How to enjoy a family walk this Mother's Day

Mother's Day is a wonderful occasion to celebrate motherhood with all the family, and as the weather improves, a family walk is a great way to spend time together. Getting outside and taking in some fresh air and nature is sure to be a relaxing day out for Mum, and there are plenty of imaginative ways to make it even more fun for both parents and little ones.

Here, Charles Clinkard will take you through some ways that you can really make your family walk a special occasion, including taking a picnic, finding new and exciting nature spots, and even doing scavenger hunts.

Take a picnic

A picnic is a classic outdoor activity, and it can provide a fun way for children of all ages to contribute to the Mother's Day celebrations too. Find some simple recipes and get the little ones involved in the kitchen — they might enjoy icing Mother's Day cookies, or finding special treats to bake. You could also find recipes for some of Mum's favourite foods to surprise her with a personalised spread part-way through your walk.

Many parks and nature walks have purpose-built picnic sites with benches, tables, and excellent views, so check where you are planning to go to see if any of these will be available. Here at Charles Clinkard, we've also created a national walking index where you can find some great family walks across the UK. Or, you might have the perfect spot in mind to lay out a picnic rug. If you are going to be sitting on the grass, remember to check that the weather won't be too wet beforehand and to take a waterproof-lined picnic rug — an essential for picnics in the unpredictable British weather!

Remember to take photos

It's easy to get caught up in special occasions and forget the all-important photos, but remembering to take some snaps will really make the day seem more special. Your phone will provide an easy camera option, or you might want to go all-out and take a camera with you. Whatever you choose, having a way to print the photos after your walk will create a whole new way to cherish the Mother's Day memories.

There are plenty of websites where you can have your photos printed at different sizes, and you might want to choose some to frame at a later date, or to create a collage with. Creating a Mother's Day collage with your little ones is another great way for them to make their own gift for their Mum, or you might want to make a collage altogether as a family.

Don't be afraid to ask staff at nature reserves or parks to take photos of you altogether too, as family pictures including everyone are ideal for remembering a brilliant day out.

Design a scavenger hunt

If you want to get into the spirit of exploring, you can design a simple scavenger hunt for all the family. Nature scavenger hunts are ideal — make a list of all the things you want both the kids and their Mum to find, and then see what you can locate once outside. Objects on the list might be stones, certain leaves (such as oak or beech), and flowers such as daisies or dandelions.

Remember that when doing a nature scavenger hunt, you should leave the landscape as you find it, so don't take anything with you when you leave your walk. Instead, identify things and then put them back on the ground or in trees once they've been ticked off.

This activity is a great way to not only celebrate Mother's Day, but to get your little ones enjoying their surroundings and learning about nature. Many nature reserves and parks will also have their own scavenger hunts and nature treasure walks, so if you know where you're planning to go, ask about this in advance to see whether there is a ready-made scavenger hunt for you to enjoy.

Get imaginative

Especially when kids are young, it's fun to just let their imaginations run wild. So, when you go out on your walk, encourage both kids and Mum to make up stories, investigate their surroundings, and feel free to be playful in nature. A collection of felled trees might become a climbing frame or fort, while paw prints in the soil could become the footprints of a mythical creature. They could create stories and games where their Mum is a hero or main character, putting her centre stage on her day out.

You could also take stories from their favourite films or books as starting points for them to make up their own narratives or games, and they could even go on the walk dressed as characters from Mum's favourite book. Check nature spots around you to see if they have any themed walks too, such as flower or leaf walks, Peter Rabbit themed walks, or history walks. Whatever age your kids are, they will enjoy making up stories and turning the day out into an imaginative expedition.

• Rachel Clinkard, E-Commerce Director at Charles Clinkard comments:

"Spending time in nature is a great activity for all the family, and a wonderful way to celebrate Mother's Day. There are plenty of ways to make the walk extra special, but remember to prepare beforehand too — if you are going to be hill walking or possibly encountering a muddy path, sturdy shoes or even hiking boots are a good call. For walks mostly on gravel paths, some comfortable trainers might suffice, but make sure to check the weather and terrain ahead of going out to ensure you know whether to take trainers, walking boots, or wellies for both parents and children.