Firestyle Magazine Issue 3 - Spring 2016 | Page 52

HOME & GARDEN

National Trust
Gardens in Spring

As the days get longer and winter starts to fade,
spring arrives in fresh bursts of colour and new life.
From the carpets of delicate bluebells in the gardens of Blickling Estate in Norfolk to the breathtaking displays of
magnolias at Trengwainton in Cornwall, a stroll in a National Trust garden is sure to dazzle and amaze.
It’s a great time to experience nature waking up from its winter slumber. Don’t miss the laburnum arch,
a shimmering tunnel of golden blooms in late spring at Bodnant in Wales, or the aroma of azaleas and
rhododendrons at Stourhead in Wiltshire.

Here are some of the top spring gardens and seasonal events to enjoy:
Blickling Estate, Norfolk
Four centuries of good husbandry have made Blickling’s 55 acre garden one of the greatest in England. It changes
through the seasons and has evolved over the centuries to reflect different fashions. Visit in May and follow the
winding paths through the great wood, and pass through the carpet of dainty English bluebells in spring; it’s one of
the best places to see them in the country. At the heart of the garden, discover one of England’s great Jacobean
houses. Don’t miss the fragrant beds of the parterre and inspiring double borders. You’ll find hellebores, daffodils
and bluebells, azaleas and rhododendron, wisteria and peonies as well as quiet places to sit an