Let your mum put her feet up and have a well earned rest and take her out for a special treat this Mothering Sunday. SIMON PARKIN suggests a few places to take her and spoil her.

GET NOSTALGIC

Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse opened its doors for 2012 last weekend and the rural and nostalgic life museum hosts a special treat for mums this Sunday. Celebrate the day with a 2.15pm screening of the 1970 classic film The Railway Children, starring Jenny Agutter, which is being shown as part of the British Film Festival 2012. Tickets are �3, pre-book on 01362 869251. You can also learn more about the the 1899 Panhard et Levassor, a fascinating vehicle, which was originally owned by Charles Rolls, the co-founder of Rolls Royce, that's in full working order. With the woodland playground, historic workhouse and traditional farm, there's plenty to keep the whole family entertained, including the chance to make something special for your mum in the themed Art Attack! Entry �9.10 (�8.10 cons), �6.10 children, under-4s free, �28.40 family, 01362 860563, www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk

SPRING FLOWERS

If your mum likes flowers you'd be 'daff-t' to miss a special Mothering Sunday opening of Hoveton Hall Gardens. The 20-acre Broads attraction has more then 100 different varieties of daffodils creating an extravagant spring display. The gardens are open from 10.30am until 5pm and all mums who visit will get a special gift. Hoveton's head horticulturalist Stewart Wright believes they've got the best collection of daffodils in Norfolk, and one of the best in the UK. So here's your chance to find out! Entry �7, �3.50 children, under-4s free. More details 01603 782558, www.hovetonhallgardens.co.uk. Elsewhere the gardens of Blickling Hall are a must-see for garden loving mums, especially as the daffodils start to make an appearance. Many people's favourite season, look out for early spring primroses, crocus, hellebores, azaleas and lots more besides.

MESSING ABOUT IN BOATS

What could be a more peaceful way to treat your mum than a trip on the Broads enjoying the wildlife and scenery?

Broads Tours offers special Mothering Sunday trips. Leaving from the bridge in Wroxham you can enjoy a great day afloat aboard the double-decker boat. It's something all the family will enjoy and every mums accompanied by her child or children will receive a complimentary glass of wine too. Trips will run at 11.30am and 2pm and last one and a half hours. Fares �8, �6.50 children, under-5s free. More details: 01603 782207, www.broads.co.uk

FAMILY WALK

For mums that love a refreshing walk treat her to a special Mothering Sunday Walk at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden in South Walsham, near Acle (from 11am). The guided walk round this lovely Broads beauty spot will be with the head gardener and every mum will receive a wild primrose plant. Entry �5.50 (�5 cons), children �3, under-5s free, dogs 25p. No extra charge for walk. More details: 01603 270559, www.fairhavengarden.co.uk. You will also enjoy time well spent on a walk with mum at Sheringham Park. Climb to the top of the viewing towers to experience breathtaking views of this beautiful Norfolk landscape. Coastal views, flowering plants from all over the world, magnificent trees and a wide variety of wildlife can all be seen. More details: www.nationaltrust.org.uk

ALL ABOARD…

Take mum on a relaxing journey through the Norfolk countryside aboard Mid-Norfolk Railways special steam train. Departing Wroxham Station at 11.10am you'll get a complimentary drink on arrival at Aylsham, a two-course set lunch and there is a gift for every mother, followed by the return journey. Places �21, �11 children. Pre-booking essential on 01263 733858. Alternatuvekly you can just enjoy a steam train ride starting from either Aylsham or Wroxham. Return fares �12, �6.50 children , under-5s free. More details: www.bvrw.co.uk

Vintage Gifts

Want to treat your mother to a unique gift? Try the Norwich Original Fleamarket at St Andrew's Hall, which attracts dealers from all over East Anglia offering a diverse range of antiques, collectables and vintage. Helen Leith, the owner of organisers the Fleamarket, said: 'We have all sorts of original gifts appropriate for the most important ladies in our lives - our mums! How about a beautiful piece of antique jewellery? Maybe she hankers after a 1960s Kelly handbag?' The Fair is March 18, 9am-4pm, entry �1, under-18s free. More details: www.cloistersfair.com. There is also a Little Vintage Lover Fair taking place at Blakeney Village Hall from 10am-4pm, specialising in vintage clothing and collectables circa 1920-1980. More details: www.littlevintageloverfair.co.uk

AFTERNOON TEA

Afternoon tea was originally the brainchild of the Duchess of Bedford who was Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Victoria. For mums that love a spot of afternoon indulgence what better place than the glorious surroundings of Norwich Assembly House. Annoyingly they're closed on Sundays, but go a day early as from 2pm, the indulgent afternoon tea delivered by Norwich's well known patisserie chef Julia Hetherton is a 'must do' for those who appreciate the finer things in life! Alternatively on Sunday itself try in the palatial surroundings of Lord Lothian's Study at Blickling (booking essential on 0844 8004308), a great spot to enjoy freshly prepared cream teas and naughty-but-nice cakes.

FLUFFY NEW MUMS

Sit on the bales of hay, get your bottle of warm milk at the ready and watch as the baby lambs are led to the bottles and guzzle away at lambing season continues at Wroxham Barns. This is a hands-on experience not to be missed and it takes place on the farm three times a day. Lamb feeding takes place at 11am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm and some feeding times can be busy so children (ages 2+) might have to share holding a bottle. Open10am-5pm, farm admission �5.50, under-2s free. More details: 01603 783911, www.wroxhambarns.co.uk