It is a sad fact that over half of the orchards in England and Wales have disappeared since 1900. Sad because all that fruit is being imported with an inevitable carbon footprint but also sad because orchards provide an enormous amount of early spring nectar for insects which in turn feed our birds. Trees will also absorb large quantities of ground water, reducing the run off into rivers and therefore alleviating flooding.
Japan's cherry blossom peaked in 2021 at it's earliest since 812 AD. In the UK we have experienced a warm sunny March in 2022, opening buds and feeding early bees and butterflies.
As an attempt to offset this loss of early nectar, the National Trust are planting blossoming trees on publicly accessible sites in some UK cities, creating a British version of 'Hanami', the Japanese celebration of the coming of Spring.
We can do our bit to help. Fruit tree sales are increasing at our local garden centres as more people strive to grow their own. For the past 2 years, I have been regularly asked to include elements of grow your own within ornamental designs. Whether you have a fruit tree in a pot on the patio, in a border or in a full scale orchard, the benefits are countless: as well benefiting wildlife and the environment, it has been shown that our mental health is improved by the sight of blossom and fresh green leaves in spring, by the movement of bees and butterflies and by the taste of fresh fruit.
If a fruit tree is not for you, there are many other plants blooming now. Here is a selection of pictures from my garden as well as gardens that I have visited to give some inspiration.
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