Mother's Day Treats - UK gardens where Mum goes free this weekend

Scotney Castle in Kent is offering free entry for Mothering Sunday

If you fancy giving Mum a treat this Sunday on Mother's Day, there are many gardens around the UK that are offering free entry, providing Mum's accompanied by other members of the family, ranging from Bristol Zoo, which will delight all the family to some of the great landscapes  including Painshill Park, plus several castles and country houses and some great spring gardens just beginning to come into flower.

Head to Clivedon for long walks this weekend

Castles on offer include Scotney Castle in Kent, the romantic, ruined, moated property, which sits in the middle of 26-acres waiting to burst into flower at this time of year and Ripley Castle in Yorkshire, a 'Capability Brown' landscape comprising four acres of formal gardens and a further eight of pleasure grounds. And if you're looking for somewhere closer to London, Clivedon in Buckinghamshire (above) is opening its doors to Mum for free - you can take a stroll in the grounds or enjoy the water garden there.

Painshill Park is easily accessible from London - Mums go free on March 10th

The Savill Garden is beginning to bloom after the long winter and this is another great location accessible from London - too early, sadly, for the dazzling rhododendron displays, but with wonderful walks. Equally convenient for the capital are Painshill Park (above) near Guildford, the Claremont Landscape and Ham House. Mum goes free this Sunday at all these locations when accompanied by other family members.

Head for the giant glasshouse at the National Botanic Garden of Wales

For large open gardens, head for the National Botanic Garden of Wales, where there's always something in bloom in the giant glasshouse (above), whatever the weather outside, or to Trentham Gardens in Staffordshire, another 'Capability' landscape, which has been completely revamped in recent years, Ness Botanic Gardens in Cheshire, with one of the best rhododendron collections in the north-west  or Barnsdale Gardens in Rutland, with its wonderful show gardens immortalised on Gardeners' World.

Just one of many gardens at Barnsdale in Rutland, immortalised by Geoff Hamilton on Gardeners' World

If you know of more UK garden venues offering free admission to mothers this Sunday, please let me know - you can contact me here or on Twitter.  And if all else fails and it rains, you can always stay home and buy Mum some flowers. There are daffodils for sale everywhere and nothing makes the kitchen table look brighter than glorious yellow blooms! And although it's not free for mothers, Kew Gardens has extended its Orchid Extravaganza which makes a memorable day out.