Latest news with #AnnieReilly
The Guardian
20-03-2025
- Climate
- The Guardian
Take a blossom break at work, National Trust urges, as spring warms UK
Employees are being urged to step outside to take time to observe one of the wonders of the natural world: the fleeting but lovely spring blossom season. Research commissioned by the National Trust, which operates in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, shows that while almost all those polled said they felt better if they took breaks in nature, only one in 10 did so. The conservation charity believes this week's rising temperatures in much of the UK, which coincide neatly with the spring equinox, will start this year's blossom season and could lead to particularly impressive displays in some places. This is the sixth iteration of the National Trust's blossom campaign, when the charity asks people to emulate Japan's hanami custom. The campaign first came to prominence during the first Covid lockdown five years ago The blossom boosts many people's spirits: a new YouGov poll for the trust found that almost all UK adults (94%) said the sight of blossom on trees and in hedgerows made them happy. But while 80% of workers said they felt more positive after downing tools or getting away from screens and spending breaks outside, only 10% actually got out for walks or a brief sit among trees. Annie Reilly, the blossom programme manager at the trust, said: 'The sight of blossom after such a grey, cold and stormy start to the year is a real mood-lifter. 'With the season only lasting a few weeks, it's really important to enjoy it while we can. Our simple ask is for people to take a break to explore their streets or nearest green space for signs of blossom, and if they have nearby green spaces or parks close to where they work, maybe try sitting under blossoming trees to get a lift from nature.' The colder temperatures in many places last week slowed the blossom season down, but it is expected to speed up now. Pam Smith, the national gardens consultant at the trust, said: 'With blossom spreading across the country from the warmer south-west counties to the northernmost tips of Scotland at a walking pace, we need to get outside to enjoy this special annual show.' Over the winter, ranger and countryside teams have planted new blossom trees to create habitats for wildlife – and people – including new traditional orchards at Killerton in Devon, a 'lost' orchard at Lytes Cary Manor in Somerset and more than 4,000 blossoming trees to help create new hedgerows in the north and west lakes in Cumbria. Smith said: 'Orchards, particularly those that are ageing and less managed for fruit production, are important habitats for wildlife including pollinators, bats and moths. National Trust gardeners enthused about the blossom as it broke through. Jenny Woodcock, a gardener at Ham House in Richmond, south-west London, said: 'Along the east wall of our kitchen garden, our apricots are showing their beautiful light-pink blossom. The peaches alongside them are also in bud, and likely to flower over the next couple of weeks together with the plum and cherry border on the west side of the kitchen garden.' Ed Atkinson, the head gardener at the Blickling Estate in Norfolk, said: 'We've just had the first of our almond blossom emerge in the orchard, a sure sign of spring. The magnolias in the west garden will be next to flower, followed by various fruit blossom from apples, pears, plums, cherries, medlars, gauges, peaches, and nectarines.' Amy Ness, an area ranger at Brockhampton in Herefordshire, said: 'The Shropshire prune damson trees that surround the house are starting to show signs of budding and we expect them to be in bloom towards the end of March and into early April. If the weather continues to be warm, dry and still in Herefordshire we could be in for a really good blossom season.'
The Independent
20-03-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
People urged to enjoy blossom spectacle as warm weather kick-starts spring
Warm temperatures could kick-start this year's blossom display, the National Trust says as it urges people to celebrate the natural spring spectacle. The conservation charity is predicting a more 'typical' year for the annual blossom displays, after last year's early start, with blackthorn and cherry plum trees the first to burst into flower. And with temperatures set to reach 20C in some places as spring begins, the National Trust is urging UK workers to get outside for their break and enjoy the 'mood-lifting' benefits of blossom. But see-sawing temperatures could bring a sting in the tail for blossoming trees, with further frosts likely. Head of gardens and parks at the National Trust Sheila Das said: 'The warm period with high temperatures nudging 20C a fortnight ago certainly pushed things on with buds starting to emerge on early flowering cherry and pear trees in our gardens and blackthorn popping out excitedly in hedgerows. 'The colder temperatures last week slowed things down again and with today's temperatures anticipated to once again tip up towards 20C in some places, it's this changeability that could bring a sting in the tail given that we can expect further frosts.' Polling by YouGov for the National Trust shows that 94% of people report feeling happy when seeing blossom in the spring. But just one in 10 working Britons spend breaks outdoors in their nearest green space, or in nature for a walk or to sit among trees, the survey found, so the charity is urging workers to 'take a big blooming break' to enjoy the sight of spring blossom. Annie Reilly, blossom programme manager at the National Trust, said: 'The joyful sight of blossom after such a grey, cold and stormy start to the year is a real mood lifter. 'And it's well known that spending time in nature can boost your wellbeing. 'With the season only lasting a few weeks – it's really important to enjoy it while we can. 'Our simple ask is for people to take a break to explore their streets or nearest green space for signs of blossom – and if they have nearby green spaces or parks close to where they work – maybe try sitting under blossoming trees to get a lift from nature.' The charity has also been planting new blossom trees over the winter, including new traditional orchards at Killerton, Devon, planting a 'lost' orchard at Lytes Cary in Somerset and putting in more than 4,000 blossoming trees to create new hedgerows in the Lake District.
