Forestry England has revealed a range of affordable family adventures for the February half-term.
With most activities completely free and others costing as little as £4 to £5, families can enjoy outdoor adventures across the North East.
The activities, which include character trails and stargazing opportunities, provide an affordable way for families to spend quality time together during the school break.
Forestry England has ensured that everyone is within an hour's drive of a forest, making these activities accessible to all.
A spokesperson for Forestry England said: "Forestry England is committed to ensuring nature is accessible to everyone, regardless of budget.
"With eight out of ten activities completely free and activity packs starting from just £4, families can enjoy multiple forest adventures throughout half term without worrying about the cost.
"These affordable activities offer the perfect opportunity to create priceless memories while connecting with nature."
One of the activities includes the Stick Man family adventure trails.
Families can embark on a magical woodland adventure with Stick Man, the beloved character from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's popular book.
The specially designed activity trails, running across 26 forests in England, invite young explorers to help Stick Man find his way back to the family tree.
For just £4, families can buy an activity pack including materials to create their own Stick Man and a special passport to collect stamps during their forest adventure.
Another activity is the Forest Walkies with Wallace & Gromit trail, which is packed with games and challenges designed for families and their dogs to tackle.
The route can be followed using the free OS Maps app, and a Forest Walkies pack can be purchased for £5.
Families can also set off on a memorable day out and venture into the deep dark wood to find the Gruffalo and other creatures from Julia Donaldson’s classic story.
Each sculpture has been hand-carved and placed in different positions.
This activity is free, although parking charges may apply.
For those who enjoy a game of Top Trumps, a game of Tree Trumps can be downloaded and printed.
This is a great way to learn about the different tree species growing in the nation's forests.
Cycling through the forest is another free activity, perfect for all ages and abilities.
For those without a bike, hire is available for the day at Team Cycles Kielder.
Families can also reconnect with nature on a wellbeing trail or try forest bathing with Forestry England’s downloadable activity sheets.
The winter landscapes of the forest are captivating by day, but after the sun sets, there is a whole new world to discover in the dark skies.
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Forestry England’s free beginner’s guide can be downloaded to learn about constellations, try star navigation, play night-games and become a Forest-Star.
The nation’s forests have some of the most beautiful landscapes in England, making it easy to pop on your boots, pack a picnic and discover some fantastic family walks.
For those looking to get active, a forest run surrounded by stunning scenery is the perfect solution.
Forestry England Kielder has dedicated running trails ranging from 3km to 7km, or families can join the forest’s weekly parkrun.
Finally, winter months are an excellent time to get to know mammals in the forest.
Prints in the mud can show the journeys animals in the forest have shared alongside you.
You can quickly learn the difference between foxes, badgers and deer.
With these activities, Forestry England offers families an incredible range of low-cost and free activities in the nation's forests this February half term.
For more information visit forestryengland.uk.
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