Discover more in the North East
Characterful houses and gardens, atmospheric woodland and rugged coastlines plus a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Take a stroll around the Formal Garden at Ormesby Hall in mid-April where you'll be greeted by thousands of tulips of all colours. This spring wow moment creates a bright, colourful spectacle set to lift to spirits of all who visit.
Cherryburn is practically bursting with blossom, boasting cherry, pear, plum and apple blossom as well as hawthorn and blackthorn. But it’s the large white cherry tree in front of the farmhouse that steals the limelight, wowing visitors throughout the spring and making for wonderful photographs.
There’s a new attraction at Wallington this spring – one that will welcome visitors and wildlife all through the summer and into autumn. The new white border, thought to be the longest in the UK , has been designed with a long flowering season in mind and with plants that will benefit insects and birds.
Laburnum arch watch starts in May when its hanging yellow petals start to bud. The laburnum arch is most striking from mid-May to early June when its masses of yellow flowers are in bloom. Over 20 trees grow over the arched tunnel, which leads through to the arboretum.
Explore this huge landscaped garden, designed for beauty and function, with it's towering trees, man-made lakes and tumbling waterfalls. Walk under the canopy of some of the tallest trees of their kind in the Pinetum, explore the weaving paths in the Rock Garden and witness the changing seasons in the Formal Gardens.
Take a stroll through the East Wood to discover Wallington's secluded walled garden, offering year-round colour. Wander along the terrace, pause to hear the trickling water from the Mary Pool, sit and reflect in the storytelling garden and look out for snowdrops and early flowering bulbs starting to appear.
Escape the hustle and bustle of modern life within 600 acres of Georgian landscape garden at Gibside, with its tree-lined Avenue, walled garden, winding woodland paths and views over the Derwent Valley.
Designed by Sir John Vanbrugh, the garden at Seaton Delaval Hall provides the same sense of theatricality as the Hall itself. At this time of year when the trees are bare, it's all about the views, from the formal lines of the hedges and the geometry of the Parterre to the long, bare branches of the great weeping ash.
Discover the small walled garden created by Arts and Crafts designer Gertrude Jekyll. A sheltered oasis all year round, it’s a peaceful place to sit and admire the view and watch the flocks of wading birds and geese flying past the castle during the winter months.
Wander through a series of interlinking gardens, each with its own style and character, set against the backdrop of a Grade I listed medieval hall. Discover the maze, take in colourful shrubs and stems and enjoy views of Durham city and cathedral. Crook Hall Gardens is now closed until 10 February 2024.
Explore the garden at Ormesby Hall, a green oasis in the heart of industrial Middlesbrough. Wander through the colourful Victorian formal garden, stroll through the growing orchard or stretch your legs on a walk through the estate.
Explore the tranquil garden surrounding this picturesque stone manor house in the heart of Washington village, with it's intricate knot garden, miniature apple orchard and wildlife-rich nuttery.
Blossom is a welcome sign that spring has arrived. There are many varieties to spot, both on your doorstep and at a National Trust place. Share your pictures on social media using the hashtag #BlossomWatch to spread the joy of spring.
In late April and early May, the orchard's traditional variety apple trees surround visitors in clouds of frothy white-pink blossom amongst a carpet of spring flowers. In 2024, Crook Hall Gardens is at the heart of a city-wide Durham Blossom programme; highlights include a blossom picnic weekend with cream teas and live music, guided walks, mindful photography by boat, blossom bathing and songwriting workshops.
One of a few surviving 18th-century designed landscapes Gibside was fashioned with two things in mind: spectacular vista views and ‘wow’ moments. The Walled Garden at Gibside has fruit blossom in spring, from the early blooming apricot tree, which produces blush pink flowers in February and March, to the plum, cherry and apple blossoms that appear from March to late May.
Look out for blackthorn and hawthorn blossom in the hedgerows, scrub and woodlands of the Durham Coast. Blackthorn is usually the first to flower, from around March to June, before its leaves start to show. Where it flourishes, masses of delicate creamy white flowers can make a hedge appear snow-covered. Hawthorn, also known as May blossom or May tree, blooms between April and June, after its leaves emerge. Its scented flower clusters are white, sometimes with a pink tinge. Both trees are important to wildlife, supporting hundreds of insect species.
There are several varieties of ornamental cherry blossom at Wallington, including the fragrant white flowers of the Great White Cherry that grows in the orchard square in the Walled Garden. This wildlife-friendly cherry is a particular favourite of bees, who can often be seen hopping between its flowers as they search for nectar, and the blossom looks like wedding confetti as it drops.
They’re celebrating Blossom at Cherryburn, offering blossom bathing in hammocks under the trees and talks about the importance of blossom as an early food source. Visitors are invited to write a nature-based Haiku and hang the poems in the garden and Cherryburn’s resident gardener will be available for "ask the gardener" sessions as well as hosting a potting station.
Celebrate the beauty of blossom this spring with a number of events and activities at Gibside, Crook Hall Gardens and Cherryburn.
Take part in the Festival of Blossom by finding ways to connect with nature.
Crook Hall Gardens is at the heart of the Durham City in Blossom 2024 programme of events and activities. Find out more about what's happening and how to get involved here.
Discover more seasonal blooms in the North of England with plenty of gardens and parks to visit.
Enjoy Yorkshire's glorious gardens and parks, from landscaped views of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, to exploring pathways at Beningbrough and Nostell.
The Lakes is known for its dramatic, wild landscapes, but its home to some intriguing gardens too. Explore castle grounds, a cottage garden that inspired Beatrix Potter, and more.
Characterful houses and gardens, atmospheric woodland and rugged coastlines plus a UNESCO World Heritage site.