ONCE again the Easter Weekend is upon us which can only mean one thing - hunting for Easter eggs.

Here's our round-up of egg hunts taking place across Essex this weekend. 

Colchester

  • Castle Park, Sunday 10-12pm, 10am - six-year-olds and under, 12.30pm - seven-year-olds and over. £3 per child.

A morning of family fun in aid of St Helena Hospice - meet the Easter Bunny, a Disney princess and the Minions. There will be chocolate for all plus a bouncy castle, face painting and a raffle

  • Flatford Mill, Flatford, until Monday, 11am to 4pm. £2,50. 01206 297201.

Take in the beautiful surroundings that inspired John Constable to paint one of the most famous pictures in the world, the Haywain.

Then follow the trail and enjoy a yummy chocolate egg as your prize.

  • Abberton Reservoir Nature Reserve, Layer de la Haye, until Monday, 10.30am to 3pm. £7 requested donation per child. 01206 738172.
  • Fingringhoe Wick Nature Reserve, until Monday, 10am to 4pm. Donation £6 per child. 01206 729678.

There will be fun, games and Easter crafts at both of the Essex Wildlife Trust Reserves this weekend.

The main attraction at Fingringhoe will be the reserve’s special Easter trail, where you follow the clues, get the password and claim your chocolate treat.

While at Abberton you can also explore the nature reserve on an Easter egg hunt but also make some Easter craft to take home.

  • Abberton and District Cricket Club, Sunday, 10.30am. Advance booking is essential, and entry is £3 per child. 07540 256560.
  • Village Hall, New Cut, Layer-De-La-Haye, Friday, 10am to 3pm.

An Easter egg hunt is returning to Layer-de-la-Haye for its sixth year.

Dave Johnston said: “We are hoping to have more than 1,000 children taking part this year.

“It is such a great event. It really captures the imagination of the whole village.”

Each child that takes part will receive a full sized Easter egg.

  • Green Island Gardens, Ardleigh, Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 5pm. Adults £6.50 Child £2.50.

Bring the family out to the gardens and have a special Easter Hunt for the kids. 

Tendring

  • Walton's Naze Centre, until Sunday, 11am to 3pm. 01255 679379.

The action kicks off on Friday with daily Easter egg hunts between 11am and 3pm until Sunday.

There is also flower arranging and basket making tomorrow at noon.

There is dinosaur fun on Monday from 10am followed by learning how to build a wooden model dinosaur from 1.30pm to 3.30pm.

Basildon and Southend

  • Southend Pier, Saturday to Monday, 10am to 4pm. 

The Easter Bunny has been hard at work hiding Easter posters on Southend Pier for children to come and find.

Once all ten have been found, a reward can be claimed of a chocolate egg and certificate for taking part and completing the challenge. 

The Royal Pavilion will also be holding themed activities, a lucky dip, face painting and more. Plus the Easter Bunny himself will be popping by to meet and greet lucky visitors.

  • Stay and Play Soft Play Centre in Durham Road, Friday, Sunday and Monday, 4pm to 6pm. £12 per child and £10 per adult. 01268 491511

Have an Easter Afternoon tea with Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatter over the Easter Weekend..

Adults will enjoy an afternoon tea while children will have a packed lunch box and entertainment by the Easter Bunny, Alice and the Mad Hatter.

There will also be arts and crafts and Easter egg hunts.

  • Basildon Sporting Village, in Cranes Farm Road, Sunday, 10.30am to 3.30pm. Suitable for ages four upwards. 

Children can enjoy hunting for Easter eggs on a climbing wall this Sunday.

A large egg is guaranteed for every child on top of what they discover.

For prices and more details email ben.wood@high-sports.co.uk or call 0845 363 1177.

  • Barleylands Farm Park, Billericay, until Friday,  10am to 5pm. Adult entry £10.80, child £9.90.

Meet the Easter bunny, take part in the Giant Easter Egg hunt and meet all the new baby animals.

  • Langdon Visitor Centre and Nature Reserve, Sunday,  booking essential - 10am-12pm, 12pm-2pm, 2-4pm. £7 per child, suitable for all ages, must be accompanied by an adult.

Follow the trail and answer the wildlife questions to win a chocolate prize. Plus Easter crafts in the Visitor Centre.

Thurrock

  • Little Belhus Country Park, Monday, 11am to 3pm. £2 per child. Email dhrutibell@littlebelhuscountrypark.co.uk or phone on 01708 857245 to book.

Visitors can answer clues to solve puzzles in a 1.5 mile circular trail around the park. Those who solve all the puzzles can win an Easter Egg.

Braintree and Witham

  • Maldon Road Park, Witham, Saturday, 11am to 3pm.

There will be a bouncy castle and face painting and each child taking part in the trail will receive an Easter egg at the end.

Money raised will go towards a therapy fund for local boy Tyler-James Clayden, who has a brain injury.

  • Blake House Craft Centre, Rayne, 10am to 4pm every day across the weekend. blakehousecraftcentre.co.uk.

A seriously egg-cellent Easter egg hunt plus activities and crafts kids will love, including face painting, bouncy castle, rides and egg decorating.

The Easter bunny herself will also be joining revellers every day.

Crafty kids can make their own bunny mask, paint a hard-boiled egg and of course join in with the massive egg hunt around the centre.

Stalls will be selling raffle tickets, chocolate eggs and the usual bits and pieces.

A petting zoo featuring rare breed piglets will be at the centre on Good Friday and Easter Saturday.

The money collected from the activities will be donated to the centre’s charity partner the Essex Air Ambulance.

  • Sky Ropes, at Great Notley Country Park, 0345 603 7624.

Go egg-sploring mad this Easter as well with a special high in the sky quest course.

Navigate past bridges, beams and walkways more than 30ft above the ground.

  • Both Paycocke’s and Grange Barn in Coggeshall are also hosting egg hunts across the weekend where you can join the Cadbury bunny.

Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk.

Chelmsford

  • RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Chelmsford, until April 17.

Take part in a delicious Lindt Bunny Trail. 

  • Marsh Farm, South Woodham Ferrers, until Sunday, 10am to 5pm. £10.99 online or £13.50 on the door. Under 2s go free.

Help the Mad Hatter collect thousands of eggs in the Easter themed garden and meet the new spring babies.