Westonbirt, The National Arboretum is famed for its autumn colour display, but spring is an equally magical season with plenty of show-stopping colour and scents gently revealed each week.
This spring is already shaping up to be another spectacular season as blossom and new leaves are bursting into life, with exotic azaleas, camellias, rhododendrons and amazing wildflowers, showing off a magnificent profusion of colour from mid-March onwards.
Magnolias in bloom are always a particularly special time in the arboretum. The ‘Westonbirt Diva’ is a magnolia that steals the show on Circular Drive with its height and dazzling display of barbie pink blooms. Don’t miss seeing her.
Talking about the Westonbirt Diva, Dan Crowley, Tree Conservation Manager at Westonbirt said: “Spring sometimes feels like our best kept secret. It is a magical time of year here at Westonbirt, with both flowers and new foliage to enjoy. Aside from the marvellous magnolias, the leaves of the Japanese maples are as colourful as they are in autumn.
“If you get up close, their tiny flowers are worthy of closer inspection too. Later in spring, the carpets of English bluebells in Silk Wood also make this feel like a fantastic time to be out in the arboretum.”
Westonbirt Arboretum is open every day during the Easter holidays, welcoming visitors from 9am to 5pm – with activities taking place at various times throughout the two-week break including a spring tour of the arboretum, led by expert guides, and if you are taking the little ones along why not join encourage your little dragons to learn how they can care for the forest and how the forests can care for them with Zog, the loveable, if somewhat clumsy dragon, on his magical forest adventure. This family trail, with map and activity pack (available from the shop for £4) follows Zog as he looks for his golden star.
For more information and to book tickets for Zogs trail, visit forestryengland.uk/westonbirt
