Seven Days (From Daily Echo)

Seven Days

5:27pm Friday 16th March 2012 in Leisure By Lorelei Reddin, Entertainments Editor

At Hampshire’s National Tr ust properties… GIVE mum a special treat this Mothering Sunday and tuck into a mouth-watering cream tea.

These local historic houses, with their displays of colour flowers and family activities, could be just the ticket.

The craft fair is back at The Vyne near Basingstoke. Spoil mum rotten with a relaxing day browsing craft and plant stalls, enjoying mini-massage and manicures in the mansion, and ‘mind and body’ taster sessions in the delightful walled kitchen garden.

At Mottisfont, near Romsey, enjoy the swathes of daffodils littering the gurgling Stream Garden and the South Paddock as well as the 60,000 spring bulbs in the Winter Garden.

Also enjoy the scents and springtime flowers at Hinton Ampner at Bramdean, as well as homemade treats from the tea rooms.

At New Forest Wildlife Park… MUMS will be entitled to a half-price cream tea with their entry to the park on Mothers’ Day, and there will also be the chance to make a tissue paper flower for your mum in the park’s activity room.

Entry to the park also includes keeper talks, feeding times, nature trails and a chance to see the animals. There are lovely deer – roe, Sika, fallow and muntjac deer – as well as the mighty European bison – three young males who are part of an international breeding programme for this endangered species.

New Forest Wildlife Park also has several species of otters and you can see wallabies, wolves, ferrets, polecats, water vole, adders, wild boar,lynx, Scottish wildcats, foxes, pine marten and harvest mice – all in 25 acres of unspoilt New Forest natural woodland and with indoor and outdoor enclosures.

At the University of Winchester… A forum tomorrow is designed to raise the profile of global maternal health issues and celebrate motherhood around the world.

The half day discussion forum, titled Dying for Life will be chaired by awardwinning journalist and presenter Alastair Stewart OBE and will provide a detailed presentation of the issues surrounding maternal health in the developing world.

At Southampton City Art Gallery… WHAT is art all about? Where do you begin when you visit a gallery?

An informal and enjoyable day, The Beginners Guide To Art History, which takes place tomorrow,will look at how to read a painting by using basic analytical skills to really appreciate it.

In Fareham… ROB KINGSLEY has been crowned the Elvis European Champion for having the look, sound and charisma of The King.

He will be appearing at the bandstand in the town centre tomorrow to promote his upcoming show at Ferneham Hall on May 24. Rob will be appearing in full costume and performing with his live band in 20 minute slots from 11am to 1pm.

At Winchester Guildhall… BEER lovers can try out a host of new varieties at the Winchester Real Ale and Cider Festival, which gets under way today.

There are four ticketed sessions, today and tomorrow.

Enjoy live music tonight from The Strand with Denmead Brass and their Last Night of the Proms session and State of Undress tomorrow.

The Berry Theatre… Hedge End’s days as the strawberry-growing capital of southern England may be long gone, but now through a collaboration of local talent, new community play Strawberries and Steam will help local people learn about their fruit-growing history next week at The Berry Theatre.

Strawberries and Steam, a new play written by local writer Chris Connaughton, will be performed by The Berry Youth Theatre and Wildern Community Choir.

Audience members will be invited to sit amongst the action as the story of ordinary families caught in the drama of social and international change unfolds tonight and for two performances tomorrow.

At the Te stwood Stadium… IT’S one for the ladies at AFC Totton next week.

The home of The Stags will host a ladies day on Thursday, full of fun, beauty, health and awareness. Try a taster Zumba, yoga or spinning class or eye up the latest trends in the fashion show at the event, on Thursday from midday to 10pm.

Enjoy reflexology, Indian head massage and tanning or snap up crafts, cupcakes, cosmetics, handbags or jewellery.

There’s also help with slimming, quitting smoking and adult learning, as well as advice on hand from Southampton and Salisbury Breast Screening Unit.

At The National Oceanography Centre… LEARN all about the oceans of the world during a family fun day at the venue, at Dock Gate 4, tomorrow.

Ocean and Earth Day is your opportunity to find out more about the fascinating discoveries made by scientists at the centre and see how they go about their work. There are lots of exciting hands-on and interactive activities running all day.