Today (Saturday 23 April) as part of Blossom Watch Day we are celebrating the beauty of blossom within our city’s green spaces, with the official opening of our blossom circle in Exhibition Park.
Launched by the National Trust in 2020, Blossom Watch Day is the annual celebration of ‘nature’s confetti’, with the charity encouraging people to get outside and celebrate the fleeting seasonal spectacle.
Throughout the day families can take part in a whole host of blossom arts and crafts for all ages, from creating your own blossom artworks, fridge magnets and keyrings, to decorating blossom biscuits. Plus, the chance to get your own blossom face paint or temporary tattoo!
Urban Green Café will also be joining in on the fun, with blossom worksheets to colour in and add to their growing blossom tree inside the café! They will also be serving a limited-edition Blossom Together tea with an amazing selection of sweets & savouries to choose from on the counter, including homemade cherry and rose scones with clotted cream and cherry jam.
Jack White, Engagement Coordinator for Urban Green Newcastle said: “We’ve got loads going on this Blossom Watch Day, with something for everyone who wants to get involved. We look forward to seeing Exhibition Park busy with people celebrating the benefits of our green spaces and particularly enjoying the calming effects of spending time in blossom.”
The celebration event will centre around the opening of the new area of blossom trees in Exhibition Park, planted as part of the National Trust’s Blossom Together Campaign, which aims to create beautiful green spaces in and near urban areas to connect more people to nature and to create spaces for hope and reflection.26 cherry trees were planted alongside paths leading to the boating lake in autumn 2021, alongside 72 lavender plants, wildflowers and 1000 bulbs with help from volunteers and school groups.
Sophie Wardell, National Trust Programme Manager said: “We’re delighted that Newcastle is one of the first cities to benefit from this unique project to bring nature and blossom to the heart of the cities across the UK so that even more people can enjoy the benefits being surrounded by nature brings.
The last two years have been difficult for many of us and the pandemic has highlighted how incredibly important nature-rich green space is to everyone. Working with our partners at Newcastle City Council and Urban Green Newcastle we hope this space can provide solace and enjoyment and help nature to thrive in Newcastle.”
The National Trust has a long-term ambition to plant and establish 20 million trees by 2030 to help in the fight against climate change and to tackle unequal access to green space across the UK.
The conservation charity launched #BlossomWatch in 2020, when the country had just entered lockdown. More than four million people have shared their images of spring blossom on social media as part of #BlossomWatch, with some of the stunning images, along with personal dedications, featuring in adverts in 16 UK cities, including on screens on Northumberland Street and across the Newcastle’s Central Motorway over the weekend of 22-24 April.
It’s not just Exhibition Park where you can enjoy displays of blossom in Newcastle. Urban Green Newcastle have also put together a guide to where you can find blossom across their 33 parks, so you can find the blossom close to you, explore somewhere new, or follow your own blossom trail across the city.
You can also share your own pictures of colourful blossom across the region with us on social media using the hashtag #Blossomwatch and tagging @urbangreenncl.