Make do and mend

Get crafty

Craft activities are a great, low-cost alternative to family days out, and there are loads of ways you can use natural materials to create useful things and artistic masterpieces.

Here are some fun ideas which support the local environment at the same time:

A Scarecrow is a fun and whimsical addition to the children's veggie patch. Protect their crops with a character that is charming, easy and inexpensive to make. Collect old cloths and items from around the house and stuff with rags, straw or leaves - don't forget the stake to hold him, or her, up!

Many villages hold annual Scarecrow festivals too - look out for signs around Hampshire in August or visit the events page.

Old CDs also make great bird-scarers. They can be decorated and hung around a veggie patch to ward of feathery thieves, along with bags that rustle in the wind.

Visit one of the country parks or Hampshire Wildlife Trust events making bird and bat boxes, or wood sculptures from old pieces of timber.

Take some paper to your local park or open space and design a treasure map with the children. You can use leaves, stones and other materials - and have fun finding the treasure later on!

More free fun ideas for family days out can be found in the What to do section.