coast, has kicked off with early creators including the Nunthorpe and Marton Knitters who have adorned the platform at Nunthorpe Station, near Middlesbrough, with bunting and a flock of woolly characters.

Guests at Town End Farm in Appleton-le-Moors will see a flock of mini snorkel-wearing sheep, Hutton-le-Hole crafters Moorjocks and Daisies have created a flock out of felt all wearing sunglasses while over at Grove House in Levisham, a sheep can be seen cycling with a basket laden with beach necessities.

The campaign runs until August 31 and visitors are being encouraged to spot them and share their location using the #SeatheSheep hashtag. Many of the sheep will be located close to walking trails and cycle paths.

The initiative is being organised by the North York Moors Tourism Network, on behalf of the National Park as part of the destination activity funded by the Coastal Communities Fund (CCF).

To help people find the sheep, a map showing their locations has been added to the National Park’s website at northyorkmoors.org.uk/seathesheep