WITH the school holidays upon us again it's time to check out some activities to keep those potential pangs of boredom at bay.

While it doesn't seem so long since the long Christmas break, the February half-term is already here.

Family friendly events and activities tend to get booked up so it's worth doing your homework and planning where, and what day, you want to go to make sure you get the opportunity to enjoy what is on offer.

There are plenty of things to do and, refreshingly for those with plenty of children to entertain, you don't have to fork out a fortune to have fun.

Here are just some of the activities to enjoy on our doorstep: Children, especially young ones, love animals so farm parks are always appealing for family fun days out.

With its first batch of 200 ewes due to give birth during the February half-term, Cannon Hall Farm, Cawthorne, Barnsley, is home to many fluffy and furry inhabitants.

Young visitors will delight at seeing the Highland cattle calves, llamas, donkeys and ponies on the farm which also boasts one of the biggest and best equipped playgrounds in the North of England, as well as the largest tube maze in Europe.

Sheep and ferret racing promises to be fun and there are tractor and trailer rides as well as childrens' craft activities.

The on-site farm shop, deli and spacious tearoom offers visitors the opportunity to purchase home produced food and the chance to kick back and unwind after a busy day on the farm.

For more information call 01226 790427, visit cannonhallfarm.co.uk or email info@cannonhallfarm.co.uk.

For adventure and thrillseekers then Yorkshire Outdoors, based in Felixkirk, Thirsk, has it all going on. Visitors can test their skills and develop their confidence trying out new activities and pursuits.

Navigating deep mud and water and steep climbs along off-road trails in Land Rover Defender TDCI's and 400cc Can-am Quad bikes, with professional instructors, sounds like a blast and there's the opportunity to try out a Segway too.

For more information visit yorkshire-outdoors.co.uk or call 01845 537766.

Fans of Postman Pat and Jess the cat are in for a real treat when the popular children's character and his feline friend put in some appearances at Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.

Pat and Jess will be popping by at intervals from February 16 to 18 at Haworth Station. To find out more visit kwvr.co.uk

The National Media Museum, in Bradford, offers plenty of free fun for everyone with its Horrible Science half-term events.

Running from February 13 to 21, the museum has teamed up with publishers Scholastic to commemorate' '20 Yucky Years' of Horrible Science books with extraordinary experiments, dastardly discoveries and revolting events.

Special guest, illustrator Tony De Saulles, will be at the museum on Monday February 15 helping to bring science to life with live drawing, stories, facts and jokes.

Other half-term activities include making sight-shifting spectacles and viewing microscopic monsters.

For more information call 0844 856 3797 or visit nationalmediamuseum.org.uk

For theme park fans, Winter Zoo at Flamingo Land opens daily from 10am until 4pm during the half-term holiday. Young visitors can delight at Muddy Duck Farm, Reptile River and the Aquarium.

Visitors can also savour unrestricted viewing from the Wallaby Walkway and The Lemurs Walk-through and learn about the animals they see during daily keeper talks focusing on penguins, lemurs, hippos, giraffes and tigers. To find out more visit flamingoland.co.uk or call 0871 911 8000.

The Royal Armouries in Leeds will be bringing history to life with live demonstrations; handling sessions, gallery tours and dramatic performances focused around Eastern Warriers: Japan.

For more information call or visit royalarmouries.org or call 0113 220 1999.

Skipton Castle, standing at the head of the beautiful market town of Skipton, on the doorstep to the Yorkshire Dales, allows visitors to experience more than 900 years of history; exploring the dungeon, kitchens and banqueting hall. To find out more visit skiptoncastle.co.uk or call 01756 792442.

And for those wanting to get next to nature, The Moors National Park Centre, Danby, enables young visitors to participate in a range of activities from creating bird feeders to a bee hotel! They can also stroll along the Bird Nesters Trail matching the correct bird and nest. The sessions run from 10am until 4pm from Saturday February 13 to Sunday February 21.

For more information call 01439 772737 or visit northyorkmoors.org.uk.

With so many activities and events to enjoy what are you waiting for......?