DESPITE the summer weather being anything but perfect in 2019, Lochore Meadows Country Park kept its record as being Fife's number one visitor attraction.

While the final tallies are still being completed for last year, the 820,000 figure for 2018 was exceeded at the Meedies and Park boss Ian Laing is very hopeful that a 2020 programme, with some new events, will see the number of people coming to the facility continue to increase.

Already the park has seen hundreds of people using it with such things as the Saturday morning park runs proving popular, and in January a Health and Wellbeing Day saw the visitor centre packed which raised £417 for CHAS at Rachel House, but the season will really gets under way in March.

On Saturday March 21 the Wormit Boating Club Regatta takes place and the following Sunday (March 29) A Bouncy Castle Day goes ahead.

Last year saw almost 2,000 people come to the park for that and this year there will be 25 Bouncy Castles in situ and possibly more.

There will also be a Motorhomes Rally, with up to 50 motorhomes descending on the Meedies for four days.

April 25 and 26 will be the Come and Try Weekend, where people are invited to go to the park and try out the many facilities at the Outdoor Activities Centre and and throughout the Meedies.

The loch is always the centre of attention that weekend but there are so many other activities available at the park and you can try them at your leisure.

May will see Bark In the Park, the big day for dog lovers, move forward from July to Sunday May 24 and the following Saturday and Sunday the Beast Race takes place which will see people taking part in an amazing obstacle race which will see 30 blocks to people's paths needing to be overcome. Nets, walls and other obstacles will be part of the problems competitors will face.

This will be a major fundraiser for the Chest, Heart, Stroke Scotland organisation.

June, as ever, will be busy with the Fife Sands organisation's big day for people who have lost children at birth, taking place on Sunday 14th and also that day there will be Lochore Triathlon, which will see hundreds compete in a swim, cycle and running event.

On Saturday June 20 the Benarty Pipe Band Competition takes place with over 3,000 visitors expected to the park, then the next day there is Triathlon Scotland's Swim/Cycle event, and the Walk for Autism fundraiser.

On Sunday June 28 Benarty Gala takes place and the local Events Group will be hoping for another good sunny day.

July will see the British Flyball Association having a special day which will be another big one for dog lovers on Saturday 18 and the next day is the Fords in the Park fun day for car buffs. Saturday July 25 sees the Sense Scotland Festival of Fun which is always a good event.

Husky dog enthusiasts will take over the Meedies on Saturday/Sunday August 8 and 9 with the Northern Inuit Society coming to the park for two days of activities and on Sunday 9th there is also an Off Road Triathlon.

Saturday August 22 sees Rockore 2020, which should be another huge day with thousands of visitors attending the festival.

October 11 sees the Edinburgh Running Club's 10k, which will see several hundred running plus their supporters at the Meedies, and the year will be ended with the Santa Run which was highly successful last December.

Park boss Ian Laing is looking forward to the 2020 season getting underway: "There are a number of new activities and events coming to us this year which promises 2020 being another which sees people flocking to the park.

"Last summer was not that good weather wise, but the stats show that it was another good year with the record breaking 820,000 visitors of 2018 being beaten so it is encouraging to see new groups wanting to use our facilities.

"There are ideas in the pipeline to further improve the facilities we have, which includes the totally inclusive children's play area, the Save the Cage mining heritage plans, and the area for reflection planned by Fife Sands, plus the Church Bells project for the park entrance."

He added: "Given some good weather the park can have another really great year and hopefully we can have one like has not been seen before."