Blossom watch

Blossom at Acorn Bank, near Penrith, Cumbria

Pink cherry blossom at Sheringham Park, Norfolk

Magnolia tree and daffodils in the Walled Garden at Nymans, West Sussex

Magnolia tree in flower in the Walled Garden at Nymans, West Sussex

In an ever-changing world, nature will always be a source of comfort for many of us. Get ready for spring, when we'll be bringing you the best places to spot blossom. You're also invited to join in with our celebration in the run up to #BlossomWatch day on 23 April 2022, when we'll be asking you to share your pictures of beautiful blossom on social media.

Prepare for #BlossomWatch 2022

Check back here in the coming weeks to discover tips and inspiration for spotting blossom, and lots of ways for you to get involved with #BlossomWatch 2022 on social media. In the meantime, you can learn more about the vital part blossom plays in nature and look back on #BlossomWatch 2021.

Blossoming trees in our care

We care for hundreds of trees that blossom in the spring, many of which are historical varieties. This includes the tree said to inspire Newton's theory of gravity and the orchard that Thomas Hardy loved to play in as a child.

In Japan, spring blossom is celebrated with the traditional custom of Hanami, which means ‘flower viewing’ and is an opportunity to take in the beauty of flowers.

Why blossom matters

The Walled Garden at Wimpole Estate, Cambridgeshire.

Developing new orchards to support nature

Through 2021-22, over 40 new sites to enjoy blossom will be planted at many places for you to visit. This includes new orchards in development at Stourhead in Wiltshire and a newly planted avenue of cherry trees at Anglesey Abbey in Cambridgeshire. Orchards are great for wildlife — wildflowers are often grown underneath the trees to attract pollinators in spring.

Comma butterfly on prunus pissardii (purple leaved plum blossom) in the formal garden at Tyntesfield, Somerset

A vital habitat for birds, bees and badgers

Blossoming trees provide shelter and food throughout the year. For wildlife that's out and about at the start of spring, such as bees, the trees are a great source of pollen. Later in the year, the autumn fruit that grows from blossom provides a feast for song thrushes and blackbirds, which also hunt for insects among the blossom. Even badgers eat the fruit that falls to the ground.

2021 blossom news

Magnolia blossom at Greys Court in Oxfordshire

Celebrating blossom with the UK’s first ever #BlossomWatch day

24 April 2021 was the UK's first ever #BlossomWatch day. Since then, lots of Members of Parliament have pledged to bring the joy of blossom to more people by planting a blossom tree in their constituency, and a few celebrities got involved in #BlossomWatch too. Discover more about the buzz around #BlossomWatch.

Blossom circles will be planted in cities so more people can connect to nature

Helping cities blossom

We're working with partners like the Greater London Authority and their counterparts to help communities blossom with greener spaces and circles of blossom trees. We've completed the planting of the first blossom circle at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.

Tree sapling growing in the forest, Hampshire — Tree sapling growing in the forest

Plant a tree

Plant a tree today and you'll be helping to plant and establish 20 million trees by 2030. You can plant a tree from just £5 and you'll get a certificate to commemorate your gift too. Together we can tackle climate change, make homes for wildlife and ensure future generations enjoy more green spaces.

Plant a tree today