For everyone, for ever
We protect and care for places so people and nature can thrive. Find out who we are and what we stand for.
Helping communities blossom
We're working with partners to give communities more access to nature through the creation of green spaces and circles of blossom trees. We hope these natural places will give people space for hope, reflection and the chance to celebrate the beauty of spring year after year.
Planting circles of blossom trees
Over a period of five years, we'll be helping to plant circles of blossom trees in cities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
We know that nature became hugely comforting to many of you during the pandemic. In 2020 the sight of spring blossom, beautiful but fleeting, brought pleasure and reassurance, reminding us that the rhythm of the natural world continued even though all other aspects of our lives had changed.
But we also know that too few people can connect to nature near where they live. The project will create beautiful spaces for communities to come together and experience the natural world.
What's more, every tree planted will help us meet our commitment to plant 20 million trees during the next decade, which is part of our work to tackle the climate crisis.
Blossom projects at our places
Along with helping cities to blossom, 43 blossom planting projects have started at National Trust places across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, supported by CJ Wildlife, Alitex, Crane, Westminster Stone and the National Trust. This 2022–23 project adds 15,000 blossom trees across the places we look after.
Helping cities to blossom
With the first blossom circles being created in east London – an area that saw some of the worst impacts of the pandemic – further blossom-inspired spaces will be following in London's footsteps.
A blossom garden was announced for Coventry as a City of Culture legacy, and Newcastle, Nottingham and Plymouth, confirmed their location and design ideas, funded in part by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery. The majority of these blossom gardens were planted in autumn 2021 and opened in spring 2022.
Since then, new blossom spaces in Birmingham, Leeds and Swindon were planted in winter 2022 and are due to be ready in spring 2023. There'll also be a new blossom circle in the city of Manchester thanks to the funding from CJ Wildlife.
- Blossom in Birmingham
- Birmingham was once described as ‘a town ringed by blossom’ as it was surrounded by gardens with blossoming trees. We are working with residents, schools and community groups to create a new, symbolic ‘ring of blossom’ and bring more blossom to Birmingham. This winter, thanks to support from the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, more than 500 blossoming trees will be planted around the city’s iconic Number 11 circular bus route. If you would like to hear more about this project, contact us via email at Birmingham-Blossom@nationaltrust.org.uk.
- GWR Park, Swindon
- At the historic GWR Park, which dates from 1844, 17 new trees were planted last winter in preparation for spring 2023. This blossom circle will give people a beautiful new space to come together under the blossom.
- Lenton Recreation Ground and St Mary’s Rest, Nottingham
- The blossom trees to be planted at Lenton Recreation Ground in Nottingham are part of the city's ambitions to plant 50,000 trees over two years and will help it meet its target to be carbon neutral by 2028. The project will see 28 ornamental mature cherry trees planted close to the Queens Medical Centre campus, which is part of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. Access improvements here will also be made. At St Mary's Rest, an avenue of 20 ornamental semi-mature cherry trees will be planted to create a peaceful sanctuary away from the city.
- Burley Park, Leeds
- In partnership with Love Leeds Parks and Leeds City Council, we’re bringing a new community blossom space to Burley Park. This park in Leeds is surrounded by the highest density of terraced housing in the country.
- Heritage Park, Coventry
- Blossom trees will be planted at Charterhouse Heritage Park in Coventry to mark its tenure as City of Culture. We're working with Historic Coventry Trust (HCT), Coventry City Council and with the local community to create the garden, which is being regenerated by HCT to leave a lasting legacy. It’s hoped that the garden will give people a place to reflect, bring benefits for wildlife and provide an important community, health and wellbeing space on the edge of Coventry City Centre.
- Exhibition Park, Newcastle
- We're helping to create a double avenue near a lake at Exhibition Park, on the outskirts of Newcastle. The blossom circle, near the University of Newcastle and Royal Victoria Infirmary, will see the planting of 26 ancient varieties of the cherry blossom tree Prunus 'Tai-Haku.' The project, delivered by the National Trust, Urban Green Newcastle, Newcastle City Council and the Newcastle Gateshead Initiative, will involve NHS staff and the local community.
- Devil's Point, Plymouth
- A blossom circle will be planted at Plymouth’s Devil’s Point, a place on the South West Coast Path where people wave off family members heading out to sea on naval operations. The trees will be planted in a semi-circle with the design mirroring the blossoming seagrass meadows beneath the waves just offshore. A wash of native wildflowers will feature along with hardy tree species such as blackthorn, that will withstand the harsh coastal weather and also attract insects and birds. More ornamental trees will provide a colourful framing for Plymouth Sound, which is England's first National Marine Park.
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London
The first of the Blossom Gardens was opened at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London on 24 May 2021. It features a total of 33 trees, including cherry, plum, hawthorn and crab apple, representing the city's 32 boroughs and the City of London.
The garden was opened in a ceremony by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, who was joined by Hilary McGrady, Director-General of the National Trust, and representatives from key worker communities such as the NHS, Transport for London and other frontline roles.
Local communities were involved in the creation of the site, which commemorates the lives lost from coronavirus and honours the key workers.
The London Blossom Garden was created in partnership with the Mayor of London with support from Bloomberg, working with Rosetta Arts and landscape architects The Edible Bus Stop and Davies White Landscape Architects.
Our vision is for nature, beauty and history for everyone. Our simple ambition with this project is to bring all of these elements together in the creation of green, nature-rich havens in the very heart of urban areas that are also beautiful and inspiring spaces people can use.
A quote by Hilary McGradyNational Trust Director-General
You might also be interested in
Best places to see blossom
Blossom is in full bloom, covering the UK in swathes of pink and white. From ornamental magnolias in gardens to hawthorn scattered across the countryside, discover some of the best places to see blossom in our care and beyond.
PDF
PDF
Get involved
We’ve produced a toolkit for any group or organisation who wants to take part in Blossom Together. You’ll find advice and ideas for planting trees as well as engaging people and your community with blossom and helping people to connect with nature wherever they are.
Project
Project
How we’re bringing blossom back
Hedgerows and orchards provide food for insects, homes for wildlife and a glorious spring blossom spectacle for humans. But they are disappearing from UK landscapes. Find out more about what we're doing to bring blossoming trees and hedgerows back.
Article
How to spot different types of blossom
Blossom is popping up all over the place, but do you know your damson from your blackthorn? Find out how to spot different types of blossom in your local area with our blossom-spotting guide.
Project
Project
Our ambition to establish 20 million trees to tackle climate change
Find out about ambitious plans to plant trees for future generations that will absorb carbon and enable nature to thrive.
Article
National Trust Podcast: series seven
Listen to the first episode of series seven, where we celebrate the beauty of blossom. Hear the story of how a Victorian and a potato saved Japan’s lost blooms and learn about a coastal blossom community project in Plymouth.
Shop the National Trust native tree collection
Bring blossom to your garden with the National Trust native tree and hedgerow collection, created in collaboration with Blue Diamond garden centres. At least 10% of all sales will support conservation work at the places in our care.