Blossom season is one of the most beautiful times of year in the UK and luckily there’s plenty of places to spot the bright blooms.
Spring blossom generally blooms in March and April in the UK although it can come a little earlier or later if the weather is unseasonably warm or cold.
Apple, pear, plum and damson trees will generally have white flowers with a tinge of pink while cherry trees have pink blossoms.
While Britons might have blossom trees in their own garden or on their road, there’s nothing quite like seeing a group of the trees in bloom.
The National Trust team have shared the best places to see blossom at their sites across the UK.
Brockhampton, Herefordshire
This property has over 145 acres of orchards, the largest in the Trust’s care. The National Trust said: “Surrounding the house is an orchard full of Shropshire prune damson trees which, as you head through the gate, begin to intermingle with numerous varieties of apple trees, in addition to other fruits.
“At the beginning of 2022, Brockhampton installed five interlocking orchard ‘rooms’ which mimic the five seed chambers visible when an apple is cut open horizontally. The circular rooms have been planted to tell the story of how apple trees arrived in the UK and includes a natural play trail for families. You can also step aboard the ‘Herefordshire Bull’ Trow which now takes centre stage in the restored orchards.”
Cotehele, Cornwall
The National Trust said: “Nestled down in Cornwall with its mild climate, Cotehele’s orchards are often among the first in the country to bloom. In the 19th-century the Tamar Valley was once a famous area for market gardening, with hundreds of acres of blooming orchards in spring.
“Today this tradition is preserved at Cotehele, where you’ll find The Mother Orchard which contains more than 300 trees, with 125 different varieties of apple to see.”
Acorn Bank, Cumbria
The National Trust said: “As well as having the largest herb garden of all National Trust gardens – home to more than 275 different types of herb – there is also a large orchard made up of more than 175 apple varieties, and at the top of the orchard are four beehives.”
Chartwell, Kent
The National Trust said: “Blossom trees create a spring display at Chartwell with delicate pink and white cherry blossom, apple blossom in the orchard and the extravagant blooms of Magnolia trees framing the approach to the house.”
Powis Castle and Garden, Powys
The apple trees at Powis Garden were planted hundreds of years ago by Lady Violet and break out into vibrant pink blossom in spring.
Wimpole Estate, Cambridgeshire
The National Trust said: “A working estate still guided by the seasons, with an impressive mansion, parkland, gardens and Home Farm. The orchard at Wimpole contains a huge variety of over 300 apple, medlar, quince, pear and plum fruit trees, which provide a beautiful display in the spring.
“Beginning with apricot, plum and greengage, the blossom then appears on the apple and pear trees and is finally rounded off by the medlar and quince in late spring. The blossom in spring helps the team at Wimpole to predict the apple harvest to come in autumn, used to produce Wimpole apple juice.”
Quarry Bank, Cheshire
The National Trust said: “During April, in the Walled Garden visitors have an abundance of blossom to enjoy, including apple, pear, nectarine and peach trees. The first blossom to bloom is that of the apricot tree.
“Spot the majestic flowers of ‘The Bride’ along the Riverside Walk. The Apprentice House Garden is home to apple, plum and pears trees, making it the perfect place to enjoy a picnic under a canopy of blossom, in one of the many deckchairs and hammocks dotted around.”
Woolsthorpe Manor, Lincolnshire
The National Trust said: “In the orchard at Woolsthorpe Manor the National Trust are custodians of a very special apple tree. The very tree from which an apple fell and caused Newton to ask the question: ‘Why do apples always fall straight down to the ground?’
“People have been coming to visit the tree and the manor house at Woolsthorpe ever since. Today the tree is pruned regularly to keep it healthy; it continues to grow and bear blossom and fruit.”