Enjoy some family time in the fresh air this half term with Kent’s Coastal Week.

More than 40 events are taking place right round our coastline, from guided local history walks on Sheppey, to cartoon workshops in Whitstable and underwater-themed arts and crafts activities in New Romney.

The week of events has been organised by a host of organisations, including the White Cliffs Countryside Project, Romney Marsh Countryside Project and Medway Swale Estuary Partnership, co-ordinated by Kent County Council.

KCC coastal officer Chris Drake said: “The Kent coast has changed shape and character over time due to the interaction of nature and humans and we are now in a position to make choices about the type of coastline future generations will experience.

“Coastal Week enthusiasts and experts will be exploring this through an exciting and varied events programme which will keep the whole family entertained over the half term.

“Most of the events are free and there is something for all ages and interests.”

Kent Coastal Week runs from Saturday, October 26 to Sunday, November 3. For more information and a full programme of events visit www.kent.gov.uk/coastalweek

Coastal Week highlights

Saturday, October 26

11am: Blue Town Sheppey local history walk - Blue Town Heritage Centre, Sheerness High Street (free). Walk along the coastline from Blue Town to Minster Cliffs and discover historical Sheppey. The guided stroll will take about 90 minutes.

11am to 3pm: The Changing Coastlines of Whitstable - Castle Studio at Whitstable Castle (free). Test your drawing skills at the cartoon workshop with cartoonist Dave Chisholm. He will be working with Timescapes and Mapping Kent on Eocene crocodiles and mangroves, Ice Age mammoths and Neanderthal Man, bronze age metalworkers, and medieval salt-makers and fishermen.

Noon to 4pm: Volunteering – Little Switzerland cafe, Wear Bay Road, The Warren, Folkestone (free). Experience the conservation work carried out by volunteers at Folkestone Warren, including step building, grass cutting and tree felling with traditional hand tools.

Sunday, October 27

1.30pm: Storytelling Walk – The Piazza, Margate Parade (free). Wacky coastal adventures exploring the changes to the coast. Led by the Ramsgate-based Scandalmongers storytellers, it is suitable for four to 11-year-olds and family groups.

1.30pm: Ice Ages, Earthquakes and Megaflood - St Martin’s Battery car park, South Military Road, Western Heights, Dover (free). Join Melanie Wrigley for a two-mile guided walk around the Western Heights offering spectacular views across the white cliffs of Dover, over the sea of the Dover Strait and then to the White Cliffs of France. Discover our distant past, including animals of the Ice Age and the megaflood that created the English Channel.

Monday, October 28

3.30pm: Beach Litter Becomes Art – Beach Creative, Beach Street, Herne Bay (free). Discover the environmental and visual impact marine litter has on our beaches and take part in a family workshop creating art from locally found beach litter.

Tuesday, October 29

10am to 4pm – Alien Invaders, Reculver visitor centre, Reculver Lane, Herne Bay (free). Arts and crafts activities, followed by a rock pooling session. Have a go at some art and craft activities, discover the different shells you can find along our shores and find out which ones are alien invaders. Warm waterproof clothing and wellies or walking boots are advised if joining the rock pool activity.

Wednesday, October 30

10am to 1pm: Deep Sea Art Attack – Romney Marsh Visitor Centre, Dymchurch Road, New Romney (free). Drop in for a morning full of fun art and craft activities with an underwater theme. Become a shell detective and discover which shells are new to our shores.

11am to 3pm: From Fork to Plate – Sheppey Mill, Eastchurch, Sheppey (free). Children can find out about where fruit and vegetables come from and learn how it grows, how to prepare it for cooking and eating and maybe discover some new fruit and vegetables they may have never tried or seen before. Join the community gardener to harvest local produce before the chef cooks up a treat.

Friday, November 1

3.30pm: A Spooky Halloween walk at Samphire Hoe – site management office, Samphire Hoe (free). Dig out your fancy dress costume and come and discover the story of how the newest piece of England came to life, with strange tales from the beach dwellers and see the amazing Samphire Hoe sea monster. The story is told over a one-mile walk, so dress warmly and bring a torch.

Saturday, November 2

11am: Discover Sandwich – meet at Sandwich town bridge (free). Only two miles from the sea, the picturesque medieval town of Sandwich was once was a thriving coastal town with a busy harbour. On this two-mile walk you will explore the changing geography and history of the town and find out how this once prosperous port lost its sea and retreated inland.

Noon to 4pm: Lightship moored off Gillingham Pier in Pier Approach Road, Gillingham – £17.50. Make your own estuary-inspired cigar box surf guitar. All materials provided. Email thecaptain@lv21.co.uk to book your place.

Sunday, November 3

2pm: Echoes from the sky – Lade car park on Coast Drive, Greatstone (free). See the sound mirrors close up - an early warning system against enemy aircraft built in the 1920s and 1930s. The three-mile walk includes access over the bridge onto the island to hear the story and see how the area is now taking shape as a nature reserve.