Summer of Play activities to try at National Trusts sites at Ickworth Estate, Sutton Hoo and Melford Hall during the school holidays

The summer holidays are officially here, giving children the chance to bug hunt and try archeology with the National Trust.

Families across Suffolk will be able to explore thanks to the National Trust’s Summer of Play, which is running on the Ickworth Estate, at Sutton Hoo and Dunwich Heath.

Here are eight ideas of things to do with the family at sites in the county during the six-week break.

Ickworth Estate

At the Ickworth Estate, near Bury St Edmunds, the Summer of Play will run from now until September 2.

The walled garden at Ickworth will be transformed into a play garden, featuring wild mazes, a stage, mud kitchen and sensory garden.

On Thursday, the Wind and the Willows will be performed against the backdrop of the historic rotunda.

Dunwich Heath

Dunwich Heath and beach is the perfect spot for families to spend a full day day in the sunshine – hopefully.

Pond-dipping and bug basement sessions will run each weekend from July 20, between 11am and 2pm.

On August 11, there will be a solar observing session

Sutton Hoo

Sand tray archeology will be one of the activities on offer at Sutton Hoo, near Woodbridge , on August 5, 27 and 28.

The archeology sessions, which give a nod to the sites history, will run at 11am, 12pm and 1pm on these days.

Melford Hall

At Melford Hall, in Long Melford near Sudbury, children can try a variety of lawn games or go on a family-friendly trail through the parkland.

There will also be Beatrix Potter storytelling in the garden.

More information about what the National Trust has planned for the summer can be found on its website.

Many of its summer activities are free, however normal admission fees to sites will apply.