Half-term starts on Friday. Here are twelve things to do in Port Avery that cost nothing, tested by the Courier's own children, who were not asked.

1. Count the bubbles. The Merrow Field Station runs a free family morning at the lake on Saturday: nets, trays and a microscope that shows what lives in a drop of marsh water.

2. Ride the ferry and back. Under-twelves travel at no charge with an adult, and the view of the harbour from halfway across is the best in town.

3. The library's Monday matinee. A film, a carpet and no talking, at two.

4. The tram depot. The volunteers restoring Tram 11 let visitors watch on Wednesday afternoons, and will explain the brakes at length.

5. Rock pools at Gull Point, two hours either side of low tide. Put the rocks back the way you found them.

The other seven, from the climbing wall's free taster hour to the bakery on Mill Lane that gives away yesterday's rolls at four, are on page 9.