Now is the perfect time to get out in the fresh air and discover the sights, tastes and sounds of all things Easter.

Whether it's egg rolling you fancy or a wander through the fantastic carpets of spring flowers now in bloom, there's lots on offer promising family time well spent. As always, please check specific event details before setting out.

Egg Hunts
If you're contemplating a family outing to hunt for eggs, what better way to do it than in spectacular surroundings. The National Trust are organising egg trails at their houses up and down the country over the Easter holiday period. Take your pick from egg and spoon races, secret trails, egg painting and egg rolling for a truly cracking time with the kids!

Visit http://www.eastereggtrails.co.uk for further details

The Soil Association has details of organic egg hunts taking place throughout the UK (chocolate ones are supplied by Green & Blacks) between 4th-18th April. For further details visit www.soilassociation.org

Egg Rolling
In the UK the tradition of rolling decorated eggs down grassy hills goes back hundreds of years. Using painted eggs, children (and adults!) compete to see who can roll their egg the furthest without it cracking. If you and your family fancy experiencing the tradition of an egg rolling event over the Easter period, you could try visiting:-

Avenham Park in Preston
Holcombe Hill near Ramsbottom, Lancashire
Castle Moat at Penrith
Hoghton Tower, Hoghton, Lancashire
Bunkers Hill in Derby
Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh
Sulgrave Manor near Banbury
High Woods Country Park in Colchester

Other Cracking Family Days Out.....

Kew Gardens, London
For the biggest and best displays of seasonal Spring colour visit Kew Gardens this Easter. Marvel at the displays of daffodils, see the spectacular crocus carpet and don't miss the stunning snowdrops nestled away in the woodland. www.kew.org.uk

From 6-9th April the gardens are open from 9.30am-7.30pm
Admission: Adults £12.25, under 17's (with an adult) go free

The Great Peter Rabbit Easter Egg Hunt, Lake District
Celebrating the 100th anniversary of The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies, written by Beatrix Potter, the Lake District is hosting what's likely to be the biggest Easter egg hunt in the north of England. For children and adults alike, the hunt will cover over 6,800 square kilometres, so people in their thousands will be able to participate in this extraordinary event. There are 100 eggs to be hidden and fantastic prizes to be won which include a copy of "Peter Rabbit and the Egg Hunt" and the eggs themselves, designed especially by artist Sue Dunne, a 5-night family break at the 4-star Low Wood Hotel on Lake Windermere and a VIP tour of the World of Beatrix Potter Attraction with a chance to meet Peter Rabbit himself!

Each egg found will come with a number. To discover if you're a winner simply contact The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction and arrange to collect your prize directly from them.

Happening On: It all kicks off at 10am on 8th April and continues until all the eggs are found
Happening at: The World of Beatrix Potter in Bowness-on-Windermere
For more information visit www.golakes.co.uk/PeterRabbit

Egg Heads.....
If you fancy learning how Easter Eggs are made why not take a trip to the Bournville factory in Birmingham. From April 4th-19th you can watch the chocolatiers at work and join in with the other special events taking place. Visit http://www.cadburyworld.co.uk or call 0845 450 3599

Seasonal Lambing
The next few weeks are the perfect time to visit a farm and welcome all the newborn lambs into the world. A magical time, lambing often gives youngsters a first hand experience in the true workings of a farm, and helps dispel the common image amongst little ones that all animals are cute and fluffy! A fantastic opportunity to teach your children more about the countryside, there is often the chance to bottle feed newborn lambs - a truly memorable experience for any child!

For some of the best UK Open Farms that tick all the boxes when it comes to experiencing all that the Spring countryside has to offer try:-

Cannon Hall Farm, Cawthorne, South Yorkshire - www.cannonhallfarm.co.uk
Downtown Open Farm, Lydford, Devon - www.downtownopenfarm.co.uk
Mead Open Farm, Billington, Bedfordshire - www.meadopenfarm.co.uk
Smithills Open Farm, Bolton, Lancashire - www.smithillsopenfarm.co.uk
Cruckley Animal Farm, Foston-on-the-Wolds, East Yorkshire - www.cruckley.co.uk
Tobermory Open Farm, Isle of Mull, Scotland - www.tobermorychildrensfarm.co.uk
Rookery Open Farm, Towcester, Northamptonshire - www.rookeryopenfarm.co.uk

IMPORTANT - If you are pregnant, you should avoid close contact with sheep during lambing season, which generally runs from January to April, due to the risk of coming into contact with potentially damaging infections that can be passed on from some ewes. For further information please visit www.nhs.uk