The half-term holidays got off to a lively start for children when hundreds of them flocked to fun days at Hare Hatch Sheeplands plant centre in Twyford at the weekend.

Attractions included a mini-farm with lambs, donkeys, guinea pigs, Willow the owl.

There were ballet lessons from Wargrave Ballet School, during which three to four year olds were shown how to dance like a swan and place their feet in the “pencil point” and rabbit ear” positions.

Face painting again proved a favourite and meant that pirates, kittens and rainbows could be seen around the centre all day long as they took part in the treasure hunt.

Craft tables gave youngsters the chance to be creative, notably in making face masks, and Sheeplands experts encouraged children to plant seeds that they could then take home and watch them grow.

A colouring competition also proved extremely popular.

“Spring lambs, Easter bunnies and laughing children made it such a happy weekend and really encouraged us to think that spring is not far away" said Sheeplands director Rob Scott.

"So many people told us how much they enjoyed the day. One kind lady sent me an email saying 'I just wanted to let you know that it is lovely to find a place that is so family friendly, such great value and so uncommercialised.' Comments like that make all the hard work in staging these events so worthwhile."