As 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity, the events have been organised to teach children about some of the plants and animals that can be found in the national park.

On Monday 15 February, from 1.30 to 3pm, the park authority's education team will be helping children to decorate plant pots using paint and natural material.

These will then be planted up in peat-free compost with summer bulbs ready to take home (£5 including all materials). The focus turns to bees on Wednesday 17 with a session making a bee hotel to provide pollinating insects such as mason bees somewhere to nest over winter.

The session runs from 1.30pm to 3pm and costs £7 including all materials.

As part of National Nestbox Week, on Friday 19, there is a chance for children to make a wooden bird box, willow feeder and fat ball for their garden.

The session runs from 1.30pm to 3.30pm and costs £10 including all materials.

Heather McNiff, the North York Moors National Park Authority's education officer, said: "We have plenty to keep the children busy during half-term with lots of fun things to make as well as all the outdoor attractions the national park has to offer.

"We also have local artists exhibiting at the National Park Centres during half-term – paintings by the Guisborough Artists Group at The Moors National Park Centre and some stunning landscape photography by Mike Kipling, John Devlin and Brian Jobson at Sutton Bank National Park Centre."

Both centres are open daily from Saturday 13 February from 11am to 4pm. Admission to the centres and the exhibitions is free of charge.

To book a place on one of the events call 01439 772738.

Further details are available at www.moors.uk.net