Treat your mother, grandmother, or a motherly figure this Mother's Day with a gift inspired by nature.
We've got a range of product guides to be inspired by, covering a range of interests, including best gifts for wildlife gardeners, gins that help wildlife conservation, best wildlife-themed cross stitch kits and best wildlife-themed board games.
If you're feeling crafty and have a bit of time for a project, check out these ideas for homemade gift ideas from our colleagues over at BBC Countryfile Magazine, or have a go at some of the how-to guides on our website such how to make a garden bird nestbox, how to make a bee hotel and how to make dandelion scones.
What date is Mothering Sunday in the UK in 2023?
In 2023, Mothering Sunday falls on Sunday 19th March in the UK.
Is Mother’s Day on the same day every year?
Like Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, the date of Mothering Sunday (Mother's Day) changes every year and is determined by when Lent take places, which is all to do with the moon phases. Mothering Sunday takes places on the fourth Sunday within Lent, and began as a day when people (even servants, who were given the day off) would visit their ‘mother church’. Over the years, it since has become a day of celebrating mothers (and grandmothers) for many people.
Best wildlife gifts for nature-loving mums and grandmas:
Dewdrop Bee & Bug Hotel
- Buy now from Amazon (£18.55), Wildlife World (£21.99).
Gift the buzzing of bees to your mother this Mother's Day! Well, almost – it's the gift of a home for non-aggressive solitary bees, such red mason bees and leaf cutter bees. Made by Cotswold-based company Wildlife World, this bee hotel is made from durable bamboo tubes and timber, and is ideal for improving pollinator diversity in a wildlife garden. It should be placed in sunny and sheltered position, facing south/south-east, and close to flowering plants suitable for native insects. A 15 x 15mm wire mesh can be added to protect the egg cells within the bamboo tubes from predators.
Reviewed by Megan Shersby, BBC Wildlife editorial and digital co-ordinator
Recycled Ocean Plastic Sunglasses
The sight of plastic containers and fishing nets washed up along the shore demonstrates our impact on the planet. However, one Cornwall-based social enterprise has been retrieving this type of jetsam and recycling it into sunglasses.
There are a number of styles available, the Kynance is pictured above. The frames are lightweight yet robust, with a comfortable fit and the entire product can be recycled via Waterhaul’s lifetime warranty.
You can also order prescription lenses through the website (for an additional £15).
Reviewed by Angharad Moran, BBC Wildlife former production editor
Veritas Era Jacket
For mothers that spend their weekends on the touchlines in all weathers, some fantastic new waterproof gear would doubtless go down a treat. The new Veritas Era hooded jacket from Dare2B is waterproof and breathable, and just the ticket for keeping you snug and dry at rainy rugby or football tournaments. It comes in two colourways, bluestone orin grey and space blue, and best of all, it's made from recycled materials. Complement it with a nice new flask for hot tea and coffee, and you'll have one happy mummy.
Reviewed by Sarah McPherson, BBC Wildlife features editor
Goldfinch Reusable Travel Eco Mug
- Buy now from Robert Fuller Gallery (£19.99).
Whether out and about walking, or pottering around in the garden, it's vital to keep that cuppa warm. Wildlife photographer and artist Robert Fuller has a range of reusable travel eco mugs designs available, including goldfinches (pictured above), hares and robins.
Reviewed by Megan Shersby, BBC Wildlife editorial and digital co-ordinator
Blundstone x Finisterre boots
- Buy now from Finisterre (£160.00).
If you’re in need of a versatile boot that you can happily wear from dawn til dusk, then look no further. These are smart enough to wear into the office but rugged enough for wildlife-spotting in the great outdoors. Available in brown or black, Blundstone’s first fully vegan boots feel comfortable and have a water and abrasion-resistant upper and breathable inner lining. They are made for all genders, so be aware that the sizing is generous and the appearance is on the bulkier side. But for those that tend to live life on the wild side, these could become a constant companion.
Reviewed from Catherine Smalley, BBC Wildlife production editor
Dragonfly Wash Bag
Made from sustainably sourced, Fair Trade and organic cotton, this 15cm x 28cm zipped wash bag is printed with an intricate dragonfly design (original design by Penny Smallshire). It's a great size to fit in a range of toiletries – or if you've got a cross-stitch kit or other craft project on the go, it makes a lovely project bag. The sale of all of the Gift Wild products benefit conservation charities, for this wash bag, 10% of the sale of this item is donated to the British Dragonfly Society.
Reviewed by Megan Shersby, BBC Wildlife editorial and digital co-ordinator
Recycled plastic swimming costume
Every year, 1.4 million tonnes of plastic enters our oceans. So, one small company based on the north-west coast of England has come up with an innovative solution to help stem the flow – swimsuits created from 100% recycled plastic. They come in a range of eye-popping, nature-themed prints. Choose from lobsters, sharks, puffins, orcas, wildflowers, or – my personal favourite – cockatoos (pictured).
For the lobster swimsuit, they've teamed up with the National Lobster Hatchery in Padstow, Cornwall, so that for every lobster swimsuit sold, a baby lobster is reared and released back into the sea.
The cut is simple but flattering with good body coverage, making these cossies perfect for water sports and having fun at the beach. Ethically manufactured, digitally printed (to save water and energy) and delivered in compostable paper bags, this really is swimwear for the eco-conscious.
Reviewed by Catherine Smalley, BBC Wildlife production editor
Sea Change wine
Raise a glass to the hard work of your mother with this conservation-supporting wine company, which sell a variety of different wines from France, Italy, Spain and New Zealand. For every 75cl bottle of Sea Change purchased, a minimum of 25 euro cents is donated to marine conservation charities, including The Olive Ridley Project, Sea-Changers UK and Ocean Generation.
All the wines are suitable for vegetarians, a number are also suitable for vegans, and the company recently launched an organic range. The bottles are made from lighter-weight glass bottles, have minimal packaging with the removal of unnecessary plastic wrap, and the paper for the labels comes from certified sustainable forests and made partially from grape waste.
Reviewed by Megan Shersby, BBC Wildlife editorial and digital co-ordinator
Main images: © Getty
