National Trust’s Festival of Blossom

The National Trust is encouraging people living in Manchester and surrounding towns to notice the beauty of blossom in and around them.

The National Trust’s Festival of Blossom is in its final week in April and as part of the festivities, Europe’s biggest conservation charity has been working with community groups, local choirs and young people to bring the joys of spring to urban residents.

The hanami-inspired* celebration encourages people to dive head-first into the annual feel-good spectacle using all of their senses, whether that is by reading poetry under the falling petals of a cherry tree, listening to music in the middle of an orchard, smelling spring’s perfume in a garden, or simply taking in the sea of pink and white petals, wherever they are. 

Kirsten Warren, Assistant Director of Operations for the North West says: “We’re delighted to be celebrating the annual feel-good spectacle of blossom through a variety of activities across the city centre and at National Trust places in Cheshire. We want to encourage people to notice nature around them and benefit from the beauty of blossom right on their doorstep, in both countryside places and urban green spaces. By working with different community groups, artists and individuals this year we’ve been able to connect even more people with these benefits and we hope that the love for blossom and nature continues to grow.” 

In Cheetham Hill, the National Trust has been working with a number of community groups including the Guidance Hub, a community centre for all with a focus on Islamic studies, to plant 16 blossom trees and spring bulbs to bring more nature benefits to the area.  

Ifraz Sharif manager at the Guidance Hub says, “Creating opportunities for people to be close to nature in Cheetham Hill is really important because there is a lack of good quality green space here. Celebrating spring is something anyone can easily get involved with and enjoy. People have been really enjoying planting trees and seeing the blossom.”  

Further into the city, the Trust’s Bloomtown trail returns for its second year. The free digital and print map focuses on connecting people to 39 of the best places to find blossom in Manchester, Salford and Trafford via walking and cycling routes. Some of the highlights include foxglove trees in St Peter’s Square, crab apple trees at The Whitworth and Fuji cherry trees at Castlefield Viaduct. The free digital map can be accessed at nationaltrust.org.uk/bloomtown.  

Helen Lomas, Senior Programming and Partnerships Officer, at Dunham Massey says, “We’re passionate about working in partnership with local schools and community groups to share the nature, beauty and heritage of the local area. We hope that connecting young people to the natural world through events like today can educate, create lasting memories and inspire them to become the next generation of conservationists and protectors of our planet.” 

Near Wilmslow, the industrial gardens at Quarry Bank are filled with blossom too, with azalea, rhododendron, pear, plum and apple trees putting on a show in spring.

This year a new trail developed by placement students from the University of Manchester encourages visitors to think about blossom’s use in different sensory aspects of day-to-day life.

The National Trust’s Bloomtown trail runs until Sunday 5 May. Full information on the National Trust’s blossom celebrations in Manchester can be found at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bloomtown with members of the public encouraged to share photos of blossom on social media using #BlossomWatch.  

[*] Hanami is a popular Japanese tradition where people across the generations get involved in enjoying the transient beauty of cherry blossom.