North East Blossom
As the days grow longer and the trees burst into beautiful bloom, explore a variety of blossom-inspired events across the North East, at National Trust places and beyond. From hands-on art sessions where you can create your own blossom-themed masterpiece, to wellbeing walks and inspiring garden talks, there’s plenty to enjoy right on your doorstep. Supported by Postcode Lottery players.
Durham
Go blossom spotting in Durham
This year, we’re joining up with partners across Durham City to celebrate the joy of Blossom and have created a Durham City blossom map features blossom hotspots that you can follow throughout the city.
Whether you’re commuting through the city, enjoying lunch in the park, or spending quality time exploring with the family, there’s a wide range of activities for you to join and experience blossom in different locations around the city.
You can use this map to see which places are taking part and find North East blossom hotspots. And from early April you can pick up a free map at Crook Hall Gardens, the Oriental Museum and other venues across Durham, showing blossom hotspots, with routes to take you from city streets and visitor attractions to Durham’s green spaces.
Art and Photography student exhibition
As you wander around Crook Hall Gardens, discover creative responses to Blossom in an art and photography exhibition by students from the University of Sunderland. Students from the University of Sunderland’s Art and Photography departments have worked with us to create a creative response to blossom in and around Crook Hall Gardens. Their work captures the sensory delight of blossom and nature through a variety of pieces, from prints to photography, which you'll find dotted through the hall and gardens.
- Dates: Tuesday 12 May - Friday 12 June. Free with admission.
Origami and Calligraphy workshop
Have a go at origami and calligraphy in a drop-in workshop for all ages. Students from Durham's Teikyo University will be joining us, wearing traditional Japanese dress to set the scene. They'll introduce you to the traditional paper craft of origami, and the elegant artform of Japanese calligraphy, Shodo.
- Date and time: Thursday 28 May, 10am – 12 midday
Gateshead
Art Diamonds: Play with blossom with Sofia Barton
Celebrate the joy and 'wow' factor of spring blossom in this session with artist Sofia Barton. You will be using inks, pastels and pencils to celebrate the colour and vibrancy of nature and this season of new life.
- Dates and times: Tuesday 28 April, 10am-12.30pm
- Location: Saltwell Park, Gateshead NE9 5AX
- To book go to Art Diamonds: Play with Blossom with Sofia Barton - Gateshead Council
Blossom @ The Late Shows
Join us for some Blossom origami and papercraft as part of the North East Museum’s Late Shows.
- Dates and times: Saturday 9 May, 5.30-10pm
- Location: Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead NE8 4JB Shipley Art Gallery - The North East's leading gallery for craft and design
Blooming June at the Tyne Derwent Way
Join us for a month of Blossom-themed activities to inspire you! Please keep yourself posted as to what is on offer: whether you like crafting, planting or walking and wheeling there is something for you!
Gateshead's green getaway - Tyne Derwent Way
Gibside
Blossom and Bloom Trail 2026
- Dates: Until Sunday 10 May
- Location: Gibside, Free, admission applies.
Festival of Blossom: Our Story Isn’t Over art exhibition. An exhibition of women, recovery and renewal at Gibside.
- Dates: Until Monday 15 June, 10am – 4.30pm
- Location: Gibside, Free, admission applies.
Festival of Blossom: Meet the beekeepers. Drop in to meet our resident beekeepers and learn about the role of honeybees as pollinators during the Festival of Blossom.
- Dates: Saturday 2 May, Monday 4 May and Saturday 9 May, 11am – 2pm
- Location: Gibside, Free, admission applies.
Newcastle
Celebrate the arrival of spring with free blossom‑themed events across Newcastle, working alongside Newcastle City Council. Enjoy creative workshops, nature activities and family‑friendly experiences as the city comes into bloom.
- Date: Thursday 9 April
Celebrate Blossom with Artist Sofia Barton, 12pm - 2pm
Wildflower Seedball Making with Wild Intrigue (Drop In), 12pm - 4pm
Blossom & Bird Safari with Wild Intrigue, 3pm - 4pm
- Location: Springbank Pavilion (Leazes Park, Newcastle)
- Date: Thursday 16 April
Blossom Kites with Pallas Family Flyers and Artist Sofia Barton, 12pm - 2pm
Wildflower Seedball Making with Wild Intrigue (Drop In), 12pm - 4pm
Blossom & Bird Safari with Wild Intrigue, 1pm - 2pm
Create & Bloom with Artist Pui Lee, 2pm - 4pm
- Location: Paddy Freeman’s Pavilion (Paddy Freemans Park, Newcastle)
Northumberland
Seaton Delaval Hall
Festival of Blossom
Saturday 9 May – Sunday 7 June 2026
Fall in love with blossom at Seaton Delaval Hall and across the North East.
Visitors can pick up a blossom map, take part in drop-in activities, or simply enjoy the uplifting impact of blossom in the landscape. It’s a chance to slow down, notice the changing season, and connect with nature and each other.
Blossom Exhibitions at Seaton Delaval Hall
Discover three inspiring blossom-themed experiences this spring. The Secret Bats of Seaton Delaval Hall (9 May–7 June) is a reflective installation by artist Amy Dover, revealing the vital links between bats, blossom and thriving ecosystems. Explore specially designed bat boxes across the Hall and grounds, featuring illustrated portraits of resident bats created with our bat ecologist. In the first week, visitors can join a gentle interactive erasure activity highlighting the impacts of environmental change.
Also on display, We Are Wildflower Women – Patchworked Care (9 May–7 June) presents a community quilt made by a women’s recovery group, celebrating healing and connection.
Visit the Blossom Hub in the Summer House to learn more or share your reflections.
Further afield in Northumberland
Celebrate cherry blossom season at The Alnwick Garden, home to the world’s largest collection of Tai‑haku cherry trees. From April to May, the Cherry Orchard bursts into bloom, inspired by the Japanese tradition of Hanami. Wander beneath 329 blossom‑filled trees, enjoy haiku poetry, family crafts and gentle moments of reflection, with evening tickets offering a quieter way to experience spring’s beauty.
Sunderland
Bloom Boom!
An open call for knitted, crochet or stitched flowers and bees. Do you love knitting, crochet and crafting? Or are you looking to be inspired to learn new skills?
Join us to celebrate the National Trust’s Festival of Blossom by making beautiful white and pink flowers to decorate community gardens across the city including Mowbray Park Community Garden and Just Let Your Soul Grow Community Garden. The call out for blooms closes on Wednesday 20 May, ready for a yarn bombing garden takeover during May half term.
The project has been inspired by the botanical drawings of Sunderland artist Charles Muir from our Museum collections.
- Date: the deadline for blooms is Wednesday 20 May
- Location: Drop them off at a collection point (or pop them in the post) - Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, SR1 1PP or Just Let your Grow Community Garden, SR5 1PW
For further information visit: Bloom Boom! | Sunderland Culture
Sunderland City Council
The first local Blossom programme, as part of the National Trust’s much‑loved national initiative celebrating spring and encouraging people to get outside and enjoy nature is being launched by Sunderland City Council.
Blossom officially launches in Sunderland on Monday 6 April, offering a programme of family‑friendly activities and opportunities to discover more about the city’s parks and green spaces.
Residents are invited to take part in a Blossom photography competition, opening on 6 April, by sharing photos of their favourite blossom trees. Winning images will be displayed at Washington Old Hall, a National Trust site.
Community groups, schools and residents can also get involved creatively by crocheting, knitting or embroidering wool and felt blossoms, which will be used to yarn‑bomb community gardens across the city. To mark Earth Day on 22 April, free blossom‑making sessions will take place in Mowbray Park Community Garden, where participants can learn new crafting skills.
The programme also includes storytelling and craft sessions for children, outdoor yoga and meditation, and guided walks at locations including Hetton Lyons Country Park and Elemore Country Park — offering something for everyone to enjoy nature at their own pace.
For more information, click here.