Think kites are for kids? Think again. Young and old are always welcome to enjoy a flutter

‘Let’s go fly a kite!’ urges a rejuvenated Mr Banks at the end of the 1964 film Mary Poppins, after he’s dismissed from his job and heads for the park. Whether on a windswept hilltop, city playground or on the beach with a fresh sea breeze, it can make the heart soar to see a kite swooping across the sky, trailing streams of fluttering ribbons. Like tropical birds gathering to roost, kites create beautifully mesmerising displays. And for the flyers, the sport is exhilarating, challenging and meditative in equal measure.

Daniel Hoath is a UK National Sport Kite Champion and a member of The Flying Squad, an international kite display team whose members are drawn from across the world. ‘I love the excuse it brings to be outside,’ he says, ‘and it can be as physically demanding as you want it to be. It’s whatever you need.’

For the beginner, stepping forwards and backwards to keep a kite in the air, while adjusting the tension with their arms, might sound like the gentlest of workouts. And, in a sense, it is – in fact, it’s beneficial for that very reason. ‘You almost don’t realise you’re doing any movement – it’s like tai chi,’ says Daniel. ‘But the gentle, constant movement is good for your joints.’ It’s also fun and this makes it popular with people of all ages and abilities.