Places to see spring blossom in the North of England

The Walled Garden at Gibside is full of fruit blossom in spring, from the early blooming apricot tree, which produces blush pink flowers in February and March, to the plum, cherry and apple blossoms that appear from March to late May.

There are several varieties of ornamental cherry blossom at Wallington, including the fragrant white flowers of the Great White Cherry that grows in the orchard square in the Walled Garden. This wildlife-friendly cherry is a particular favourite of bees, who can often be seen hopping between its flowers as they search for nectar, and the blossom looks like wedding confetti as it drops.

Cragside’s Victorian Orchard House is home to two plum trees, Kirke’s Blue and Golden Gage, which create a trail of delicate white flowers against the sandstone wall when they blossom, complemented by the dainty pink flowers of the apricot trees growing nearby. There's also a newly-planted cherry tree on the lawn in the Formal Garden, which will produce pale pink flowers in the future.

Beningbrough Hall's walled kitchen garden boasts over 50 varieties of apple and pear trees, which put on an impressive display of blossom in springtime, soon followed by the appearance of cherry blossom later in the season. The carpets of colour created by the fallen petals also make a beautiful sight.

Nunnington Hall's three different orchards - home to apple, pear and stone fruit trees - are full of blossom in spring. There are also two trained pear trees growing on the south wall of the house that often flower earlier than the trees in the orchard due to their location.

The apple, pear and cherry trees at East Riddlesden Hall are full of blossom in May, adding a flush of colour to the intimate gardens. There’s also a newly planted blossom tree trail in the grounds, featuring cherry, plum, crab apple and blackthorn trees, which will flower for the first time at East Riddlesden Hall this spring.

The orchard at Fountains Abbey features ancient varieties of trees that research has revealed would have been on the site in the past. The current trees were planted as part of a conservation project back in 1995, and having been well pruned in 2020, the blossom is expected to be really vibrant this year.

As well as being full of more than 100 different crops, Nostell’s working kitchen garden also contains rare heritage pear trees, ‘espaliered’ to grow along the wall, and an apple orchard, so it’s the ideal spot to take a seat on one of the benches and be surrounded by blossom in springtime.

At Ormesby Hall, the blossom on the crab-apple and cherry trees on the old tennis lawn helps to create a wonderful spring picnic spot in April and May. In autumn 2021, a new orchard was also planted, with apple and pear trees as well as plums, damsons and gages, which we hope will blossom in future.

At Quarry Bank, the walled garden bursts into life in April with the blooming of the apricot tree, followed by the arrival of apple, pear, nectarine and peach blossom. 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.

The orchard at Speke Hall will be full of white and light pinks in March and April and showing off its apple and plum tree blossom. There are two large cherry trees on the North Lawn, offering blossom-filled views of the house, and plenty of blossom to be found in the hedgerows along the Bund path overlooking the River Mersey.

Lyme is the second-highest garden in the National Trust, so spring's blossom often arrives later here than at other places. In early spring, the Camellias inside the grade II listed Orangery start to flower, just as they have for the past 150 years. In April the Great Blossom Tree in the secluded Vicary Gibbs Garden bursts into bloom, and in early May the sensory Rhododendron Walk comes alive in a kaleidoscope of colour.

Dunham Massey’s display of spring blossom is one of the highlights of the season. The pale pink blooms of crab apple trees appear in late March, followed by the yellow magnolia flowers in April, and the bright pink cherry blossom in May. 300 fruit trees were also planted in the deer park in 2021, which should blossom for the first time this spring.

Rufford Old Hall’s orchard is a hidden oasis in the middle of the garden, containing a variety of apple trees that are full of colour in April and May. In the courtyard, two large pear trees have been expertly trained to cover the Coach House wall and are covered in white petals in April.

At Little Moreton Hall, a recently-planted orchard on the other side of the moat should show some blossom this year with apple and quince trees. Quince have a beautiful large white blossom and are very typical of the Tudor era so are a nice link to Little Moreton's Tudor past.

The apple orchards in Sizergh's garden will be full of cloud-like white apple blossom in May while vibrant pink cherry blossom blooms in the small orchard.

The orchards at Acorn Bank are awash with blossom in May as the buzzing bees are busy collecting pollen. Our gardeners are especially proud of the collection of heritage apple trees here – we carefully manage them to help everyone learn more about heritage varieties.

Take time to admire spring blossom, whether from your window, on your daily exercise or at your local National Trust place. Find out how to share your sightings with us and learn more about how these special blooms support wildlife.

One of the most uplifting signs that spring is underway is the sudden appearance of bright, pastel-coloured blossom in hedgerows, parks and gardens. The sight is guaranteed to raise your spirits and to make you want to get out and about with your camera.