East of England

Blossom is a sure sign that spring has arrived. Nature's own confetti, nothing lifts the spirits quite like the beauty of pink or white petals adorning trees in the springtime. Here's some of the places that might be local to you, where you can witness this seasonal highlight in East Anglia.

Do you enjoy wandering around gardens, seeking inspiration for your own or perhaps they're a place to escape to if you lack your own green space? Find out what's in bloom, as well as some fascinating facts, myths and meanings behind the flowers we grow and what to look out for at this time of year.

Get ready for spring by adding a colourful twist to your home with our Riverlands collection. Brighten up sofas and beds with comfy furnishings, freshen up your living room with flower vases or spruce up your kitchen with cooking and dining accessories.

Some regard Norfolk as the bird watching capital of Britain, elsewhere in the region, Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire is the most species-rich area of the UK. As well as some of our favourite spots, you can enjoy nature on your doorstep too.

Artists, writers, royalty and important historical figures – whose footsteps will you follow in? Whether your looking to exercise in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk or Suffolk, here are a selection of local walks to try, all of which vary with the seasons.

Not far from Cambridge you'll find Anglesey Abbey, where the gardens boast colour throughout the year. A little further afield you'll discover Wimpole with acres of space to explore, the distinctive fenland landscape of Wicken Fen and views of one of the last working mills on the River Ouse.

From the Norfolk coastline with its abundance of wildlife to the houses and gardens at Blickling, Felbrigg and Oxburgh Hall, Norfolk's popularity is well deserved. The landscaped parkland at Sheringham Park and the wide expanse of the Norfolk Broads is well worth a visit too.

With a landscape made famous by the artist John Constable to the royal burial ground at Sutton Hoo, Suffolk has a fascinating history. There's lots of variety too, from the coastline in the east to the picturesque wool towns in the west. And you won't want to miss Ickworth with its Italianate garden and parkland.

Tucked away in Essex you'll find hidden gems like Blake's Wood and Danbury Common, as well as some of our more well known places like Hatfield Forest. Over the border in Bedfordshire, enjoy the view from Dunstable Downs and in Hertfordshire, Ashridge Estate is ideal for walks with the family.

We know our scones are rather popular. So we asked our teams to share some of their recipe ideas that you can try at home. From the traditional to the quirky, which will be your favourite scone?

Go behind the scenes with our podcasts. Tread the boards at Shaw's Corner as part of our literary series, explore Humphry Repton's vision for Sheringham Park in our garden series and find out more about the ancient wetlands of East Anglia in our walking series.

We care for one of the world's largest and most significant collections of art and heritage objects, but did you know that you can explore many of them online from the comfort of your home?