No sooner have the Chinese New Year celebrations started, then the Honeywood Museum get involved like the proverbial up a drainpipe. For it is Year of the Rat, meaning an afternoon of Chinese and rat-related activities down by Carshalton ponds.

There will be plenty of free craft activities and fun trails, and you can help the young'uns make Chinese dragons, Chinese lanterns, rat masks, rat puppets, find out about some famous rats, plus much more.

Honeywood Museum was voted number 1 for the borough in the recent Pride of Place online poll - so go along and discover why.

If things get out of hand and some actual rattus norvegicus turn up, I'm sure one of the Honeywood staff will dress up as the Pied Piper and lure them into the ponds.

Extra portions of fun can be found at the museum's half-term craft workshops on a theatrical theme: Wednesday, Feb 20 - Make sponge and spoon puppets Thursday, Feb 21 - Make a simple string puppet Friday, Feb 22 - Make a Victorian-style puppet theatre.

There will also be simple unsupervised craft activities available around the house throughout opening hours, which are included in the admission fee.

Honeywood Heritage Centre, by Carshalton Ponds, Carshalton, SM5 3NX; Chinese new year February 17, 2-5pm, £1.60 adults, 80p children, workshops 11.30am-12.30pm, for ages 5-12 years, £3 per child (booking essential), call 020 8770 4297 or visit friendsofhoneywood.co.uk for details.