Celebrating
Blossom Day
In West Dorset
Celebrating Blossom Day in West Dorset
The National Trust writes
“As blossom reappears to brighten up our year, we are reminded that in an ever-changing world, nature will always be a source of comfort”
They continue “Spending time to dwell on nature can improve your wellbeing. Research shows that just 20 minutes could help improve your mood but only six per cent of adults and seven percent of children take the time to celebrate seasonal events.
Japan’s World-Famous Blosson Celebration is known as Hanami
Hanami Celebration
Japan is world-famous for its magnificent cherry blossom and the celebration is known as Hanami.
Translated this means “ flower watching ” and welcomes spring.
It is all about appreciating the temporal beauty of nature.
Families gather under flowering cherry tree blossoms for food, drink, sing songs and enjoy companionship.
Renewal and optimism are the cherished aims of Sakura.
Blossom at Monkton Wyld Holiday Park West Dorset
Blossom is everywhere in a Dorset Spring Time
It is just not the cherry trees that are smothered with blossom in spring. In the park, we have our 20-year-old flowering cherry trees in various shades of pink through to white.
On the western edge of the dog walk is a glorious collection of Blackthorn flowering and soon the Goat Willow will be adding its tuppence worth. The apple trees are currently thinking about things.
Native cherry trees are either bird or wild cherry. Garden centres supply many magnificent varieties of cherry trees and every one of them has to be admired. Ottery Nurseries and Groves are two of our many local garden centres.
Across the lane from Monkton Wyld Holiday Park is a plum tree that is showing off.
Specific Trees Suggested by The National Trust
“Winters ne’re over until the Blackthorn has flowered” Old Country saying
Blackthorn is always easily distinguished from the similar Hawthorn.
The key feature is that the flowers appear before the leaves. Some trees can live for 100 years and in the past, the wood made ideal walking sticks.
Of course, another reason to cherish blackthorn trees is that the autumn fruit is sloes!!!! Excellent for drinking sloe gin around winter firesides.
How many Willows are there?
Lots! but let us look at Goat willow
Goat willow (also known as pussy willow) supports a myriad of wildlife including the rare purple emperor butterfly and the sallow kitten moth.
However, there are numerous types of willow and it can all be quite confusing. Just celebrate the blossom is my advice. Some catkins always go well in a vase with spring daffodils.
Be thankful for Plum Trees
– Jams, Pies & Puddings!
Well, we all know about plum trees. I suppose the old fashioned Victoria is the best for us to enjoy.
Plum is a food plant for a large number of butterflies and moths, and its flowers attract many pollinating insects.
The fruit is also a food source for birds and mammals.
Look for the Damson Tree
Other blossoms that the National Trust are suggesting we all keep a keen eye out for are from the Damson tree.
Damson comes from the word ‘damascene’, which originates in the Latin name ‘Plum of Damascus’.
Damson trees are thought to have been growing around the Syrian city since ancient times and were brought to England by the Romans.
The trees are small and hardy with leaves covered by a fine down on both sides.
They blossom with small white flowers in early April. Damson jam is an old family favourite of ours always appreciated as a Christmas present.
Wonderful names of local Apple Trees found growing near Charmouth, West Dorset
Such splendid names ! Court Plendu Plait, Ashmeads Kernel, Bloody Ploughman, Devonshire Quarrenden, Dog’ Snout and the exceptional English Codlin.
Unlike the harsh Bramley, this later apple is perfect for stewing as absolutely no sugar is required.
Apple blossom is not yet out on our park trees although the tree by the old shower block is seriously thinking about it.
The trees on the park are very prolific but sadly the fruit is not to the taste of humans but the birds feast on them in the autumn.
Elderflower is the final
suggestion from
The National Trust
Elder blossom these days is used to make Elderflower wine and also features in dried flower arrangements and herbal teas.
Perhaps it is best left on the trees for the hundreds of insects to enjoy – unless, of course, it’s Elderflower champagne you are after!
Hawthorne Hedgerows in Dorset
& the Chalk Hills
Hawthorne in Dorset is Magnificent
Hawthorne in Dorset is magnificent. The hedgerows can literally hang with Hawthorne blossom often known as May flowers.
The leaves always appear first – in direct opposition to blackthorn.
These hedges are extremely valuable to wildlife and can support more than 300 insects. It is the food plant for the caterpillars of moths, including the hawthorn pear leaf blister, light emerald plus many, many more.
The autumn haws are savoured by redwings, fieldfares and thrushes which can all be seen here in the park.
The dense foliage makes a fantastic nesting shelter for many birds. This, therefore, is a tree to be cherished.
In days of old when knights were bold, the hawthorn was considered a symbol of fertility and has ancient associations with May Day celebrations.
The blossom, however, was never brought into the home as it was considered to be the harbinger of illness.
The flowering of the Hawthorne marks the point of spring evolving into summer.
An old fashioned saying “Cast ne’er a clout ere May is out” almost certainly refers to the opening of the flowers rather than the end of the month.
The initiative by the National Trust to encourage us all to open our eyes and see what is around us is to be commended. The driving force in, 1895, behind the conception of The National Trust was Octavia Hill with the first nature reserve being Wicken Fen.
The organisation is now responsible for 610,000 acres and is the largest private landowner in the United Kingdom.
Stop ! Look & Wonder at all around you in the West Country
The Woodland Trust campaigns to stop the irreversible destruction of ancient woodland and unnecessary loss of trees from our cities. Founded in 1972 they have now planted millions of trees and prevented the loss of ancient woods.
“Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough,
And stands about the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide”
A E Houseman – A Shropshire Lad
There is Something for Everyone whist Exploring West Dorest’s Blossom
Finally, my suggestion is just to enjoy the blossom.
Stop, look and wonder !
To be honest, all these different flowering trees can be quite confusing and it really doesn’t matter – just give yourself time to appreciate the beauty of nature.
You can, if driving along in mid-March and see white flowers on leafless trees, nod sagely and comment “I see the blackthorn is out”
Then later on in May when similar flowers are out but with leaves “Doesn’t the May look beautiful” And hey presto! Everyone will think you are brilliant.
We look forward to
meeting customers both
old and new at
Monkton Wyld
Holiday Park
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