We're working with partners to give communities more access to nature by creating green spaces and planting blossom trees in towns and cities across the UK. These natural places will give people a space to reflect and celebrate the beauty of spring, year after year.
Thanks to funding from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, CJ Wildlife, Alitex, Crane and Westminster Stone, and supporters of our Plant a Tree Appeal, tree-planting projects are underway across the UK.
Over a period of five years, we'll be helping to plant blossom trees in cities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Nature is hugely comforting to many – the sight of spring blossom can bring contentment and reassurance, reminding us that the natural world carries on even though many other parts of our lives can change.
However, many people struggle to connect to nature near where they live. In this project, we're working together with communities to help create green spaces for them to come together and connect with nature.
Every tree planted will help us meet our commitment to plant 20 million trees by 2030, which is part of our work to tackle the climate crisis.
Along with helping cities to blossom, more than 40 blossom tree-planting projects are running at the places we look after in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Between 2023 and 24, more than 38,000 blossom trees were planted on land we care for.
The first blossom spaces were created in east London, an area that saw some of the worst impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic. Since then, many other blossom-inspired spaces have followed in London's footsteps.
For example, blossom gardens have opened in Newcastle, Nottingham and Plymouth. The majority of these blossom gardens were planted in autumn 2021 and opened in spring 2022. In Manchester, blossom trees were planted and a city-wide trail called Bloomtown was launched, which encourages people to discover 30 blossom locations across the city.
New blossom spaces in Birmingham, Leeds and Swindon were planted over 2022 and 2023, while further blossom trees are due to be planted in Belfast, Durham and Cardiff over 2024. Also, a blossom garden is opening in April 2024 in Coventry as a City of Culture legacy.
Birmingham
Birmingham was once described as a town ringed by blossom, as it was surrounded by gardens with blossoming trees. We worked with residents, schools and community groups to create a new, symbolic ring of blossom and bring more blossom to Birmingham. Thanks to support from the players of People’s Postcode Lottery, more than 500 blossoming trees have been planted around the city’s iconic Number 11 circular bus route.
Our vision is for nature, beauty and history for everyone. Our simple ambition with this project is to bring all of these elements together in the creation of green, nature-rich havens in the very heart of urban areas that are also beautiful and inspiring spaces people can use.
For only £5, you could help to plant a tree that will tackle climate change and support life for years to come. Your support will help to plant and establish 20 million trees by 2030.
From ornamental magnolias in gardens to blackthorn scattered across the countryside, discover some of the best places to see blossom in our care and beyond.
Hedgerows and orchards provide food for insects, homes for wildlife and a spectacle of spring blossom for humans. However, they are disappearing from UK landscapes. Find out more about what we're doing to bring blossoming trees and hedgerows back.
Blossom is popping up all over the place, but do you know your damson from your blackthorn? Find out how to spot different types of blossom in your local area with our blossom-spotting guide.
Find out about ambitious plans to plant trees for future generations that will absorb carbon and enable nature to thrive.
Listen to the first episode of series seven, where we celebrate the beauty of blossom. Hear the story of how a Victorian and a potato saved Japan’s lost blooms and learn about a coastal blossom community project in Plymouth.
