After the success of #BlossomWatch in 2020, when thousands captured and shared images of trees in bloom across social media, the National Trust is inviting people to celebrate blossom season in Buckinghamshire once again.
Emulating Hanami, the ancient Japanese tradition of viewing and celebrating blossom as the first sign of spring, the conservation charity is encouraging everyone to take a moment to pause, actively notice and enjoy the fleeting beauty of blossom.
Using #BlossomWatch the National Trust is asking people to share their blossom images on social media, with the hope that the joyful sight of blush-tinted blooms will lift spirits and enable everyone to celebrate nature together.
Across Bucks, Berkshire and Oxfordshire, blossom trees can be seen on the streets, in gardens and in public parks as well as places in National Trust care, such as Hughenden, Cliveden, Stowe and Greys Court.
Emma McNamara, National Trust Gardens and Parks Consultant for the South East and Northern Ireland: “Blossom is fleeting but so beautiful that you’ll find planting your own tree hugely rewarding.
A blossom tree gives you two seasonal delights: bright, blowsy, or delicate flowers in the spring, and later, home-grown fruits.
“Most fruit trees are easy to maintain; you may need to take action against some pests and diseases, but these trees are resilient and long-lived. Bees will be delighted by the flowers and will help to pollinate, leading to autumn fruit.
“Blossom trees come in all sizes, and whatever sized outdoor space you have, there is a blossom tree that will suit. Prunus incisa ‘Kojo-no-mai’ is a very small Fuji cherry tree with zig-zagging branches and masses of flowers - perfect for growing in pots. As winter ends in early March, ‘Kojo-no-mai’ bursts into an abundance of blossom.”
Hughenden has flowering trees in every season, from winter sweet box through spring apple blossom to exuberant horse chestnut spikes in early summer.
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There are more than 50 varieties of old English apple trees in the orchard and walled garden which burst into beautiful blossom in April and May, together with pears and cherries.
Meanwhile, Cliveden’s main car park was once a walled garden.
There are still fruit trees around the perimeter, including peaches and plums on the warm south-facing sides and apples, pears and crab apples espaliered and fanned against the walls.
These include the variety Arthur Turner, the only culinary apple tree to receive an Award of Garden Merit for its blossom.
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A visit in spring may find you returning to a confetti-covered car.
The ornamental Round Garden orchard is where the real blossom drama occurs at Cliveden.
Originally laid out in the mid 19th century in a circular shape, it has an arrangement of 2m iron arches forming tunnels across the diameter and around the edges of the garden.
The orchard fell into disrepair in the 1950s and has been undergoing long-term restoration for the last few years.
You can find out more here - nationaltrust.org.uk/features/blossom-watch.
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