A new city-wide initiative is encouraging people to get out and explore Greater Manchester’s spring blossom this April as part of the National Trust’s annual #BlossomWatch campaign
Theconservation charity has collaborated with local partners including Manchester City Council and NOMA to create an interactive blossom trail and series of events as part of an urban festival of blossom.
The ‘Bloomtown’ trail, a nod to Manchester’s ‘boom town’ history, will feature thirty places to experience blossom in some of the city’s most iconic places, including St. Peter’s Square,Manchester Cathedral and Castlefield Viaduct.
The free digital trail map will be live from Saturday 1 April – Sunday 30 April, partly coinciding with the Easter holidays. In a bid to be as accessible as possible, recyclable physical copies of the trail map will be available to pick up from Castlefield Viaduct, selected venues at NOMA, Central Library and local parks and community spaces amongst others. Each of the thirty locations offers an opportunity for the people of Manchesterto take a moment to notice the fleeting beauty of blossom in a city that is often perceived to be lacking green spaces.
Some of Manchester’s blossom highlights include glossy-leaved Magnolias on the Rochdale Canal, groves of Cherry trees at Hulme Park, and crab apple trees on the recently re-opened Castlefield Viaduct.
Using #BlossomWatch the National Trust is asking people to share their blossom images on social media, with the hope that the joyful sight of blush-tinted blooms will lift spirits and enable everyone to celebrate nature together.
Rebecca Alexander, Visitor Operations & Experience Manager at Castlefield Viaduct, says:
“The fleeting beauty of spring blossom is one of the great moments in nature’s calendar. There’s much more blossom than people might expect in Manchester city centre.”
“This project is an exciting way to encourage people to go out and enjoy blossom on their doorsteps, and reconnect with the beauty of nature in their city.”
Alongside the ‘Bloomtown’ trail, Mancunians can take part in a range of more than 20 free creative events and workshops inspired by nature and blossom. In the last two weeks
of April, coinciding with the National Trust’s ‘Blossom Week’, people can book to take part in free guided walks and talks and hands-on activities.
The National Trust has worked closely with a number of Manchester based partners and national funders to deliver the fesitivalof blossom in the city, including Manchester City Council, NOMA, CJ Wildlife and players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Players of the People’s Game Postcode Lottery have raised £1 million to support the National Trust’s work this year, including £350,000 for the #BlossomWatch campaign.
As part of the project, the National Trust has worked with Plant NOMA to create a pop-up blossom display in Sadler’s Yard, which consists of twelve trees of different apple and cherry varieties with hopes to attract pollinators and visitors alike – an ambition which is further supported through a workshop to build one of the largest bug hotels in Manchester City Centre with volunteers and National Trust rangers from Lyme Park.
Later in the year, these blossom trees will be planted at Angel Square as part of a garden of abundance.
Visitors can access the digital map throughout April at nationaltrust.org.uk/blossom-
