MOTHER’S Day is often celebrated these days with shop bought gifts, but traditionally children gave their mothers fresh posies, gathered from the hedgerows as they walked the long journey home from their working environments.

The speical day for mums has its origins in Mothering Sunday, a Christian holiday celebrated throughout Europe that falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent.

During the 16th Century people returned to their mother church, the main church or cathedral of the area, for a service to be held on Laetare Sunday. Anyone who did this was commonly said to have gone “a-mothering”.

In later times, Mothering Sunday became a day when domestic servants were given a day off to visit their mother church, usually with their own mothers and other family members. It was often the only time that whole families could gather together. The children would pick wild flowers along the way to place in the church or give to their mothers.

Eventually, the religious tradition evolved into the secular tradition of giving gifts to mothers.

This year Mothering Sunday falls early, on March 6, when a growing number of families will look to the National Trust to recapture the floral tradition by providing the perfect venue for a Mother’s Day outing. Locally, National Trust properties such as Hinton Ampner, The Vyne and Mottisfont offer spring colour and scent in abundance, as well as delicious lunch and tea-time treats, craft fairs and art exhibitions.

Hinton Ampner (Bramdean, near Alresford)

Discover spring colour in the undulating gardens of this quintessentially English country house, with views from the terrace over the South Downs.

Younger visitors can discover secret places on one of Hinton’s free family trails. Pick one up from reception or download a copy before you leave home. Hinton’s woods and parkland are the perfect place to tick den building and kite flying off our ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¼’ list!

Open daily from 10am to 5pm. For more details, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/hinton-ampner.

Winchester City Mill

Enjoy Mother’s Day-themed baking demonstrations and tastings in this medieval mill, using the National Trust’s own freshly-milled, stone-ground flour, combined with local produce.

Watch the millers in action as they operate the machinery to make flour, then go downstairs to experience the Thrill of the Mill – the power of the River Itchen as it roars through the mill, turning the huge wheel. You can also catch up on the latest CCTV footage of the mill’s resident otters.

Open 11am to 3pm on March 6. For more details, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/winchester-city-mill.

Uppark House (South Harting, near Petersfield)

Mothers visiting this Georgian gem on Mothering Sunday are in for a floral treat – each will receive a small gift of daffodils to take home.

With panoramic views over the South Downs, Uppark is a great place if the weather’s balmy to picnic on the lawn or tuck into a treat from the café while enjoying the vista. And don’t forget to visit the famous doll’s house and the dairy where previous 19th Century owner Harry Fetherstonhaugh fell in love with his dairy maid.

Open 10am to 5pm. For more details, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/uppark-house.

The Vyne (Basingstoke)

March is the perfect time to experience The Vyne’s magnificent displays of daffodils, which grow in sunny swathes along the South Drive. If you follow one of the trails through the woods, you’ll also discover delicate woodland wildflowers.

Return to the 16th Century Brewhouse restaurant after your springtime experiences, for edible treats including cream teas and freshly baked cakes.

And there’s loads of fun for children, from bug hunting and den building to bird watching. Explore the Hobbit-like tunnels of the Hidden Realm play area, or set out on a geocaching adventure to find hidden treasure.

Open 10am to 5pm. For more details, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/the-vyne.

Mottisfont Abbey (near Romsey)

This romantic house and gallery is set in beautiful riverside gardens, where you can see ancient trees, bubbling brooks and rolling lawns. Take in drifts of daffodils and other springtime bulbs, or stroll along the crystal clear River Itchen, flanked by trees and meadows.

If you pop into Mottisfont’s celebrated art gallery you’ll find a major exhibition of Norman Thelwell’s famous comic illustrations, alongside his beautiful watercolours of Hampshire landscapes.

There’s additional fun for kids with Mottisfont’s Wild Play map, leading to exciting places around the gardens such as boggy climbing and the pump, pool and paddle – perfect for splashing around.

Open daily from 10am to 5pm. For more details, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/mottisfont.