It's springtime! As trees around the UK burst into flower, the National Trust's #BlossomWatch campaign has begun.
What is #BlossomWatch?
Now in its third year running, the National Trust's #BlossomWatch campaign aims to be the British version of Hanami, the annual Japanese festival of cherry tree blossom.
Spring blossom can be found in hedgerows, orchards, parks and fields across the UK during March and April. Fruit trees such as apples, plums, pears, sloes and damsons will bear dainty white flowers tinged with pink, followed by the famous rosé pink petals of the cherry tree. Closing the season with its creamy white flower is hawthorn, or May-Tree.
In 2023, cold snaps have delayed blossom in most of the UK – apart from the southern regions. Andy Jasper, head of gardens and parkland at the National Trust, said:
“Luckily, snow doesn’t generally affect the blossom in the long run – it’s late frost that can really impact the display of blossom, fruiting and harvests – and the cold snap has happened before the buds have tried to bloom in most cases, so we are still in line for a truly incredible show where the delayed blossom will burst forth in waves across the country like an amazing Mexican floral wave.”
The initiative is part of the charity’s Everyone Needs Nature campaign, encouraging people to become more connected with nature. This follows the charity’s Noticing Nature report, which revealed that those who engage with nature are more likely to try to protect it.
According to the report, just 6% of adults, and 7% of children, celebrate natural events such as the first day of spring, solstice or harvest.
To remedy this, the charity wants institutions and schools to encourage people to engage with annual moments in nature. #BlossomWatch is one way to do this, celebrating this underrated but breathtaking time of year, which is set to last for around 3 months across the country.
It doesn’t take much to participate — simply taking a moment to pause and actively notice and enjoy the blossom’s fleeting beauty is enough. If you want to join the campaign, simply take a snap on your phone and post it to social media with the hashtag #BlossomWatch, tagging your location.
Have you seen?
- How to identify spring blossom
- Blackthorn guide: how to identify, folklore and uses
- When is May Day in 2023 and what festivals can I attend?
Crab apple tree in blossom/Credit: Getty
Main image: Bumblebee nectaring on pink cherry blossom at Sheringham Park, Norfolk/Credit: Rob Coleman, National Trust
