Become an ‘Eggsplorer’ with the National Trust

This year, the theme is discovery, with families invited to unleash their inner explorer on adventurous trails taking place in some of most beautiful locations in the county. Each trail is unique to its location so your young Eggsplorers will be finding out about each special place as they take part in the trails, which lead to a chocolatey treat. Every Cadbury Easter Egg Trail helps support Trust properties.

In addition to the Cadbury eggsplorer trails, many historic houses, gardens and countryside spots are offering all sorts of additional holiday excitement, from egg and spoon races to Easter bonnet-making and bushcraft.

To join in with the fun, visit www.eastereggtrail.co.uk. We’ve also come up with some great ‘top tips’ on how to create your own Easter egg trail for family and friends.

Here’s selection of some the best places for an adventurous Easter in West Sussex:

Nymans, Handcross, nr Haywards Heath, 01444 405250

This world famous garden is a great place to visit with the family at Easter, when it is awash with pretty spring colour from thousands of daffodils, and the woods are filled with bluebells.

Are you ready for a giant Easter egg hunt?

There are hundreds of coloured eggs hidden around the garden, waiting to be discovered. Children will need to search high and low on their quest, peeking into hedges and trees, even amongst the daffodils, in order to claim their Cadbury chocolate ‘egghead’ prize.

12 – 21 April, normal admission charge plus £2.50 per trail.

It’s not all about chocolate though; youngsters can also have plenty of fun in the build up to Easter by trialling Nymans’ new spring explorer trail, which leads to a lovely prize.

5 – 11 April, normal admission charge plus £2.

Petworth House, Petworth, 01798 343929

The Petworth team have come up with something rather special for its Easter visitors. Children are invited to follow the Cadbury Nest Egg Trail and set out on a free-range adventure around the extensive grounds.

As they follow the trail, they will gradually gather materials to make a fluffy Easter chick with its own nest! All participants will be rewarded with a delicious Cadbury chocolate egg.

7 to 21 April, 10.30am – 3.30pm, normal admission plus £4.

Slindon Estate

Explore the ancient woods, and secret dips and hollows around the fields surrounding the pretty village of Slindon. Find the hidden eggs dotted along the Cadbury Easter Trail and there’ll be a Cadbury ‘eggsplorer’ egg as a reward.

19 April, 10am – 1pm, £3. Call 01243 814730 for further information.

Woolbeding Countryside

This picturesque landscape is a great place to enjoy the delights of spring. There are lots of family fun activities on offer this Easter, including a spring nature trail along the curving River Rother, egg decorating and egg rolling, egg and spoon racing, and an egg shy and Easter crafts.

20 April, 10am – 4pm, £3, 01730 816638

Uppark, South Harting, Petersfield

Explore this amazing mansion and its garden on a new Easter holiday trail, with a prize for all participants. On 18, 20 and 21 April younger visitors can try out a special Cadbury trail, which leads to a delicious Cadbury egg head prize.

6 to 17 April, exc Friday and Saturday, 11am – 5pm, £2, 01730 825415

For details of all National Trust events and activities, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk.

Cadbury eggs are only available whilst stocks last.

Top tips on creating a really great Easter egg trail:

l Make sure the route is a journey of discovery, taking in hidden nooks and crannies, and with surprises on the way.

l Create a selection of fun and varied challenges. Try including things like code-breaking or clue-solving, creative writing, reciting ‘magic’ spells, drawing and making, some physical activities (running, jumping, racing) and some purely silly things, like standing on one leg for 10 seconds!

l Don’t make the trail too complicated. If you are able, test it out first with the help of a young volunteer, so that you are confident others will be able to complete it.

l If you’re very organised and are expecting a big turnout, you may like to have options on the trail for older children, so that it appeals to a wide age group.

l Laminate your trail sheets in case it rains, and make sure that all your trail points are accessible whatever the weather. Unless the trail is in a very confined space, it’s a good idea to signpost the route itself too.

l Invite people to share their experiences. Encourage them to take photos, use social media, and chat with other visitors.

l Lastly, and most importantly, NEVER run out of chocolate!

Report contributed by The National Trust.