THERE are a host of activities and events families can enjoy to keep everyone occupied during the holidays and over the Easter weekend.

Sniffing out chocolate will probably be top on the list for youngsters and there are lots of egg hunts taking place.

Beth Chatto Gardens in Elmstead Market is once again hosting its annual Easter egg hunt this year.

As well as having the chance to enjoy the spring gardens at the popular attraction, youngsters can also look for the hidden eggs via a self-guided trail which will run throughout the Easter holidays until April 8 between 10am and 4pm.

Adults pay £6.95, children £1.50 or if you book your tickets in advance online it is included in the entry price. For more information call 01206 822007.

There’s more eggs at the historic Layer Marney Tower along with plenty of other activities for both young and old including the popular Layer Marney Barn lambs, waiting to be fed.

Open Easter Sunday and Monday, from 11am to 5pm, having fed the lambs, small children can enjoy the toddler Easter Egg Hunt whilst their older brothers and sisters race each other in the egg and spoon races.

Gazette: Lambs at Layer Marney

Lambs at Layer Marney

For those not amused by egg hunts or puzzles, half way up the Tower is an extraordinary exhibition of carved wooden, brightly painted Crowns and Crests once owned by Garter Knights, and originally displayed in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Turn a corner and there is a stunning art exhibition of work by East Anglian artists on loan from the Victor Batte-Lay Trust.

For more information go to layermarneytower.co.uk.

At Fingringhoe Wick Nature Reserve, there’s a family orienteering event around the nature reserve from 10am to 3pm on Easter Monday, priced £5 per family, while during the week, activities include egg marbling on Tuesday, from 10am to 12pm, and then again 1.30pm to 3.30pm, and mini beast hunts on Thursday at the same times.

For more information go to essexwt.org.uk/reserves/fingringhoe-wick.

An annual popular favourite is the return of everyone’s favourite tank engine to the East Anglian Railway Museum at Chappel.

Calling all little engineers and steam buffs, join Thomas, along with plenty of his railway friends, for another fun-packed weekend. The Fat Controller will also be on hand to make sure that Thomas is being a really useful engine whilst Rusty and Dusty, Sodor’s Station Sweepers, will be causing mischief.

Running from today until Easter Monday, opening times are 10am to 4.30pm with online prices £14 for adults, £10 for children (aged two to 15), and £44 for a family ticket of two adults and two children.

Finally the Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service has plenty on offer including a very special chance to spend the night in Colchester Castle.

Other events include a drop-in arts and craft session on Wednesday at the Natural History Museum with the theme of how animals attack and defend, while at Hollytrees make like a Medieval knight and create your own breastplate decorated with a coat of arms on Thursday.

Go to cimuseums.org.uk.