Discover more at Crook Hall Gardens
Find out when Crook Hall Gardens is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
Fall in love with blossom at Crook Hall Gardens and across the city of Durham this year. Pick up a blossom map, take part in a creative workshop, join a guided walk or mindful event, or simply savour the uplifting impact of blossom.
Durham-based organisations have come together in partnership to celebrate blossom across the city, thanks to a project supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Join us on the journey as the programme blooms.
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. This year, you can pull up a blossom-themed deckchair, lie back and soak it all up.
While you’re here, pick up a free blossom activity pack containing a guide to making an origami blossom flower, blossom facts and a honey and apple scone recipe. Available while stocks last.
And don’t forget to say hello to Blossom the sheep, our special visitor. Created by artist Dave Young, and on loan from Artichoke’s HERD, you might recognise her from her appearance in Durham Lumiere 2023.
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. Follow our guide to mindful photography, which you’ll find in the gardens, then print out your best shots for free at a special photo station in the Garden Gate Café. We’d love to see them too – please share your favourite blossom photos on Facebook, adding #BlossomWatch, #NationalTrust and tagging us with @CrookHallGardensNT.
A free map shows blossom hotspots, with routes to take you from city streets and visitor attractions to Durham’s green spaces. From early April, pick up a copy at Crook Hall Gardens, the Oriental Museum and other venues across the city, or click here to download the map as a pdf.
You’ll find a whole host of blossom-themed events across the city this spring:
Head to our what’s on page to find out more.
A Blossom Exhibition at Durham University Oriental Museum springs from a partnership with the National Museum of Japanese History and Professor Yoshi Miki. Outdoors, join a spring walk with the Woodland Trust at Low Burnhall Woods or enjoy the cherry blossom trail at the Durham University Botanic Gardens. For more information visit Durham University’s webpage or check out the venues in our Durham City in Blossom 2024 map.
We would like to thank all our partners across Durham City who have come together to celebrate blossom in 2024.
Find out when Crook Hall Gardens is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
Supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery.
Take part in the Festival of Blossom by finding ways to connect with nature.
Discover blossom through music, poetry and immersive experiences. Attend a performance with the band LYR or join Simon for an intimate poetry reading this Blossom Week, 20–28 April 2024.
From ornamental magnolias in gardens to blackthorn scattered across the countryside, discover some of the best places to see blossom in our care and beyond.
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.
Try our step-by-step blossom origami tutorial in this easy spring-inspired craft. Make flowers in different sizes and colours to decorate your home or give to friends and family.