‘Spring will put on phenomenal show here at the abbey’

TOURIST ATTRACTION’S HEAD GARDENER URGES VISITORS TO TAKE IN THE BLOSSOM SEASON

THE head gardener at Calke Abbey is encouraging visitors to enjoy this year’s blossom season.

Running for a fifth year, #Blossomwatch encourages people everywhere to celebrate the beauty of blossom and bask in the sights and scents of spring.

Inspired by the Japanese tradition of ‘Hanami,’ (which literally translates to ‘flower viewing’), the National Trust is encouraging people of all ages to pause and take a moment to appreciate the temporary beauty of blossom that can be found in orchards, gardens, hedgerows and city parks.

With more than 600 acres of ancient parkland, nature reserves, wetlands and romantic gardens, Calke Abbey is home to a rich tapestry of flora throughout the year.

Head gardener Heloise Brooke said: “With the milder weather, things have been progressing again after the very wet winter.

“Our visitors have already been able to enjoy our lovely peach and nectarine blossoms, and our plum and pear blossom is only just around the corner.

“While earlier this spring our snowdrops came out particularly early, and also went over more quickly than usual, the timeline seems to have corrected itself.

“We are also seeing an especially stunning display of crocuses, violas and other spring bulbs on the auricula theatre and around the gardens and pleasure grounds.”

Early spring sees the peach and nectarine blossom flowering in the Peach House in the walled kitchen garden, followed by plum and apple blossom later in the season.

Around the wider estate, visitors can look out for wild cherry, blackthorn and hawthorn blossom at this time of year.

Or they can pause on one of the benches around the estate to enjoy the sweet smell of the blossom and the possibilities of the seasons to come.

Heloise added: “Over the last year, we have planted over 2,000 crocus bulbs, that are now coming out in a flurry of colour.

“These are to commemorate the late Sir Vauncey Harpur Crewe, the last Baronet at Calke.

“He died a hundred years ago in 1924, and we discovered a letter he wrote to his mother in 1857 when he was 10 years old, that he had planted crocus for her.

“With these and the beautiful blossoming trees, spring will be putting on truly a phenomenal show here at Calke.”