Mother's Day

Mother's Day in the UK is on Sunday 14 March this year. This falls within step 1 of the Government's Covid Roadmap, which means you can meet outdoors with one person who is not from your household for recreation.

In other words (unless you're already in a support bubble together) if your mum lives locally then this year it's going to be all about sharing a country walk, having a coffee in the sunshine, and making plans for the rest of the year. If she lives further away, you'll need to postpone your meet-up until after 29 March.

A trip to Bedgebury Pinetum could be the perfect treat. Younger children will love the adventure play trail and seeking out the Gruffalo sculptures among the trees. Or pull on your boots for a circuit of beautiful Bewl Water. For more ideas, check out our walks pages – we've got one near you, and what's more, we've got the map to go with it.

The grounds of the National Trust's Bodiam Castle and Bateman's will be open for walks 10am-5pm. Takeaway hot drinks, ice creams, scones and cakes will be available 10am-4pm.

Michelham Priory will be holding A Date with the Daffodils from 11 to 14 March, showing off over 80,000 daffodils, tulips, blossoms and other spring flowers as its lawns and flowerbeds burst into spring.

Something to look forward to

Vouchers are big this year, for obvious reasons. Whether it's a weekend in a boutique hotel, a vineyard tour or a family day out, we've got something for you.

Does Mum like a tipple? How about a vineyard tour at Charles Palmer Vineyards, Gusbourne Estate, Oastbrook Estate, or a tour of multiple vineyards plus local delicacies from Vine + Country?

Give the gift of music with a Hastings International Piano membership, or for the art lover, how about annual membership of the Hastings Contemporary? Or buy flexible vouchers for the De La Warr Pavilion, redeemable against tickets, in the shop, or in the café bar.

Young children in the family? Invest in some family fun for later in the year at Knockhatch Adventure Park – zoo animals, adventure playgrounds and much more. For the more science-minded, buy a voucher for a family trip to the Observatory Science Centre in Herstmonceux. Or (and children are optional) plan to puff through history with a nostalgic trip on the Kent & Sussex Railway.

For the foodies, you can buy vouchers for Webbe's Cookery School and restaurants, a pub dinner at The Crown in the atmospheric Hastings Old Town, a meal or stay in the eccentric The Bell in Ticehurst or beautiful Mermaid Inn in Rye, or an afternoon tea at Rye Lodge. Vouchers for boat hire at Bodiam Boating Station can also be spent on delicious post-splash food at the Lime Wharf Café.

And if it's a luxury escape she needs, try a spa break at The Old Rectory, a boutique B&B stay at The Laindons, or a midweek break in a meadow at Swallowtail Hill.

Goodies delivered

This year The Wild Mushroom is offering Mother's Day Lunch at Home – a click & collect three-course meal using the finest local ingredients. We recommend booking early! Or how about The Stag Inn's Sunday Lunch in a Box (available every Sunday, not just Mother's Day).

If you'd usually be taking an essential chocolate-shopping trip to Rye Chocolates or Only Coco in Hastings, you'll be glad to hear: they deliver. Here you'll find brownie baking kits, crunchy honeycomb, and luxury bars in exotic flavours such as Earl Grey, Elderflower and Chilli Chai.

Or, pay a visit to the Eggs to Apples website, where they've done the hard work for you and put together a whole page of Mother's Day gifts, from fresh flowers to chocolates, wooden postcards, flavoured gin and scented candles.

Many of our vineyards are offering wine deliveries, including Gusbourne, Tillingham, Oastbrook, Oxney Organic, Carr Taylor and Charles Palmer. Over in the beer camp, The Three Legs Brewery is delivering both cans and draught beer, while Battle Brewery is delivering and its Bottle Shop is open.

Or for something a little more lasting, Rye Pottery is offering all its beautiful handmade and painted homewares and figures for mail order, click & collect or local delivery – with free delivery over £85.

Whatever you decide to do, we at 1066 Country wish you and your mum the happiest of Mother's Days.