The cherry blossom orchard at Alnwick Gardens is one of the highlights of the Northumberland calendar. The largest collection of Taihaku blossom trees in the world all 329 trees come into bloom for only two weeks of the year. Making this a super rare sight to see, the vision is utterly breathtaking and something I highly recommend you go along to see yourself.
To have this rare cherry tree orchard beauty here in Alnwick, Northumberland is amazing, the orchard is breathtaking you can spend hours walking amongst the blossoms listening to the birds or taking a seat on one of the many wooden swing seats dotted around its a truly tranquil experience.
The Taihaku blossoms are known as the ‘Great White’ and blooms can reach 7cm long, flowering between late April and mid May the blossoms here have their own ‘blossom cam’ so visitors can check to see when they’re in bloom.
In 1926 Captain Collingwood Ingram was invited to Japan to give a lecture to the cherry society Sakurakai. He was shown a photograph of an extinct blossom tree which he recognised as a tree that had been imported to Sussex in 1899. He was able to take cuttings from it and reintroduce the the lost Taihaku to Japan in 1932.
All of the Taihaku in cultivation today are from that one tree in Sussex!
Whilst in the gardens there are many other beautiful sights to see such as the Grand Cascade waterfall, Rose Garden and Poison Garden to name a few!
You can purchase blossom experiences such as an afternoon tea after viewing the blossom or a glass of fizz. All the details can be found on their website the link is below.
Its really worth purchasing a membership option as you can return throughout the year for free and catch the next years blossom too. There are beautful sights to see here with each season bringing its own beauty to the gardens.
Alnwick Garden is open everyday from 9-6, tickets are available online at Alnwick Garden with membership options available too. Adult tickets are £18.50 and include up to 4 children free.
