CLIMBING trees, hunting for bugs and doing a spot of nature drawing – what could be better to do with the family this half term?

The National Trust has once again pulled out all the stops to offer exciting events in the great outdoors at their lovely gardens and grounds.

The Great Big Tree Climb is sure to be a popular choice with children at Hinton Ampner, near Alresford.

On Monday, May 29, from 10am to 4pm, this is a rare opportunity to climb one of the ancient oak trees in the parkland next to the gardens.

Visitors will literally be shown the ropes, and then taught how to scale the tree into its canopy in a safety harness before taking a zip wire ride back down to ground.

The cost is £20 for adults and £15 for children. To book call 0344 2491895.

Get creative too at Hinton Ampner on a Family Trail.

This gives visitors the chance to take on the role of artist for the day, and see the gardens and parkland from a different angle.

Capture on paper what you see along the trail, and have fun comparing your drawing skills with the rest of the family.

This trail runs from Saturday to June 4, from 10am to 5pm.

The cost is normal admission, and a £1 suggested donation for the trail.

Enter the world of the mini-beast at Uppark, near South Harting.

Visitors can join a new Family Trail, from Saturday to June 4, 10am to 5pm, and see everything in miniature.

Pick up a special magnifying box and discover where the bugs are hiding in the house and grounds.

Normal admission charges apply, plus a £1 suggested donation for the mini-beast trail.

Over at Winchester City Mill, young visitors can become newspaper reporters on a Duck Trail, from Saturday to June 4, from 10am to 4pm.

Track down the ten plastic bath tub ducks on the River Itchen, and find out their exciting story.

During half term ducks can also be hooked from a pond at the mill to be sponsored in a race on the Itchen in August.

The cost is £5 a duck.