With just over a week to go until Mother’s Day, the clock is ticking if you’re still looking for that perfect present for your mum.
Perhaps you’ve been procrastinating, perhaps you’re just genuinely stuck for what to get – either way, we’ve pulled some of the best present ideas from a selection at luxury designer outlet Cheshire Oaks to help you show your mum just how loved she really is.
No matter your budget, there’s something here to suit – from coveted luxury handbags and beauty products to quirky homeware pieces and more.
Keep reading to discover some of the best gift ideas for your mum this Mother’s Day.
New Balance
For those mums who are always on their feet, a stylish pair of New Balance trainers are sure to be a hit. Widely considered to be some of the most comfortable trainers on the market, these fresh foam kicks will have your mum looking chic as anything whilst she’s out and about.
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L’Occitane
If your mum can’t live without her luxury skincare, French beauty house L’Occitane is a must. There are a whole range of different gift sets to choose from in store, but if you’re in need of some inspiration you can’t go wrong with this Luxury Divine Face Care Collection. A PH-friendly makeup remover, alcohol-free toner and divine cream combine to offer an indulgent skincare routine to leave skin looking smoother and refreshed.
Mulberry
Surely every mum wants a Mulberry of her own, and if you’re the one to get it for her – well, just expect you’ll be in her good books for a very long time to come. These British-made luxury leather goods are the ultimate arm candy – with designs to match every style.
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Molton Brown
Help your mum bring the spa to her this year with a Molton Brown gift set. The opulent fragrance brand has just released a new fragrance, rose and rhubarb, but if floral’s not her style you can also find comfort in the more classic, aromatic and woody Molton Brown scents.
UGG
Like a hug for your feet, these Australian sheepskin boots have been a wardrobe staple for years. Whether you opt for shoes, slippers or boots, know that these super cosy and breathable boots will give her years of comfort.
Levi’s
A good pair of Levi’s are a classic for a reason. So much so, that rare original pairs of Levi’s from the 50s can go for tens of thousands of pounds online. Get her a good fit, and she’ll want to hang on to those bad boys for life.
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Hotel Chocolat
Luxury hot chocolate is having a moment in the UK, and it doesn’t get much more luxurious than Hotel Chocolat. Made with grated pieces of real chocolate, this high-end drinking chocolate is designed to be deeply chocolatey with rich cocoa flavours running throughout. Pair it with a Velvetiser if you want to go all out.
Furla
This sought-after Italian handbag brand is known for its quality craftsmanship and materials, making it the perfect choice for busy mums in need of a stylish, reliable upgrade that’s going to last a long time.
Fossil
There’s nothing like a classic timepiece to keep you in mum’s good books. As something she’ll wear every day, whenever she looks down to check the time she’ll think of you – and there’s something really special about that.
The Cosmetics Company – Jo Malone
Simple but beautifully crafted, Jo Malone’s fragrances have become somewhat of a go-to for special occasions and gifts and you can find them at Cheshire Oaks’ The Cosmetics Company. Of course, the infamous candles are a solid favourite – but if you want to up the ante, why not get her a scent she can enjoy everywhere.
Cath Kidston
Known for her eclectic, bright and colourful prints, at Cath Kidston you’ll find everything from beautiful homeware to stylish bags and clothing. There’s something cute to be discovered here on every budget.
Feature image – Supplied
Cheshire
Chester Zoo has been given £4m lottery funding to ‘transform’ the local environment
Emily Sergeant
Chester Zoo has been awarded a £4 million grant of lottery funding to help ‘transform’ the local environment.
Merely months after being named the UK’s best zoo for the second year running, thanks to receiving more than 11,000 ‘excellent’ reviews from TripAdvisor, Chester Zoo has now been awarded a whopping £4 million – £4,073,372 in total – by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to support its Networks for Nature initiative.
The Networks for Nature initiative is described as being an ‘ambitious project’ to restore wildlife habitats across the Cheshire and wider North West region.
The funds will be used to either create or restore 20 ponds, nearly 3,000 metres of hedgerow, and more than 100 hectares of habitat.
Chester Zoo has been given £4m lottery funding to ‘transform’ the local environment / Credit: Chester Zoo
4,500 students will also be able to take part in year-long school projects to improve their school grounds for wildlife and people through the grants – which have been made possible thanks to money raised by National Lottery players – while 90 young people will have the chance to be trained in an environmental leadership course.
On top of this, 14 new jobs will also be funded through the money, 18 community groups will be worked closely with to improve their outdoor spaces for natural heritage, and the zoo’s network of trained ‘Wildlife Champions’ will continue to be supported.
Hannah Brooks, who is the Senior Community Participation & Engagement Manager at Chester Zoo, said The National Lottery Heritage Fund grant was a ‘massive boost’ for the zoo’s community groups.
The funds’ll go towards an ‘ambitious project’ to restore wildlife habitats across the North West / Credit: Chester Zoo
“As a charity, we’re so grateful that this funding has come through,” she commented.
“This is an exciting moment for the project, there has been a lot of work behind-the-scenes to bring people together and find out what these community groups need to take action to improve spaces for wildlife and people, and now, we will be able to support people to make real change across a vast landscape.
“This could really transform things for the environment in Cheshire and for the people who live here.
“Individual action can be difficult, but collectively we can inspire each other and provide a network that will keep having impact long into the future.”
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
Cheshire
Chester Zoo’s sell-out 10k charity run returns this summer with three new routes
Emily Sergeant
Chester Zoo has announced that its popular Run For Nature is back again this summer, and this year, there’s three new routes to run.
The UK’s biggest charity zoo saw success with similar sold-out events in 2023 and 2024, and is now looking for 2,500 runners to sign up for one of the North West’s most unique athletic experiences when it returns later this year – with all funds raised from the popular event going towards efforts to protect highly-endangered giraffes in Africa.
Participants will this year take on a brand-new route winding through more of the zoo than ever before, and enjoying glimpses of elephants, lemurs, and other incredible species along the way, before heading out into the picturesque Cheshire countryside.
Chester Zoo is inviting runners of all abilities to take part this year, as there’s a new 5km run added to the usual 10km route, and even a one-mile ‘Zoom’ fun run for kids aged four-15.
With only 2,500 places up for grabs, organisers say the event is expected to sell out quickly, just like it has the past two years, as runners race to support a very special cause.
All proceeds from this year’s Run For Nature in September will go directly towards protecting Nubian giraffes in East Africa – a species which has seen drastic population declines in the wild due to habitat loss, poaching and conflict with humans.
Chester Zoo’s sellout 10k charity run is returning this summer with three new routes / Credit: Chester Zoo
Runners will receive a wooden medal at the finish line and free entry to the zoo for the remainder of the day, so they can relax and celebrate their achievement among 30,000 amazing animals.
If that didn’t all sound brilliant enough as it is, top fundraisers from the day will also be in with a chance of winning some exciting prizes too, including annual zoo memberships, animal adoptions, and even special behind-the-scenes zoo experiences.
“We’re thrilled to be bringing back Run For Nature for a third incredible year,” explained Sarah Jones, who is the Fundraising Lead at Chester Zoo.
“We’ve now doubled the distance runners spend inside the zoo, so they’ll pass by even more iconic animals, [making it] a really special experience you won’t get anywhere else.”
Run For Nature is back at Chester Zoo this Sunday 21 September, and you can find out more and sign up to take part HERE.