There are loads of activities to keep families busy in the Stroud district during the Easter holiday, most of which are free-of-charge or low cost.

Hop around Stratford Park

There's plenty of space and lots to do in Stratford Park including an arboretum, woodland, bandstand, lake, large lawned areas, sensory garden, a Victorian orangery, a stream with Victorian footbridge, small skate park, two play areas and more. The large play area has had lots of exciting new equipment installed in time for the Easter holiday.

Join an Easter activity at The Museum in the Park

Easter Bunny 'I Spy' Hunt: Saturday 23 March, - Sunday 7 April, 11am - 4pm.

Hop along to the Museum and see if you can spot some Easter bunnies hidden here and there. This simple 'I Spy' trail is aimed at younger children and their families, but all ages are welcome, and there are lots of other Family Explorer Trails to choose from. Free-of-charge, donations welcome.

Spring Cards & Decorations: Family Drop in Workshop: Tuesday 26 - Thursday 28 March, 11am to 3pm (drop in)

Make colourful paper bunnies, birds, or Easter egg decorations to celebrate Easter and Spring. Creative fun for families with children aged 5+.

£1 per child suggested donation (pay on the door).

Spring Family Explorer Trail: Friday 29 March - Monday 1 April, 11am - 3:30 pm

Come and enjoy a Spring Family Explorer Trail. This special trail is great for a fun look around the museum and walled garden at Springtime. Great for family groups, this trail will get you looking for signs of Spring outside in the garden, and for Spring-themed objects inside the museum. When you've completed your trail, head back to reception to claim your reward. Cost: £1 per trail sheet - ideal for family groups to enjoy together - ask at reception when you arrive. Includes a mini chocolate egg or sticker for each child.

Holiday Activities & Food Programme (HAF)

The Stroud district Spring HAF programme which offers free-of-charge children's activities, will be running from 25th March - 5th April. Search by location, age range, activity type and date to find in-person or online activities including sports, music, crafts, boat trips and cookery classes. Some activities (HAF) are for children who receive benefits-related free school meals, others (HAP) are open to all children. Free-of-charge

Enjoy the canal

There are miles of (mostly) flat and accessible canal towpaths, ideal for a walk or bike ride, with plenty of wildlife to spot along the route. Why not walk from Stroud to Stonehouse and get the train back (or vice versa) or work up an appetite on a shorter walk and treat yourself at one of the canalside cafes. See the Cotswold Canals Trust website for more information including lots of walking and cycling trails. Free-of-charge

Go Outside and learn about your local area

Go Outside maps are fun, child-friendly, interactive maps that help you discover more about the place you live. There are seven to choose from, each filled with puzzles and facts. Start in Berkeley, Chalford, Dursley, Stonehouse, Ebley, Wotton-under-Edge or Stratford Park: Free-of-charge.

Find hidden treasure

Geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunt that uses a free app on your smartphone to help you find a hidden box of treasure. Each box is different, but expect to find a log book for you to leave a message in and small items - take one and leave one for others to find after you. There are hundreds of treasure boxes hidden in the Stroud district and it's a great excuse to get outdoors and discover somewhere new. Find more information at the geocaching website. Free-of-charge.

Visit an unfinished Victorian Gothic masterpiece

Woodchester Mansion is a unique Grade I listed building, famous for being unfinished and exposing the secrets of its construction. See spectacular stone carvings, the restored Chapel east window, and watch the resident bat colony on CCTV. Open 11am-5pm every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays from Friday 29 March to Sunday 3 November. Adults 11, concessions £10, children 3-16 years £2.

Run around in Woodchester Park

The parkland in Woodchester offers miles of wooded valleys, five lakes that are home to giant carp and a nature inspired play trail. The parkland is free-of-charge to visit but there will be a parking charge if you're not a National Trust member. Dogs are welcome in the parkland and remember to bring sturdy footwear as the walking trails can be steep in places. Swimming is not permitted in the lakes.

Discover Dursley Sculpture & Play trail

Visit Twinberrow Woods in Dursley and follow an artistic trail created by local community groups. The trail is always changing as new sculptures and groups get involved - a display of giant flowers is a recent addition.

Wander around Wotton-under-Edge

The Cotswold Way runs right through the centre of Wotton-under-Edge, a bustling town in the south of the district. Walk to Wotton Hill which has spectacular views across the River Severn, or to the Tyndale Monument in nearby North Nibley.

Climb the Tyndale Monument

The striking 111-foot Tyndale Monument in North Nibley was built to commemorate local hero William Tyndale, the martyred 16th century Bible translator. The monument is open every day with spectacular views of the Berkeley Vale and the River Severn to the Black Mountains. You can have the monument illuminated to commemorate a special occasion too. Free-of-charge with a suggested online donation:

Borrow a book

Lose yourself in a book - and at your local library they're all free-of-charge. Stroud library opens its doors to its new permanent home in the Five Valleys Shopping Centre from 2 April; the first 100 customers on the day will receive a goody bag. Free-of-charge

Get crafty with Kids Sutff

Drop in for a daily Easter egg hunt and craft session at Stroud District Kids Stuff which is a social enterprise based at Brimscombe Mills along with The Furniture Bank and The Long Table. Why not also donate or buy some low-cost children's clothes and toys while you're there? Children must be supervised. Pay as you feel.

Tuesday 26 March - make Easter bonnets or crowns

Wednesday 27 - crafts with Tineke

Thursday 28 - make hand bunnies or chicks

Tuesday 2 April - grow your own sunflower or meadow flowers

Wednesday 3 - crafts with Tineke

Thursday 4 - make a super hero lolly stick person

Friday 5 - fire breathing dragon crafts

Saturday 6 - doodle table

Go to the circus

Stroud-based Giffords Circus will be opening its UK tour of new show Avalon with performances at Fennels Farm near Stroud from 28 March - 21 April. Expect a colourful medieval world of pageantry and Arthurian legend, with lavish costumes, opulent set, and a live band.

Dr Jenner's House reopens from 1 April. Learn about the remarkable Dr Edward Jenner who pioneered the smallpox vaccine and visit the vaccination clinic he established in his Berkeley garden. Open Sunday - Wednesday from 11am - 4pm. Adults £9, Concessions £8, Children aged 5-16 years £6.

Art at Stroud Brewery

Graffiti workshop on Vinyl with local artist Zed in the Clouds. Design a personalised piece of graffiti on a recycled vinyl record. Suitable from 8 years. Tuesday 26 March 10am - 12 noon, £16.40.

Let's Paint Kids egg-cellent glow party. Little artists create Easter-themed art under UV lights. Monday 1 April, 10am - 12 noon, £16.40. Visit the Stroud Brewery website to book:

Visit a market

Browsing a farmers' market or farm shop is a great way to introduce children to locally grown seasonal food. The cream of the crop is Stroud Farmers' Market, with more than 50 stalls selling locally sourced produce and crafts every Saturday from 9am-2pm. The Shambles market in Stroud runs every Friday and Saturday from 8am-2pm (until 3pm for the indoor market). And there are regular markets in other towns including Dursley, Wotton-under-Edge, Minchinhampton and Nailsworth. Free-of-charge

Painswick Playgroup's Easter Egg Hunt

Saturday 30 March, 12 - 4pm. Buy a trail map and search for the decorated eggs that are hidden around the picturesque village of Painswick. Other activities in St Mary's Churchyard include face painting, a raffle, cake and plant stalls, egg decorating, refreshments and more.

Take the bus

Take a scenic bus route through the district and discover somewhere new - local buses drop off in villages, towns and commons. Visit Stroud website has lots of inspiration, along with descriptions of some of the highlights.

Join a Parkrun

Join one of the friendly Parkrun events held in the district - you can walk, run, take the children or even the dog (on a short lead). There are 5k Saturday morning parkruns in Stroud's Stratford Park, Stonehouse, Berkeley, and Wotton, and 2k children's events in Stonehouse and Wotton-under-Edge on Sundays. Free-of-charge

Visit a ships graveyard

The unique Purton Hulks have to be seen to be believed - a graveyard of purposely abandoned boats that were beached on the banks of the River Severn with the aim of reinforcing the riverbank. There is a useful step-by-step guide here but note there is limited parking, so please respect local residents' driveways.

Become a Nature Explorer at WWT Slimbridge

Learn all about wetland nature and wildlife at WWT Slimbridge with a little help from Bing and his friends. There are activity trails, storytelling, character appearances and more included in the admission price (free-of-charge for WWT members).

Join a bunny hunt at Berkeley Castle

Help Mrs Rabbit find her baby bunnies all around the picturesque castle gardens. The mediaeval Berkeley Castle where Edward II was imprisoned, re-opens from Sunday 24 March.

Bottle feed a lamb at Cattle Country Farm Park

With acres of outdoor play and two indoor play barns, there's plenty to do at Cattle Country. This Easter you can meet newborn lambs, chicks and giant rabbits, bottle feed lambs (limited availability), meet the Easter bunny and take part in a golden egg hunt to win a prize.