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Blossom Togethertoolkit 2021Planting and programming inspired by blossom season

03 Introductionto find out about Blossom Together

12 Planning your projectto help you decide what you want to do

19 Designing your site for plantingfor how to design your site if you are planting

27 Trees and planting guidancefor how to plant trees

36 Ideas for engaging peoplefor how to engage your community

41 Marketing, communications and the #BlossomWatch campaignfor how to take part in the campaign

48 Case studiesfor examples of other projects

54 FAQs, support and resourcesfor more information

Who is this toolkit for?This toolkit is for any group or organisation who wants to take part in Blossom Together. You will find in here advice and ideas for planting trees as well as engaging people and your community with blossom,helping people to connect with nature wherever they are.

Don’t have time to read the whole pack or only need to access a certain section? Use the quick links opposite.

2 National Trust Blossom Together toolkit 2021

Blossom Togetheris a multi-year national programme and campaign that’s all about embedding blossom season as a time in the year for us to celebrate and reflect, connect with nature, culture and each other.


Blossom Together will:• Create an annual programme in the spring that

signals hope, renewal and thanks nationally. This will embed the blossom season in the cultural calendar, at National Trust places and beyond, enhancing visitor experiences, reaching new audiences and allowing people to engage in a seasonal celebration wherever they are.

• Establish beautiful public spaces,with and for communities, which foster more nature and culture closer to people, enabling nature connection whilst supporting local greenspace and woodland to flourish nationally.

• Where and when appropriate, link Blossom planting and BlossomWatch to national and local commemoration of those who lost their lives to Covid-19 and pay tribute to those who gave so much in the fight against the pandemic.

• As well as providing beautiful, peaceful spaces for communities, the trees have a small but valuable conservation role to play as part of the Trust’s pledge to plant 20 million trees by 2030, helping combat climate change and improving habitat networks.


‘5 National Trust Blossom Together toolkit 2021

‘The best time to plant a tree was twenty yearsago – the second-best time is now.

Chinese proverb

The project has two main components that you could make happen in your community:• The planting of blossom tree circles

and dispersed blossom planting on National Trust land and in places where people live.

• A cultural programme that happens each spring that plays out at National Trust places and partner sites, digitally, in communities and on people’s doorstep nationally.

How can my group or organisation get involved?There will be lots of different ways to be part of Blossom Together both in terms of planting and/or engagement, and on a sliding scale from the very light touch to the more involved.

Who is this toolkit for?The toolkit is for any group interested in planting blossom trees and/or engaging people as part of Blossom Together.We hope any community group, partner, local authority or National Trust place will find this toolkit useful and provide you with all you need to take part.

There are a range of ways for groups to get involved, ranging from if you have very little resource or budget to if you are planning a more ambitious project.

See slide 12 to help you with your planning.


The casefor embedding nature into our culture

Blossom tree by a footpath at Wimpole Estate, Cambridgeshire.

Time in nature improves our wellbeing and makes us happier.

Trees provide homes and habitats for wildlife. Blossom trees in particular are sources of nectar for insects and pollinators, and provide fruit and places to nest for birds in winter.

Trees absorb harmful pollution and emit gasses that have proven to reduce stress levels in people.

Glades amongst trees offer us powerful, useful spaces that can bring people together, helping us connect to nature and each other.

Trees are natural barriers, helping to prevent flooding and offering us shade and protection.

Woodlands play a crucial role in tackling climate change and achieving ‘net zero’ carbon emissions.

Why blossom?Blossom trees have huge cultural significance and environmental importance, which is why blossomand people’s connection to it lies at the heart of Blossom Together.

National Trust Blossom Together toolkit 20217

‘Trees are almost too good to be true: imagine inventing a machine that provides homes and food for wildlife, stores carbon, cleans our air and water, provides all sorts of useful products, improves our physical andmental health, and generally makes life more enjoyable! We’re committed to establishing 20 million trees by 2030 to benefit nature, climate and people.’

Luke Barley, Trees and Woodlands Specialist at the National Trust

‘Blossom has a biological function for the plant. The relationship between pollinators and plants that has led to the amazing structure that is a flower and why they’re all different.’

Simon Toomer, Plant Conservation Specialist at the National Trust


Spring blossom has always been part of our culture and folklore, inspiring creativity, traditions and design over time.

The Japanese Garden, Tatton Park

Cherry Blossom print, Cragside

Wassail bowls, Cotehele

The Japanese Garden, Kingston Lacy

Cultural significance

From Wassailing, a symbol of ancient blessings to the cultural phenomena of Hanami in Japan, blossom globally has come to symbolise wellbeing, renewal, and hope.

Blossom trees often exist through human design; to create boundaries, for their fruits, or as a reminder of times gone by.

For centuries, explorers foraged across the world to bring back new plant species and this started to influence design and fashions in gardens and homes.

We can still see Japanese gardens today including those at National Trust Kingston Lacy and Tatton Park and see evidence of how Eastern culture influenced aesthetic and design.

For hundreds of years, orchards have flourished in every corner of the countryside, often found on the grounds of monasteries. After the dissolution of the monasteries, orchards remained on the sites, and became part of the country garden.

Orchards were not only places of beauty, but places of work, often bringing whole villages and communities together throughout the seasons, particularlyduring harvest in autumn.


‘Choosing to plant blossom trees opens up horticultural heritage, botanical and international themes for you to explore with your local community. It was the Japanese tradition of Sato Zakura or ‘village cherries’ which has led to the Hanami celebrations.

There is potential to develop our own home-grown themes using, for example, heritage apple varieties local to your county, town, cityor village. Another possibility isto highlight endangered speciesor cultivars. Involving yourcommunity in growing these treesthemselves will promote skills anddevelop ownership.’

Simon Toomer – Plant Conservation Specialist, National Trust


What is blossom?‘Blossom’ simply means flowers on a tree – typically conspicuous flowers that are noticeable when in bloom. One of the most recognisable signs of spring is when native species such as hawthorn, cherry and blackthorn form spectacular clouds of white or pink flower.

Trees like hawthorn and crab apple typically form the lower layer of woodland. They can be found in hedges or fields and form a key reason why woodland glades, aswell as hedges and trees outside woods, are so rich in life.

Many other tree species also produce flowers. We wouldn’t typically think of the ‘blossom’ of oak, beech or hazel, because they don’t provide the same visual spectacle – although their flowers can be very beautiful on close inspection!

You can find out more about how to discover blossom species near you on the National Trust website.


https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/blossom-watch#How%20to%20identify%20spring%20blossom

Remember…It’s important to plan for and the ongoing care andmaintenance of your trees and site and ensure the cost of this is considered from the outset. See slide 35 to help you do this.

Planning your project

Your project budget couldbe sourced from different places.

• You could look at seeking contributions from your council’s community funds, local nature charities or businesses that offer community grants.

• Or could you look at online fundraising or community fundraising opportunities?

As with any project, however big or small, it’s often useful to start with what you want to achieve by establishing your aims, objectives and vision for the project.

This will set you on the right course from the outset and give you a set of measurable goals to aim for.

1. 3.

4.2. You could try and map out the programme principles and your local ambitions to help formulate your project plan, set your objectives and establish next steps.



Project objectives Project scaleList of stakeholders/ partnersYour key audience/ community Potential sitesto explore

Blossom Together is how we markspring through planting, enjoyingand reflecting together.

• To celebrate the renewal of spring, beauty of trees throughout the year and give back to nature.

• To create a meaningful, beautiful space for those who use it.

• To create a place to find peace, reflect and connect with nature.

• To care for and maintain the trees and the places they are planted.

• To connect and collaborate with others.

These might include:

• To collaborate with the local community or a particular group.

• To green an area and improve biodiversity

• To engage people with nature.

• To improve access to green space for people with limited access.

• To create opportunities for nature connection and improve wellbeing.

• To create a space with impact or a space that will develop over time.

• To celebrate the city/town/place and what’s special about it.

• To remember those who died in the pandemic and reflect on this time.

Blossom Together is all about putting people at the heart of what you do and working collaboratively with others.


How could you build in participation from the outset?

Could you consult the local communities in site selection, setting the tone of the space, planning how it will be used, choosing trees or designing the site.

Which partners will help you achieve your objectives?

These might include community partners, artists, influencers, gardening groups, local businesses councils, schools, heritage or conservation organisations.

How could volunteers support your project?

Perhaps they could help plant the trees, plan activities for local people to enjoy or support with the ongoing care and maintenance of the site.

Which specialists, suppliers or consultants might you need to involve?

You might decide your project requires a landscape architect, a community engagement consultant or a project manager if you are planning a more ambitious project.

Who do you need to consult?

You will need to think about securing permissions and consulting with the landowner, site manager, tenants, residents or council. Could you create a map of your key stakeholders?

You may also need to think about planning permission.

Working together

Artist sketch of community responses and ideas for London Blossom Garden

The National Trust has ambitions to address unequal access to green space which is why many of the larger scale projects we’re involved in will happen in urban areas.


Different scales of planting projectBlossom Together includes any activity that is carried out in the spirit of the programme’s principles (see slide 13). The scale of project you decide to do will depend on your ambition, resource and budget.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/helping-communities-blossom

• Planting more mature trees to ensure immediate impact.

• Likely to appear in high-profile urban/city-centre locations.

• Involve hard-landscaping to create a sustainable, usable space for large numbers of people who may travel to visit.

• Involve significant engagement and community consultation/programming.

• Working in partnership with the National Trust who will contribute skills, expertise and budget to the project.

• Medium, projects with significant regional impact and local resonance.

• Planting semi-mature trees to suit the site and meet the project objectives.

• Likely to appear in urban locations

• Involve engagement and community consultation/participation.

• Potentially involve some hard landscaping of the site.

• Working in collaboration with theNational Trust but led by the CityCouncil/landowner.

• Design might be as simple as planting flowering trees to create a glade aspart of broader woodland planting, or a small tree formation in a village square.

• Some may involve the installation of paths or other landscaping, but many will not.

• Will involve community consultation and/or be led by the community.

• Projects will happen on National Trust land or elsewhere but won’t necessarily require a formal partnership with NT.

Full bloomsLarger, high-profile projects with national visibility and local resonance.

Early budsMedium, projects with significant regional impact and local resonance.

Green shootsThese schemes will be the most informal but will still havesignificant local profile and meaning.

For an example see the London case study

For an example see the Nottingham case study

For an example see Ham House case study

Project timelineThis suggested timeline highlights the different stages that many projects will follow and is a tool for you to use to help plan your project.

Evaluation throughout all elements (measure impact, get feedback, share lessons, make changes)

Hig

hLo

w

Establish project objectives

Map key stakeholdersWho needs consulting?

Assemble project team What skillsare needed?

Select a siteWhat space is available?

Site analysis Site ownership and site survey

Design brief and set budget What fundingis available?

Develop designs

Communitysign-off

Order trees Aim for planting in autumnand winter

Prepare site Undertake landcaping

Assemble planting team

Planting event• Consider health

and safety and risk assessment

Ongoing maintenance Allow for replacement trees

Initial ideas Inspiration from internet/magazines, Consider species and planting style Consider seating and accessibility.

Create

Community consultationOn-going throughoutideas anddesign process

Technical design andcostingPreparedocuments for implementation

Com

plex

ity

leve

l

Plant and build

?UnderstandcommunityneedsHow will thespace be used?

Understand


EvaluationAs with any project it’s helpful to build in evaluation from the beginning. Setting your objectives and measures of success at the beginning of the project will help you to collect relevant data and demonstrate what you’ve achieved. Here are some things you could think about:

Collecting dataQuantitative data you may want to capture:

• Number of trees and plants and environmental impact

• Improvements made to space• How many people were involved and how

were they involved?• How many people use the space and how

are they using it?• Who has been involved? (demographic and

information about participants)• How many partners have you worked with?

What was their involvement?• Digital engagement – how many people

connected online or throughsocial media?

Qualitative data you may want to capture:• Feedback and ideas from community

engagement and participants• Feedback from partners, suppliers and

volunteers involved• Feedback from people using the space• Project wash-up meetings• Digital engagement – how have people

engaged online / what has the response been?

Learning as you go• It’s important to step back from time to

time and reflect throughout the process to see if you’re on course to achieve your objectives and if you’re not, help identify changes you can make along the way.

• Gathering feedback throughout the project will keep you switched on to the needs of your audiences and communities.

• You could do this by sharing updates of the site design as it develops, holding votes on which trees or which site to choose, community workshops or just having a chat with some of your key stakeholders to capture their thoughts.

Reporting and sharingYour partners, funders and stakeholders will be interested in what you’ve achieved with your project. Also sharing lessons learned and recommendations could help inform future projects.

You can present your evaluation in many ways including:

• Reports• Infographics• Films and photos• Case studies

We’d love to hear how you get on! Share your evaluation and feedback through [email protected] so we can develop and improve the programme year on year.


mailto:[email protected]

Designing your site for planting

Things to consider when choosing a site

There are lots of things to consider when choosing your ideal site for planting. Here are some considerations to help inform your thinking.

• Think about the community this is for.You could go for a site which you know has profile and footfall or something more accessible for communities with limited access to green space. Or is this for a particular group – residents of a care home or a hospital for example?

• Think about how the site will be used and managed over time and which location will ensure it continues to be meaningful for people into the future.

• Think about nearby facilities and accessibility. Would you need to create a walkway if for example the site is steep? Are there toilets, play areas, cafes and travel routes to the site that could increase appeal for local people?

• Could the community help decide which site to choose?

Visual impact• Think about what makes your town, city,

village or place special. How could a blossom site enhance an area, special spot or feature?

• Think about how a blossom site could drawpeople to an underused space or replenish anarea that needs development.

• Think about where the need might be the greatest and where blossom could make a real, everyday difference for people.

• Remember the weather! A place might look and feel very different throughout the year andflooding is something to consider over the winter.

• Consider where will be accessible and beautiful at any point in the year.

People factors


Things to considerwhen choosing a site cont.

• There are a lot of factors to consider and not every site will ‘tick all the boxes’.

• Could you find out what other planting or development is planned for your area to see how your project fits in to the bigger picture?

• Could you create two to three sites or disperse planting instead?

• Sometimes a smaller planting can haveas much meaning for people as a largerintervention.

• Revisit your objectives to help you think through what sort of site would help you best achieve what you set out to do.

Environmental factors

• Think about areas that need greening or improved biodiversity. Are there particular areas with limited green space? Could your project enhance existing planting and conservation schemes already happening?

• Could the blossom trees form part of a woodland creation project? Blossom trees play a crucial role drawing pollinators into woodland areas.

• Could they be planted on the fringe of other trees or could there be a blossom glade planted alongside other trees?

• Be mindful of the biodiversity of your proposed site and whether trees would improve or detract from biodiversity.

• Consider if planning permission is required.

Don’t worry!


The ideal design will:First steps

The Lynn Garden at Ascott, Buckinghamshire

• Check if planning permission is required and secure it if so

• Connect with the community, partners and stakeholders(see slide 12)

• Carry out a Site Analysis of possible sites

• Conduct or locate a Topographical and Utilities Survey to uncover what utilities (pipes, wires etc.) run through the site. This can then inform your risk assessment

• Consider the Health and Safety implications of the project during planting stage and future maintenance, and draw up a risk assessment (for larger schemes CDM can be undertaken by a Landscape Architect)

• Consider how the site will be maintained and cared for over time (by who, and cost). The first year is important forestablishment of planting and will often be the most intense for maintenance.

• Have a look at slide 17 for a suggested timeline of key steps to help build your project plan

CDM means Construction Design and Managementregulations 2015 which are necessary to refer to whenthere is hard landscaping involved in your project.

Landscape Architects will be used to using these. See hse.gov.uk for more information.

Create attractive features that will benefit nature

Be informed and shaped by your community

Provide year-round interest

Be accessible to all

Fulfil a clear purpose

Be sensitive to the context (people/ aesthetics/function/use)


https://www.hse.gov.uk/

These details will help inform whatthe site can offer and highlight anyconstraints or limitations.

If the site is regularly waterlogged, for instance, it will be important to choose tree species that can tolerate this.

Similarly if surrounding mature trees cast high levels of shade it would be better not to plant light-demanding species.

Site information will also present opportunities for your design. Well-drained, thin soils might mean less of a need for hard landscaping, while rich soils and low levels of shade mean a wider choice of tree species will thrive.

Location and aspect


Slopes

Soil type and structure

Drainage and water situation (including flood risk)

Existing use

Ownership

Accessibility

The presence of any services (such as pipes and cables), either underground or overhead

Size and shape

Site analysisOnce you’ve chosen or shortlisted your site you can start to think about the design and how to tailor it to the site. Some information that would be useful to capture includes:

Design intentInformed by the Site Analysis and community engagement, consider what you would like your space to achieve and articulate this in a clear statement that you can keep coming back to. It can be helpful to frame this around Audience, Function, Experience

LayoutSee slide 26 for planting layout ideas. Think about the layout of the space as a whole and how people will physically experience it. Would the blossom be at eye height, or towering above your head? Do you squeeze through a gap to access a larger space, or is the space immediately obvious? These decisions can be informed by the Design Intent.

Planting choicesSee slide 29 for things to think about when choosing your trees.Also consider other plants and shrubs that could form part of the borders and beds and how these would look and feel throughout the seasons. Be informed by your Site Analysis when making your planting choices.

Soft landscapingThis is how the space is shaped through gardening. Always use peat-free compost in your beds. The amount of weeding will be reduced by planting at 9-16 plants/m2 and covering planting areas with 50-75mm of ornamental bark mulch. Irrigation may be required in summer months and during first year of establishment.

Steps to practically implementing your ideas

Hard landscapingYour community engagement, project objectives and Site Analysis might reveal a need for hard landscaping.Paths, ponds, seating areas and other built features should be constructed from quality materials, suitable for the context and make the space more accessible and useable. You may need planning permission for this.

You may wish to use some of your budget to employ a Landscape Architect to design your site.


Vandalism and careVandalism can be limited to some extent through the materials, site design and how you protect the trees. Providing litter bins and information about how people can care for the space in simple ways and emphasising the commemorative and community purpose of the space could help.

LightingLarger scale schemes might include additional lighting as a feature, or enable night events. Care should be taken to ensure that lighting doesn’t create unnecessary light pollution.

Seating and other furnitureDesigning seating or places to dwell may be something desired from the space by the community and help to set the tone of how it could be used. Larger benches or picnic areas are ideal for groups, whereas individual seats may provide places for contemplation. Seating also provides an important rest stop for those who need it.

Trinkets and mementosPeople often want to leave ribbons, locks, gifts and notes in commemorative public spaces and to adorn trees.Whether you decide to encourage this or not through the design and interpretation of the site will depend on the policy of the landowner. An alternative might be to encourage people to share their memories and dedications digitally.

Interpretation and signageInterpretation and signage can help people to find and navigate the space, invite people to use it and understand how it came to be. You may want to encourage people in gentle, positive ways to take their litter with them, care for the site and connect with what’s around them. Remember interpretation and engagement can also be digital.


Steps to practically implementing your ideas cont.

Ideas for planting layoutsThe layout of the trees planted will depend on your design intent. You may wish to create a place for people to come together or a place for people to feel immersed in the trees. The site itself may determine the shape of the design you are able to create.

Here are some sketches of possible layouts for inspiration.

Avenue


Circle

Cluster

Single tree

Trees and planting guidance


Tips for choosing, planting and maintaining your trees

Choosing your trees1. Native and common species

Blossom lies at the heart of this project, so it’s important that most of the trees in your design produce flowers. There are a huge variety of flowering trees available but a few key native and common species include:

Cherry


Elder Apple Rowan

Blackthorn Hawthorn Pear Plum

This will inform your choice of trees. It’s important to work with a gardener or ranger through this process.Here are some other things to consider:

Size at plantingBigger trees achieve more immediate impact but can be more difficult to establish and need more involved care initially. Woodland trees are usually planted as one or two-year-old ‘whips’ of less than a metre in height, but may not flower for a few years. You may choose to plant a range of sizes.


Eventual size and spreadThink about how closely you want to plant the trees together. Dense planting creates more immediate impact but might need more management as they grow to stop them overwhelming each other. Otherwise, space the trees out so they have room to flourish without intervention.

Form and shapeIt’s possible to choose the form even of native trees. Trees with a thin form (known as ‘fastigiate’) can be planted more closely together, while those that will eventually develop broad crowns need spacing out. The tree nursery you purchase from will be able to advise.

CostCost will vary in line with size and species. Whips start from less than£1 per tree, with the price of large ornamentals rising to more than £1,000.

NumberThe size of site will largely determine the design of the scheme and the numberof trees you can plant. A selection of species or varieties could also be used to create height and structure, for instance by ‘underplanting’ taller trees with flowering shrub species. You may decide to plant a single symbolic tree.

Choosing your trees2. Site Analysis and Design Intent

Species and varietyUsing one species may lead to less resilience to future threats or changes in the environment. A mix of species can be more difficult to design but with thought, could help to create visual impact throughout the seasons.

Visual appealThink about whether you want to focus on a great display of spring blossom or maintain interest throughout the year. Some trees have been bred to form double-flowers. These trees, however, don’t provide the same food source for insects as single-flowering varieties.

FruitFruit trees can engage people with foraging or harvest in autumn. Even berries that are inedible for humans can provide visual interest and attract birds. Conversely, fallen fruit can be messy if not gathered and it’s possible to buy flowering trees that don’t fruit.

BiodiversityNative trees are typically (although not exclusively) better for nature but may not achieve the same visual impact as ornamental varieties.

ProvenancePlant pests and diseases are some of the biggest threats to our trees and woodlands. It’s essential that all trees are sourced from responsible nurseries who can guarantee the appropriate biosecurity measures are in place.


Choosing your trees2. Site Analysis and Design Intent Cont.

Choosing your trees3. Ordering and biosecurity

How to place an order

Tree nurseries are the best place to start looking for your trees.

Plan well in advance: nursery stock will often be reserved by the autumn. Order by the summer for planting the following winter. Know your preferred species and varieties: different nurseries specialise in different types of trees.

Ornamental varieties: Specialist nurseries will have the most choice and the best advice.

Whips: These are more likely to be the best choice for smaller specimens of native species, or where you’re planting blossom as part of a wider woodland. We strongly recommend usingnurseries in the Woodland Trust UK Sourced and Grown scheme to ensure the trees are grown responsibly.

Fruit trees: If you’d like to plant historic or local varieties you’ll need to find a specialist grower. Local community groups and individuals may feel passionately about this and be able to support and inspire.

Pests and diseases are a huge threat to our trees and woodland, so it’s very important that we don’t risk importing them or moving them around the country.

Responsible nurseries have strict measures in place to ensure they don’t spread pathogens or insect pests, which is why we recommend the use of reputable suppliers like those on the Woodland Trust list.

If you choose to use another nursery, ask questions to ensure they have robust biosecurity procedures in place, and look out for quality schemes.

Biosecurity


https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/we-plant-trees/uk-sourced-and-grown-scheme/

Planting your tree1. TimingsThe best time to plant trees is during winter when the trees are ‘dormant’. The best planting window is usually late November – March.

Small ‘whips’ are typically sold with bare roots and it’s essential to plant these in the winter.

It’s possible to plant some container-grown bigger trees throughout the year if they’re grown and transported in pots or other containers (with their roots surrounded by soil), but the chances of successful establishment are still greater if they’re planted while dormant.

It’s really important to find peat-free compost to ensure that natural peatlands that perform a vital role in absorbing CO2 emissions are not disturbed or reduced.

Arrange delivery close to the planting date and look after your trees carefully in the meantime. Ensure the roots don’t dry out. Handle trees with great care during planting.

Check there’s nothing underground such as pipes or cables. Obtain site plans and get a trained operator to use a Cable Avoidance Tool.


https://dogwooddays.net/2020/04/30/updated-peat-free-nurseries-list/

Most trees will need some support and protection after planting.

Whips are planted with a spiral guard and cane to protect from small mammals and to support the young tree. They can also help locate and protect the tree during weeding. It is possible to plant whips without protection with weed control (suchas a mulch mat) and where there is little risk posed by small mammals. Biodegradable spirals and cardboard tree tubes are readily available and should be used in favour of plastic.

Larger trees will need staking. It is important to check and maintain any support, and to remove it as soon as the tree is established. If rabbit pressure is high, larger trees should still be fitted with a spiral guard. If vandalism could be an issue trees might need a metal guard. In any location where larger animals are (or may be) present, such as deer, more substantial guards will be needed that reach above the height that the animals can browse. It is preferable to fence the entire area to avoid the need for individual guards. Wood or metal ‘cages’ will be needed for larger trees, at greater cost.

Metal tree guard, Longshaw Burbage

Ranger planting trees at Kingston Lacy

Planting your tree2. Protection and support

Where can I buy tree protection?Most nurseries will sell basic protection relevant to their tree stock. However, it might be necessary to shop elsewhere to get sustainable materials. We recommend that you use biodegradable or reusable tree guards.


Tree planting at Lodge Park, Gloucestershire

If you don’t have space for a blossom circle or group of trees, a single tree can be part of Blossom Together and offer the benefits that trees provide. When it comes to carbon sequestration and wildlife, every tree counts, and a single flowering tree will provide a beautiful spectacle ina garden or small public space.

Many of the same principles in the ‘Designing your site’ and ‘Trees and Planting’ sections still apply. You’ll need to consider the size, aspect and other details of your location and choose a tree that suits in terms of its eventual size, soil type, and other factors.

Many fruit trees are grown on ‘dwarfing’ rootstocks that mean they won’t grow more than two or three metres high, so it’s possible to find a suitable blossom tree for many smaller spaces.

Think about what will bring you the most pleasure: an ornamental variety that produces lots of big flowers, a native variety that attracts wildlife,or a fruit tree you can harvest each year – or a balance of all three!

Even if you’re planting a single tree in your garden, it’s still important that you choose a nursery that can guarantee good biosecurity measures, as well as providing quality stock and good advice.

Planting your tree3. What to do if it’s a single tree


Volunteer pruning a tree in the garden at Rainham Hall, London

Good aftercare is essential to successfully establish trees, and it should be planned in from the start of your project.

Weed control: you must avoid the risk of the new trees being out competed by grass or weeds. Mulch mats are a very effective intervention at planting.

Watering: trees need a good drench weekly as opposed to littleand often, during their first summer. Particularly with increaseddry spells due to climate change.

Stakes and fastenings: check and adjust at least annually, and remove as soon as the tree’s root system is successfully established.

Pruning: young trees may also need to be pruned to ensure they develop an attractive shape and to prevent future problems associated with poor form. Further resources can be foundhere: Trees: pruning / RHS Gardening and arboriculturists and gardeners can also help.

Liability and ongoing care once trees are establishedPlan for this as part of the overall liability or maintenance plan for the site from the outset, clarifying who will be responsible for doing what. This might include further pruning, ongoing weeding, grass cutting, path maintenance and other access infrastructure. Involving volunteer gardeners of Friends of groups might be a great way to manage this.

Gardening in the walled garden, Ham House, London

Looking after your trees


https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=233

Ideas forengagingpeople


Cultural programming inspiration

Programming through CovidThe situation in relation to the pandemic is constantly changing. We’d encourage partners to closely follow Government guidelines and prioritise safety above anything else. This may constrain what you are able to do at different points of the year but we’d encourage you to consider how 2021 could offer opportunities for planning ahead, building awareness and starting conversations about blossom and what it means to your community.

Are there creative ways you couldbuild fundraising opportunities into your programming?

Remember your project could bewholly about engaging people withblossom trees and orchards that arealready there.

The following slides include some inspiration and ideas on how to engage people in your projects, through programming around your orchards and blossom trees, digital engagement and planting.

It’s for you to decide how to engage people in a way that works best for your place and community. These pages offer a number of ideas that you can draw on, but your communities could also help shape your plans through their creativity and participation.

Think about how blossom as a theme and blossom activities could be woven through the cultural and community calendar of your place, enhancing and complementing existing plans.


Blossom seasonLight touch programming ideas

There are key national moments this spring,and nationwide campaigns you can link to digitally:

• On the fourth weekend of April (24 April and 25 April) we will collectively celebrate blossom by encouraging people to take and share images of blossom near to them using #BlossomWatch.

• Downloadable blossom resources that encourage nature connection and mindfulness will be available on the National Trust website at the end of April.

• Place a simple chalk board next to a blossom tree or orchard with,‘Blossom live! Share your experience through #BlossomWatch’, or encourage people to walk mindfully through the blossom trees noticing signs of spring all around.


https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/blossom-watch

By engaging people in the beauty of theblossom season you can also start to talk about tree planting and the importance of blossom trees for pollinators, nature and to help tackle climate change.

Ideas if you have more resource

Could you design some creative activities such as poetry trees with haiku poems, craft activities like origami blossom flowers or blossom trails?

Could you share pictures of objects, art, places and collections inspired by blossom and start a conversation through social media aboutwhat blossom means to people in your community?

Think about creating blossom walks, trails or forest bathing.

Use prompts to foster nature connection by encouraging people to notice the signs of spring, to smell the blossom and listento the birds.


Programming throughoutthe year From wassailing in January to

autumn harvest and winter planting, blossom trees offer lots of opportunities for engaging people and encouraging nature connection throughout the year.

The beauty of fruit trees is that there is plenty ofopportunity to engage with communities through the year such as a wassail in January with music, song and a chance to explore local customs and traditions.

Autumn presents a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together to celebrate heritage crafts, juicing, tasting and fun with apple days and fruit harvests.

Safely managed community consultation on your plans could form part of your engagement approach over the summer and autumn followed by community planting in the winter.


Marketing and communicationsIncluding the #BlossomWatch campaign


Campaign overviewThe National Trust is launching a multi-year programme to get the UK celebrating its blossom season.

Japan’s blossom season is world-famous and hanami is a traditional custom celebrated annually, bringing all generations outdoors, boosting tourism and helping people connect with nature.

The UK has a spectacular blossom season of its own. We aim to embed an annual celebration inspired by Hanami–driven this year via #BlossomWatch, a national and local media campaign to engage the public at National Trust places, on high streets and on people’s doorsteps.

The media campaign will amplify the local programming and engagement based on tree-planting, nature connection and community engagement. This will happen at National Trust properties and in towns and cities, where we are working with partners to create new blossoming community spaces.

We believe 2021 will bring the most longed-for spring in living memory and it is the right time to introduce a new tradition, helping people feel connected to nature, wherever they are.


Campaign overview


How can this benefit your project?• The blossom campaign could be a great way to

start discussions with your community about tree planting, climate change and to understand what nature connection and blossom means to them

• It could be a way to kick-start community consultation about possible locations for new sites

• It’s a way to engage people with other blossoming trees across your town or city, to highlight the value and beauty of the nature on people’s doorsteps

Things to think about:• How might blossom form part of a broader

campaign, cultural programme or existing activity you’re planning?

• How could this be woven into your existing comms plan to enhance and amplify what you’re already planning?

• How can you use the campaign to reach new and more diverse audiences and communities with limited access to green space?

From mid-March through to May the NationalTrust will be encouraging people to connect with nature, experience blossom and noticethe signs of spring.

We know that nature connection and access togreen space has been more important than everfor our wellbeing over the past year and we willbe running a public engagement campaign, #BlossomWatch to enable nature connectionnationally.

We will encourage people nationally toshare images of blossom on social media as itarrives and moves across the country, and asdifferent species come into blossom. We’velaunched a National Blossom Map where pins will denote images that have been tagged with the #BlossomWatch hashtag, tracking the wave of blossom as it sweeps the country.

The campaign will culminate on the 24April when we hope to get #BlossomWatchtrending nationally, with people across the country taking their moment under a blossomtree.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/blossom-map

Marketing and communications timeline

March


AprilMay

#BlossomWatch press release Announcing 2021 plans – look out for blossom this spring

12 March #BlossomWatch campaign is launched on TV and across press

20 MarchAHRC nature poem is published

29 MarchFundraising TV ad goes live, encouraging donations of £5 to plant a tree

w/c 19 April #BlossomWatch teased in preparation for 24 April

24 April #BlossomWatch national moment Encouraging the nation to connect with nature wherever they are, sharing blossom via #BlossomWatch

Supported through our partners

10 May (tbc) London Blossom Garden launch Key stakeholders to attend the opening of our first blossom circle.

How to join inIf you’d like to get involved with the campaign the simplest way is to share images of blossom in your local area using #BlossomWatch.

The hashtagWe’d encourage you to use #BlossomWatch as much as possible to help the hashtag gain momentum and engage more people with the programme and nature.


The blossom mapWe will also have a blossom map where geo-tagged blossom images shared via Twitter will be pinned on the map so we can track the emergence of blossom across the country.

The date for your diaryOn the fourth Saturday of April (24 April) we will collectively celebrate blossom across social media, web and email encouraging people to experience blossom wherever they are, outside or digitally and takeand share their images of blossom using #BlossomWatch. If you would like to join in on this day you can share your own experience of connecting with blossom and sharing using the #BlossomWatch hashtag.

The fundraising askWe will be asking people to donate £5 to planta tree as part our national campaign, which willgo towards our wider tree planting projects.Partners will be able to fundraise in support oftheir own projects should they wish to do so.

How to join in through social media

Use #BlossomWatch and @nationaltrust to share photos of blossom that you or someone from your organisation has taken on their local walks. How blossom makes you feel is a personal experience, so we’d love to see you bring that to your social media content.

If you’re on Instagram stories you can use @nationaltrust GIFS /Stickers by searching ‘nationaltrust’ or ‘national trust’ when prompted in the app.

You can also tag us @nationaltrust in your stories.

Spring is here!

I can’t stop looking at it. How pretty is this blossom tree I spotted on my local walk. Of all the seasons spring gives me the biggest lift. #BlossomWatch @nationaltrust

Here are some ideas for how you could get involved on social media. Copy and paste into your post or feel free to make this your own!

We’re joining @nationaltrust today to celebrate all things spring with #BlossomWatch. Take part by sharing blossom photos and spread the joy of spring from your local area. Here’s one we took on our walk this morning.

Pink blooms are a cause for celebration – it means spring has arrived. Share your blossom photos with @nationaltrust for their annual spring #BlossomWatch today. Here’s a blossom tree I spotted on my local walk.

I joined #BlossomWatch with @nationaltrust today to get some fresh airand feel closer to nature. Spring is a great time to get outside and making a trip of blossom spotting kept us all entertained.Here’s our favourite pics.

Good morning from a bright and sunny London. I’m joining #BlossomWatch today with@nationaltrust. Looking forward to seeing everyone’s photos.


ImageryWhen choosing images consider visuals that capture the beauty of blossom. In the National Trust’s advertising campaign this yearwe’re trying to show the contrast between blossom trees and the human-made/urban environments in which they sometime flower.

User generated content is at the heart of #BlossomWatch, and we’d love to see your own blossom images in your local area.However, we do have a gallery that has been curated if you need any imagery to use.

Note: You will need to register for access to use these images using the link below:


nationaltrustimages.org.uk

http://www.nationaltrustimages.org.uk/search?term=blossomwatch2021&filters

http://www.nationaltrustimages.org.uk/

Case studies


Why are we planting blossom trees?

Last summer, a report published by Vivid Economics highlighted national inequalities in access to green space. It categorised 295deprived neighbourhoods of 440,000 people as‘grey deserts’, with no trees or accessible green space. As blossom season rolls around again, the National Trust are working with partners on our own land and in urban communities to plant circles of blossoming trees. The first of these is the London Blossom Garden.

Working with the local community

From the outset the project team were keen to put the community at the heart of the project. Rosetta Arts, a community arts organisation, ran workshops to identify what members of the local community wanted from their new space. ‘Personal stories inform the tone of the design, how they would like to use the space and how it should grow and develop over time,’ says Sylvia Morgado, Rosetta Arts lead artist, whose work focuses on art and wellbeing. The current situation has been a powerful reminder of how connected we all are and how much we depend on each other. What’s important is that local communities have the real ownership of theirsites, so they make use of them and protect them.

How was the garden designed?

Landscape architects The Edible Bus Stop and Davies White Landscape Architects designed the site. The design consists of 33 blossoming trees representing the 33 London boroughs and are arranged in three circles. The landscape architects have considered how local people already use the site, making sure it is easily accessible and that there are plenty of spaces for picnics and spending time together. They have chosen UK-grown trees, including species of cherry, plum, hawthorn and crab apple, to blend with the existing habitat.

Lockdown and the coronavirus crisis brought home the value of nature, especially nature near to people. We also became increasingly aware of inequality of access to high-quality green space. It feels fitting to mark this difficult time by creating small corners of the kind of world we want to live in – green spaces where people can choose to come together or be alone, or find space to just be.

How does this project link to the NT tree planting work?As well as providing beautiful, peaceful spaces for communities to come together and spend time in nature, the trees have a small but valuable conservation role to play as part of the Trust’s pledge to plant 20 million trees by 2030, helping combat climate change and improving habitat networks. The long-term process of trees capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide in the soil is called carbon sequestration. We calculate that at their peak 20 million trees will sequester approximately 360,000 tonnes of carbon per year.

London Blossom GardenUrban ‘Full Bloom’ project

CASE STUDYAims1. Create dedicated places for reflection,

and programmable spaces.2. Provide a link to broader tree planting work,

to increase the number of flowering trees inand near major cities

3. Create experiences that help people recover and heal and that increase their everyday connection with nature and the seasons

In a nutshellThe National Trust, the GLA and the Mayor of London, will together plant a symbolic blossoming tree circle at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to be unveiled in April 2021. This will launch the ‘Blossom Together’ programme this year.


How we got involved in Blossom Together

We enjoy working with partners to achieve tree planting objectives and when approached by the National Trust we felt Blossom Together was an inspiring project that would resonate with our communities during a difficult time.

How Blossom Together fits in to the wider ambitions of our CityWe have ambitious plans to plant trees across the City and we have a commitment to protecting and expanding our green spaces and to ensure people are engaged with the environment. We plan to be Carbon Neutral by 2028. Planting trees plays a crucial part inachieving this goal. We are liaising withpartners to create Tiny Forests but it is greatthat this project will plant larger trees to havean impact from the offset.

Our process

We kick started this project with a meeting withCouncillors, Stakeholders and partner groups todiscuss our ideas and ask for input on the initialdesigns. We have also created two new posts fora Volunteer and Tree Planting Co-Ordinator thatwill work with local communities across the City.

Our hopes

We hope the space will be used by local residents to connect with nature, reflect upon the difficulties people have faced over the last 12 months and to relax. Nottingham has suffered because we have 2 prominent Universities which bring a lot of students and benefits to the City.

The restrictions faced due to Covid-19 has hadan impact on the mental health and wellbeing of individuals. Often the only escape is to exercise and go for a walk. We feel this project will enhance the landscape and beautify it.

Partnering with the National Trust

Working as part of a collaboration with the National Trust we have learned to work well with external partners, negotiating in order to meet a desired goal. We felt doing this work in partnership provided the inspiration and guidance required. The way this project has run has felt like a sustainable model for the future as the interaction can be replicated on multiple projects.

Nottingham City Council

A tale of first steps –an early bud project

In a nutshellNottingham City Council have partnered with the National Trust to create an ‘Early bud’ blossom tree site.

Aims1. Work in partnership to deliver our ambition for the City of Nottingham to plant more trees2. Provide a place for local residents to reflect upon nature and relax.3. Get people involved in park, greenspace and tree maintenance

CASE STUDY


Snowshill Manor, Gloucestershire

The orchard experience ‘Green shoots’ project

What we’re doing

The garden was designed to be an extension of the manor. Visitors spending time in it and enjoying it in the way in which Charles Wade did, is an important part of our visitor offer, particularly now. The manor is a series of small rooms and as such makes managing visitor flow easier, while ensuring an engaging and enjoyable visit, especially with Covid Safe guidelines in place. The orchard is an engaging, beautiful space and has helped take the pressure off the manor itself.

Becoming relevant to the local community

To increase our repeat visits and encourage those from our local community to enjoy the peace and beauty of the garden more regularly and throughout the year, we recently joined the Blossom Trail, organised by our local council.The trail encourages visitors to take in thebeauty of the blossom through the Vale of Evesham both on foot and on bike through wellmarked routes and a downloadable map.

We are also part of the Silent Spaces initiative, setting aside areas for mindfulness and quiet reflection.

How we’re using the space

Paths are cut to invite our visitors to wander and enjoy this space, and benches are situated under the trees.

Wild flowers are planted in the grass so the orchard is alive with bees and other insects, helping with pollination but also creating a beautiful atmosphere.The orchard is key to our seasonal programming. We hold creative workshops in the orchard, for example. In 2019 we introduced a Mindfulness Meander trail which encouraged visitors to engage with their senses and nature. The orchard became a focal point for this.The orchards are full of some very old varieties of fruit trees with extraordinary names and histories. We have shared some of these stories with our visitors using small slates which we hang from the trees.Two years ago, as part of our programming, we also introduced ‘art boxes’ to the garden. We have one on a seat in the orchard and visitors are invited to open it and get creative –some beautiful sketches have been produced and shared.The orchard has also provided the venue for regular storytelling sessions for families during the holidays. Rugs are spread on the ground under the trees and this has proved a very popular place to relax and listen to some traditional tales, bring to life our shared histories.

CASE STUDY

Aims1. Seasonal visitor programming. The orchard

is used for self-led trails and bookable events.2. Telling a story. The orchard gardens help

bring to life the story of Charles Wade.3. Relevance to local community. The orchard

has recently become part of a local blossom trail.


In a nutshellSnowshill’s gardens were designed by Charles Wade, who lived in the Manor. There are two large orchard spaces used to enhance the property visitor experience.

Brockhampton, Herefordshire

Reimagining orchards ‘Green shoots’ project

CASE STUDYAims1. Conservation – the restoration and

preservation of priority wildlife habitats2. Visitor experience – creating an area of the

‘wider estate’ that is more accessible and telling the story of apple trees in the UK

3. Sustainability – increasing income through visitor numbers to ensure the future of the estate and focus on making the most of the estate’s produce.

What we’re doing

We are reinstating our orchards, based on an artist’s design to capture the magic of this beautiful place and encourage visitors out into the wider estate. We want to shareHerefordshire’s history of productiveorchard and how to manage them sustainably. Developing these orchardswould give us a starting point to havesurfaced paths that can be used all year in all weather by all our visitorsA large part of the project centres around building community links, creating more variety in the visitor experience and supporting events that encourage inclusion and diversity. In one of the fields the design is more traditional, rows of trees, but with circular clearings. We hope to use these clearings for all sorts of programmingactivity, from simply encouraging people to sit orstand and listen to wildlife around them to small performance venues or pieces of art inspired by the estate.

The value of orchard restorationBy focusing on restoring our historic orchardswe are able to fulfil our LON (Land, Outdoors and Nature) objectives to increase priority habitat.

It also allows us to extend our visitor programming season into the quieter months through blossom and harvest. The main design (see image left) will allow us to use the space in for things such as a field kitchen fordemonstrations and talks about fruit, wildfood, farm food and local food.

What we’ve needed to consider

• CMP & EMP (Conservation and Estate Management Plans)

• Spirit of Place document• 50-year vision for the estate• Experience Design• LON data including estate biosurveys• Rarer trees or large quantities need to often

be reserved with growers by late spring andearly summer

• Some funders want trees to be bought,paid for and planted within a calendar year

• Future management. Who is responsible? Will more equipment be needed if the landscape will change?

Who we’ve needed to consult• Consultancy and property staff and volunteers• Specialist Advice Network• Tenant farmer (confidential consultation)• Community groups• Artists. Be clear what your artist is and isn’t

responsible for. Getting good, clear final drawings that are usable for all those involved as early as possible is advisable

• Arts Council (funding bid)• PIB (Property Investment Board

In a nutshellArtist designed circular orchards to support reinstating 21 acres of priority habitat and to create something more unusual for visitors than a ‘normal’ orchard of straight lines of trees.

Our costs• Artists/designers; for more

complex designs this will includemarking out plantings and new features

• Contractors, paths, fencing, tree guards and tree planting

• Community liaison specialists• The trees themselves – fruit trees range

from about £7–£20 depending on size bought and rarity. Ornamental trees will be more than this

• Interpretation boards, financial costs and time costs


Ham House, Richmond

Aims1. Capture the essence of the past –

reflect the spirit of the historic volume of flowering trees

2. Reduce resource heavy perennial planting3. Introduce heritage produce from the

local area – using past records of fruit grown on site

4. Plant for nature and to address the impact of global warming on our site.

What we did

We wanted to create an area in keeping with the existing aesthetic and atmosphere of the kitchen garden that provided new spaces for visitors to sit in and enjoy. Our goal was to create as natural a space as possible that linked with our other highly diverse meadow areas. Providing shady spaces in spring and summer is increasingly necessary as we see the climate change.

Celebrating the past and responding to the future

We have chosen London and Surrey varieties, some of which are heritage and match our records. We spoke with our local fruit tree nursery and we took a research trip to RHS Wisley to identify our preferred tree species and receive expert advice.At the same time as we are trying to indicate how spaces might have been used, we’re offering our present day visitors areas to enjoy a beautiful atmosphere. We have a commitment to plantfor nature and to address the impact of globalwarming on our site. The areas between the apple tree planting holes are all being managed

as meadow, planted with early flowering Crocus ancyrensis which provides a valuable food source for early pollinators. Our research suggests blossoming fruit trees will survive better during predicted climate changes. It is also possible to sequest a lot of carbon over a more compact space through using small/medium sized trees.Warmer, dryer summers mean our visitorsappreciate the increase in shady areas to sit that these trees provide.

What we needed to consider

Size of trees – create an intimate atmosphere and have trees that we could easily harvest from without ladders, we were recommended to buy MM106 rootstocksWatering – we watered once a week from April–Sept for the first year. We would not expect to be watering as much in year two. Direct watering helps manage water useMaterials – to avoid plastic we made our own tree ties using hessian and watering ‘pipes’ using bamboo canesSoil – we have sandy alluvial soil and bought trees to suit

What we have learned

Visualise the space – how it will be used by visitors all year round? An orchard is botha productive space and a ‘leisure area’. The planting spaces were not just about what the tree needed but about creating views and walkwaysThink through your planting method before involving people – we developed a clear process for each tree as a staff team and then involved as many people as we could

Our costs• We bought two to three-year-

old, bareroot trees that wouldestablish well and that already had some stature (£30-35 per tree)

• Mycorrhizal to encourage good establishment (£30)

• Sawn green oak tree stakes from a local sawmill (£280) to achieve a naturalistic and more historic feel

An orchard for our times ‘Green shoots’ project

In a nutshellAt Ham House Garden we are in the final stages of re-cultivating our walled kitchen garden. we planted a new orchard of 32 local apple treesin autumn 2019.

CASE STUDY


FAQs and resources

Useful links:Project for Public Spaces ‘What Makes Great Places’

Landscape Institute

Nature Recovery Network -Wildlife Trusts

Society of Garden Designers

CDM requirements

Updated Peat-Free Nurseries List – Dogwooddays

How is the National Trust funding Blossom Together?

Some of Blossom Together will be led by the National Trust and we will aim to cover the cost of much of our planting and engagement activity through fundraising and working in partnership. We hope a lot of the planting and engagement activity will be led by partners and communities across the UK and beyond and we hope to support that work by providing guidance on how to get involved (such as this toolkit) and coordinating national moments that people everywhere can engage with(such as #BlossomWatch)

How many tree circles in the National Trust hoping to create?

Our plan for the coming year is to create a number of blossom plantings nationally, some of which will be planted by the National Trust, and some planted by partners and community groups.

Longer-term we hope to see a flourishing of blossom tree planting in urban areas where people live, as well as more rural locations and we will work with a network of partners to achieve this as well as providing guidance and inspiration, like this toolkit.

How can individuals get involved with Blossom Together?

If you are interested in leading a project in your area, use this toolkit for guidance and information on the different ways you could get involved, from planting to engaging people with the wonder of blossom.

We are encouraging our partners and properties to ensure these spaces are for people, and are meaningful, useful and cared for into the future. To achieve this in London, we worked with Rosetta Arts to involve the community in thinking through the tone, feel and use of the site. We’ll be creating various ways for people to get involved in blossom season, so that people can enjoy this extraordinary natural wonder, wherever they are.


https://www.pps.org/article/grplacefeat

https://www.landscapeinstitute.org/

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/nature-recovery-network

https://www.sgd.org.uk/garden_design_journal/features/22/are_you_taking_cdm_seriously

https://dogwooddays.net/2020/04/30/updated-peat-free-nurseries-list/

We will build on the success of #BlossomWatch which we first launched at the end of March last year – just after lockdown – when over 4 million people viewed imagery shared of blossom in the first two weeks of the project. The aim of#BlossomWatch is to encourage more people to notice the blossom season. We’ll encourage everyone to take and share images of the blossom they see out of their windows, in gardens and parks using #BlossomWatch and pin them on a digital map– in an effort to lift people’s spirits at this special time of year.


How can artists and creative groups and societies get involved with the cultural aspect of Blossom Together?

By necessity, our associated cultural programme this year is quite small-scale and light touch but we do have aspirations to build on that in subsequent years.

How can local councils, trusts and charities start a conversation on a tree planting partnership with the National Trust?

Please contact us through the inbox [email protected] and tell us a little about your thoughts and plans. We’re very much at the beginning of Blossom Together and are actively looking for ways to involve more partners and collaborators and hope that we’ll be able to work with more individuals and organisations as time goes by.

Can the National Trust fund our community tree planting?

We currently don’t have funding to distribute to community groups or the mechanismto arrange trees to be planted where communities ask for them. We are looking at ways we might make this possible in the future. In the meantime, we continue to encourage our partners in urban areas as well as National Trust properties to involve their communities in their Blossom Together projects. We have also provided a range of simple ideas ranging from the free to themore involved in this toolkit that you can use to take part in Blossom Together depending on your resource, capacity and budget. Let us know about your plans by emailing [email protected] will keep your enquiry on record and keep you up to date with any future opportunities or updates.

Will the trees being planted in your blossom projects be all native trees?

No – the trees chosen for a circle or grove will reflect the objectives of the scheme and the people involved. In some places the design is likely to focus on native blossom species such as wild cherry, hawthorn and blackthorn, with naturalised fruit species like apple and pear also playing an important role. These trees are likely to be hardier and will deliver greater benefit for wildlife. In other schemes where creating a significant visual spectacle is the

goal, ornamental cherries (that were often developed in Japan) might be the best choice. We’ll also consider other flowering trees – like magnolia or hazel. The important thing is that groups involved with schemes use the most appropriate species to meet their objectives and the environment of the chosen site.

Why is this project focusing on cherry blossom trees when we have such a wealth on native species?

The project has been inspired by the blossom season in Japan however, we are looking to make it our own. Hopefully, this toolkit has demonstrated that we are actively supporting the planting of a wealth of species / varieties.

I have grown some trees myself that I would like to donate to this project. Can I do this?

No – sadly at the moment we don’t have the capacity to accept trees as donations sowon’t be able to accommodate your proposed contribution. We’d encourage you to connect with local groups and organisations to see if they might be interested in planting them.

I would like to volunteer to help plant the trees that will form the blossom circles.How can I do this?

We do not currently have a formal mechanism for recruiting volunteer tree planters but we are encouraging our partners and properties



to involve volunteers and their community in their projects where and when it issafe to do so.

Will you be launching a specific fundraisingcampaign to raise money to create blossomrings to meet demand?

Our Plant a Tree campaign and other fundraising will help support Blossom Together and we hope to build on our opportunities to fundraise as the programme develops.

Is the purpose of the blossom projects in major cities a commemorative space for Covid (like the one in London)? Or is it more about giving more people in urban areas access to nature?

How these sites look and feel and how they are used very much depends on what local communities need and the environmental and physical requirements of the site.Spaces might become a quiet space for commemoration and reflection or offer a communal space to come together once it is safe to do so, to celebrate spring in the years to come.

How does Blossom Together fit in with the National Trust’s aims and ambitions?

Before the coronavirus pandemic we had already announced our plans to help protect

green spaces in cities. The pandemic showed us the importance of urban green spacesand this project is an extension of this work and will help us create havens for nature in cities to benefit both people and wildlife. The project also goes back to our roots – with our founders wanting green spaces for more people in urban areas to enjoy.

Is there more that you can tell us about how the Blossom Together programme started?

We know how many people have found a new appreciation for nature in light of in response to their experience of the coronavirus pandemic.

During April to June 2020, 85% of adults reported that being in nature makes them happy and this was consistent across different population groups. Those who had visited a natural space in the last 7 days reportedbeing happier than those who hadn’t.

Also during the same period - some adults in England were getting outside more often than usual with 40% of adults reporting that they had spent more time outside since the coronavirus restrictions began and 31% were exercising more in outdoor spaces.

Visitor admiring the Damson trees in blossom at Brockhampton, Herefordshire

This project really goes back to our roots –with our founders wanting green spaces for more people in urban areas to enjoy. And, by working in partnership with organisations and councils across the country we hope to bring nature to more people.


Photography: © National Trust Images/ Caroline Arber, Stephen Robson, Robert Morris, Justin Minns, James Dobson, William Shaw, John Millar, Chris Lacey, Zoe Frank, Trevor Ray Hart, John Miller, Andrew Butler, Alana Wright, Rob Stothard, John Malley, Rob Coleman, Tracey Blackwell, Cara Laver, Mel Peters, Hugh Mothersole, Val Corbett, Derrick E. Whitty, Paul Harris

Illustrations: page 14 © Ada Jusic, page 16, 26, 34 © Ed Higgins

© National Trust 2021 The National Trust is a registered charity no. 205846

Special thanks to:

Luke Barley, Lucy Footer, Ed Higgins, Annie Reilly, Simon Toomer, Beth Weston,Sophie Wardell and the Blossom project team

If you have a suggestion or question, or require this information in an alternative format, please [email protected]


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