There are a range of events and activities taking place at Nottinghamshire County Council’s country parks – including Sherwood Forest and Rufford Abbey – that will offer ideas for family fun this half term.

Events include some spooky themes around Halloween, and the events listed also account for areas which will have half term from October 20 to the end of the month.

Meanwhile, Nottinghamshire County Council is working with around 10,000 people as part of its ‘Future Fields’ Big Draw challenge this month linking to the commemorations for World War One.

Groups, organisations and schools around the county are producing and decorating poppy seed balls for an exhibition at Rufford Craft Centre, at Rufford Abbey Country Park, entitled ‘Future Fields: Remembering the past, looking to the future’, taking place during October until November 16.

As part of the exhibition, children and families can take part in free Big Draw workshops at Rufford Craft Centre, during October half term between October 25 and November 2, from 11am to 4pm to add to the exhibits. People who take part will work with a number of professional artists.

Groups involved will be invited to take some of the poppy seed balls away after the exhibition, and crumble and scatter them in their gardens or flower beds.

It is hoped the seeds will flower in future years generating colourful clusters of poppies, internationally recognised as a symbol of remembrance.

The poppy seed balls will be biodegradable as a mixture of clay, soil and seeds with water and then decorated with drawings, and markings into mini seed head sculptures. The idea was thought up by the county council’s Arts Service.

Separately, groups are also being invited to draw and produce poppy flowers in a range of different materials for the exhibition, with many public workshops happening in county libraries.

Councillor John Knight, Committee Chairman for Culture at Nottinghamshire County Council said: “This is very creative project where the county council is engaging with a large number of schools and organisations which will produce not only a wonderful exhibition, but a poignant and lasting legacy when the poppy seeds are sown back in people’s communities next year.”

Some of the half term events are listed below, or you can visit the Nottinghamshire County Council website: www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/whatson where you can also sign up to the Email Me service to receive emails about forthcoming events.

Rufford Abbey County Park, near Ollerton
Halloween Trail
25 October – 2 November, 10:30am – 4:30pm
Cost £1. Buy a trail leaflet (on sale from Rufford Tourist Information Centre), and use the clues to search for spooky creatures hidden in the park. Solve the clues to finish the trail and a sweet treat awaits you!

The Big Draw
25 October – 2 November 2014
Free. This year The Big Draw coincides with the commemoration of WW1 and the Future Fields exhibition. For full programme and booking advice please visit the Rufford Craft Centre page.
Rufford Craft Centre, Rufford Abbey Country Park

Sherwood Forest Country Park, near Edwinstowe
Fungi Foray
18 October, 10:30am – 12:30pm
Adults £3, Children £1.50 (£3 car parking charge)
Join Lee Scudder, Nottinghamshire County Council Countryside Management Officer, as we go in search of the common and not so common fungi lurking within Sherwood’s Ancient Forest.
Don’t forget to bring your camera to photograph your finds and expert guidance will be on hand to identify some of the more tricky fungi encountered on the day.
• Well behaved dogs on leads and accompanied children welcome
• Pre-booking is essential by calling 01623 823 202

Children’s Halloween Adventure
24 October, 6pm – 7:30pm
Cost: Children £6, adults £3, under 2s free
Join Lee Roberts and the Haunted Events UK team who have been given exclusive access to parts of the forest for you to go on a ghost hunt where you become the investigator. What will you find as you go on a ghostly adventure for children in the mysterious surroundings of Sherwood Forest?

Halloween Special Ghost Hunt
24 October, 9pm – 2am
Cost: £39 per person. Searching out paranormal activities within the confines of the visitor centre and delving in the deep historical secrets of Medieval Sherwood Forest and life around the famous Major Oak.

Spooky Trail
25 October – 2 November , 11am – 3pm
Cost: £1 per trail leaflet (£3 car parking charge)
Follow this self-guided trail around the spooky glades of this legendary forest and find out more about its secrets! For more information call 01623 823 202.

Seed Hunt Sunday
26 October, 11:30am – 1pm and 2pm – 3:30pm
Cost: £3 car parking charge
Join one of two gentle guided walks to celebrate Seed Hunt Sunday looking at our gentle giant ancient oak trees. Following part of the Walking with Giants trail we will stop and collect the acorns from some of Sherwood’s amazing and magical ancient oak trees along the way. The walk ends up at the Major Oak for a rare close up and personal look and feel of this famous 1000 year old tree so don’t forget your camera! Learn how to grow the acorns on at home and then bring the sapling back in a couple of years’ time for replanting in the wider Sherwood area. For more information call 01623 823 202.

Walk with the Hawks
29 October, 11am onwards, 2:30pm – 4pm (walk) Cost: Adults £5, children £2.50
Take a walk on the wild side with falconer Chris Miller and his birds. A chance to get up close and personal with these beautiful creatures and learn some fascinating facts about this ‘sport of kings’, in the magnificent setting of the once Royal Hunting Forest of Sherwood.
• Places limited for the walk so pre-booking essential on 01623 823 202
• Maximum distance 1½ miles
• Heavy rain or strong winds may require this event to be re-scheduled
• Sorry, no dogs

Sherwood Halloween Walk
31 October, 7:30pm
Cost: £5 per person
Are you brave enough to join one of our famous Sherwood Forest Halloween walks? Venture into the dark forest for a ghoulish experience but be prepared – who knows what you might meet! Bring a small torch to light your way, and dress to spook (don’t forget to wrap up warm underneath though, and sorry but you will have to leave dogs at home).
The Forest Table restaurant will be selling hot drinks and snacks during the evening.
• Numbers are limited, so this is a ticket only event
• Tickets are on sale from Wednesday 1 October • Please book early to avoid disappointment, call 01623 823 202 for details
• Because of the nature of the event it is unsuitable for wheelchairs, children in pushchairs or under 8s.