Crook Hall Gardens and Durham in Blossom 2025

North East in Blossom 2025 – a region-wide programme

This year, North East-based organisations have come together in partnership to celebrate blossom across the region, thanks to a project supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Join us on the journey as the programme blooms at Crook Hall Gardens and in Durham, at National Trust places including Gibside, Washington Old Hall, Seaton Delaval Hall and Ormesby Hall, as well as along the Tyne Derwent Way and across Gateshead, Newcastle and Middlesbrough. 

You can use this map to see which places are taking part and find North East blossom hotspots.

North East in Blossom: Durham City map

Take yourself on a tour of the blossom hotspots of Durham to find all the best areas to spot spring blooms. Download your own copy of the map here, or pick up a copy at Crook Hall Gardens and other major visitor attractions across Durham.

Blossom at Crook Hall Gardens

Spring is a special time in the gardens, with blossom picking up pace week by week. In March, delicate white flowers appear on the damson tree in our orchard, followed in early April by frothy white clusters blooming on the gnarled 300 year-old pear tree in the walled garden.

Then it’s the apple trees’ turn to put on a show, with blossom usually peaking around early May. A path runs between traditional varieties of apple trees in the orchard, where visitors can surround themselves with clouds of delicately scented frothy white-pink flowers and hear the joyful sound of buzzing bees. You can pull up a blossom-themed deckchair, lie back and soak it all up.

While you’re here, pick up a free gift to help fill your view with blossom. Available while stocks last. 

Events and activities

You’ll find a whole host of blossom-themed events around Durham this spring:

• Learn about planting and caring for blossom trees at Crook Hall Gardens.
• Find inner peace through a mindful family blossom bathing session. 
• Create nature-inspired arts and crafts. The whole family can join in with Blossom crafts this May half term. Wednesday 28 May, 11am-1pm, 1.30pm-3pm (free, normal admission applies).
• Use sunlight and natural objects to create original prints, at a cyanotype art workshop. Tuesday 27 May, 1pm-4pm (free, normal admission applies). Booking essential.
• Join a guided blossom walk across the city. Learn more about the riverside location, history and architectural heritage of Durham. Sunday 18 May, 10am-4pm (free). Booking recommended, book by emailing pearl.saddington@nationaltrust.org.uk.

Head to our what’s on page , follow us on Facebook and check back here to find out more as events are added to the programme.

Capture the moment

Be sure to bring your camera, or have your phone at the ready, to snap some beautiful blossom pics as you explore Crook Hall Gardens and the wider city, or wherever you happen to spot blossom. Then, thanks to CEWE photo printing company, you can pick up a voucher to print out your best shots for free: from 20 March to 31 May, visit a participating Boots, Ryman or London Camera Exchange store to get five free photos printed using the free National Trust Blossom border. We’d love to see them too – please share your favourite blossom photos on Facebook, adding #BlossomWatch, #NationalTrust and tagging us with @CrookHallGardensNT.

Partners in blossom

We would like to thank all our partners across Durham City and the North East who have come together to celebrate blossom in 2025.