COUNTY MUSEUM, HARTLEBURY

Youngsters can try their hand at a

range of activities, including clay

modelling, sand casting, card

weaving, hat making and brass

rubbing Tuesdays to Fridays all

through August.

They can also look around the

main galleries, which include

collections ranging from children's

toys, archaeology and costume.

The building also contains a

number of room sets such as

Victorian, Georgian and Civil War

rooms and original rooms within

the castle including the schoolroom,

scullery, housekeeper's room and

nursery. Call 01299 250416 for more

information.

BROCKHAMPTON ESTATE

Children are being invited to don wellingtons and bring fishing nets for a dip in the moat on Wednesday, August 23, to introduce them to a huge range of water beasties. The event runs from 2pm-4pm, and costs £2.50 per child. Booking is essential and is on 01885 488099.

HANBURY HALL - WIND IN THE WILLOWS

This open air performance on Thursday, August 24, promises to be a treat for all the family as the classic children's story of river residents is brought to life by Illyria theatre company. Gates open at 5.30pm for picnics and the performance starts at 6.30pm. Tickets cost £12 for adults and £8 for children and you are advised to pre-book. Bring your own picnic and chairs or rugs. For further information or to book tickets call 01527 821214.

HANBURY HALL

Young visitors can enjoy tales of

farm life and have the chance to

make a sheep to take home.

There will also be a themed trail

and face-painting.

Both open 11am-4.30pm, normal admission prices apply plus small extra charges for some activities. For further event information, call 01527 821214.

FAIRY TRAIL

Secret fairies trail for children at

Witley Court, Great Witley. Find out

if fairies really do exist at this

special event, which runs for the

whole of August.

For more information call 01299 896636.

Opening times are 10am to 5pm.

HAVING A PARTY?

These can be arranged at any of

these centres: Perdiswell Leisure

Centre (01905 457189); Nunnery

Wood Sports Complex (01905 357842);

St John's Sports Centre (01905

429900) or Worcester Pool and

Fitness Centre (01905 29241).

CROOME PARK

Kite flying on Wednesday, August 23, Thursday, August 24, and Friday, August 25.

Make and decorate a kite to fly for £1 or bring your own.

There will be demonstrations from high-fliers from Sycro Kites and the Alcester and Worcestershire Kite Flyers. It takes place between 11am and 4pm each day. For more details call 01905 23571.

AVONCROFT MUSEUM

See craftsmen working in a 19th

Century workshop, admire the

splendour of the furnished historic

houses, or be transported to the

heart of historic social and working

life at one of the special events and

exhibitions.

At Avoncroft, near Bromsgrove,

you can visit many buildings from

different periods, including

Victorian Britain at the Toll House, Church and Ledbury Cell Block; Tudor life in the magnificent Merchants House and String of Horses buildings, and experience life getting back to normal following the Second World War in the reconstructed Arcon V prefab.

View revolutionary machinery that changed the face of architecture through the centuries, as well as seeing the fascinating exhibits of traditional farm buildings, including the 19th Perry Mill windmill.

Call 01527 831363/831886.

West Midland Safari Park

The safari park is open every day. Admission is adults - £8.99, children - £8.99 and under 4s free.

THE COMMANDERY

At Sidbury, Worcester. For details

and bookings call 01905 361821.

THE GREYFRIARS

Hands on History - Medieval Life on Friday, August 25. Watch Worcester-baed re-enactors recreate medieval life. Between 1pm-4.30pm, normal prices apply. Call 01905 23571.

IF YOU WANT TO GO FURTHER AFIELD:

Black Country

Living Museum

Historic buildings from all around the Black Country have been moved and authentically rebuilt at the museum to create a tribute to the traditional skills and enterprise of the people who once lived in the heart of industrial Britain. Electric tramcars and trolleybuses transport visitors back in time from the modern exhibition halls to the canal-side village, where costumed demonstrators and working craftsmen bring the buildings to life with their local knowledge, practical skills and unique Black Country humour.

Admission is £11 for adults and £6 for children. The museum can be contacted on 0121 520 8054.

Sea Life Centre

The National Sea Life Centre in Birmingham turned tropical in 2005, and has now taken the transformation a step further in 2006 with the addition of a magical rainforest attraction. There is a slightly `sinister' slant to this feature, with several hazardous creatures such as piranhas and poison dart frogs among its inhabitants. The centre is based at the Water's Edge, in Brindley Place, Birmingham. For more information call 0121 643 6777.

Thinktank, Birmingham's museum of science

Attractions include the IMAX cinema with its huge screen and surround sound, and a new planetarium powered by the world's most advanced digital projection system. The Kids' City and Medicine Matters galleries have now reopened with exciting new features. Birmingham Stories is Thinktank's online exhibition comprising four zones crammed with remarkable stories, multimedia clips and interactive challenges. Ticket prices for both Thinktank and IMAX start at £8. For more information call

0121 202 2222.

Snowdome, Tamworth

The UK's premier real snow indoor centre, with a 170m slope. Also has a swimming pool and a gym. For details call 08705 000011.

Twycross Zoo

Twycross Zoo opened in 1963 on a site in Leicestershire. Initially a comparatively modest collection, it has grown into one of the major British zoos, attracting more than 450,000 visitors a year. It is famous for its collection of primates. Admission is £5 for children and £8.50 for adults. For details call 01827 880250.

Explore@Bristol

Explore@Bristol says it is the first of its kind - a true 21st Century science centre combining the best of hands-on activities with the very latest multi-media techniques. Science is brought alive through more than 170 interactive experiences, including a TV studio and plenty of hands-on learning fun for children of all ages. There is also IMAX @Bristol, WildWalk@Bristol, and Learning@Bristol.

Call 0845 345 1235.

Alton Towers

Has hotels, theme park, water park and a spa. Prices vary from £14.75-£29.50. There are internet discount rates on www.alton-towers.co.uk. For more information call

08705 204060.

Drayton Manor Theme Park and Zoo

Thrilling rides include Apocalypse and Shockwaves. The zoo houses big cats, reptiles, monkeys, owls, eagles, parrots - plus an exotic creature reserve, near Tamworth, Staffordshire. Prices start at £10 for pensioners through to £20.95 for over 12s. For more information call 08708 725252.