If you're looking for a Mother's Day gift that is a little more out-of-the-ordinary than the usual box of chocolates or a potted plant, why not head down to the lovely National Trust estate of Trerice, near Newquay? On Mothering Sunday they put on an extra special workshop for visitors to create a posy for Mum as well as the usual house and garden tour and excellent restaurant.
Tudor Posy Making Workshop at Trerice
I love doing the National Trust workshops of any kind, but making a Tudor posy is a new one for me. The staff cut and prepare a range of fragrant herbs and flowers from the gardens at Trerice and provide all the equipment you will need to make your own sweet-smelling Mother's Day gift. You also get the chance to make a handmade gift card to tuck inside the posy to personalise it.
Crafty Mums may want to do the workshop themselves, or take children and grandchildren to “help” in the fun process. The event is very entertaining and is primarily aimed at the over 5s. There is a small cost of £1.50 to cover materials, on top of the usual house admission, but who could complain at such a bargain-priced gift for Mother's Day? You can blow the money you've saved by treating Mum to lunch or a cream tea in the onsite restaurant.
A Tour of Trerice House and Gardens
The 400-year old Trerice House is very small and neat, just like the posy, and must be one of Cornwall's smallest estate homes. Take a self-guided tour of the E-shaped Tudor Manor which has some lovely plasterwork, fine fireplaces and heavy oak and walnut furniture. The highlight is the magnificent Great Chamber with its splendid barrel ceiling, so look up and be sure not to miss it, as many visitors do. Guides in each room are always helpful and knowledgeable if you have any questions.
One memorable piece of furniture is the huge oak table in the Great Hall which had a display of family memorial brasses laid out on it during my visit. You might want to do a little brass rubbing in the centre in the rear courtyard where more brasses of the Arundell and Cosworth family arms are displayed.
Mum will no doubt appreciate the collection of Georgian glassware and needlework on display. More to Dad's taste will be the very unique collection of antique lawnmowers in a museum in the hayloft behind the great barn. Featuring some of the earliest mowers from the mid-19th century, this has to be one of the most unusual museum collections in the UK!
The small garden is neatly laid out with unusual plants in the evergreen borders. There's an orchard with old varieties of fruit trees and visitors can try their hand at 'Kayles' (Cornish skittles) on the former World War II parade ground.
Mother's Day Lunch at Trerice
Finish your Mother's Day visit with a tasty lunch featuring Cornish seasonal produce or a cream tea in the rustic atmosphere of the tearoom. The lemon meringue pie is the signature dessert, so after a slice of that you are sure to have earned the title “Best son or daughter in the whole world” on Mother's Day!
Have you visited Trerice House and Gardens? How do you think it compares with other National Trust properties in Cornwall in terms of size, interest and things to do? Please let us know your thoughts by commenting below.
Born in Cheshire, Gillian Birch moved to Cornwall at her earliest opportunity and never looked back. After 20 years, her ongoing discovery of popular attractions, quiet footpaths and local eateries has made her a fount of knowledge as she entertains readers with her informative articles on the hidden gems of Devon & Cornwall from a local point-of-view.