Cornwall bursts into spring colours

A magnolia tree adding colour to the thatched house at Lanhydrock

Spring has officially arrived in Cornwall with a burst of colour.

Gardeners across the county said the recent sunny weather had led to some spectacular blossoms.

National Trust properties are reporting magnificent magnolias and colourful crocuses within their grounds.

Experts said that this year spring had arrived right on time.

Nicola Bradley, head gardener at the Lost Gardens of Heligan, said these early blossoms were just the start.

"We're just about to start with the rhododendrons so quite a few of the earlier ones are out already.

"The camellia are out there looking beautiful, so really over the next four to six weeks you'll see that succession of those beautiful blooms coming out all over the garden, all around the gardens."

The magnolia trees at Lanhydrock are already in full blossom

The magnolia at Heligan are flowering "right on time"

She added: "We feel here, because we are so used to having early springs, that we're actually probably about on track, because we had those really cold winds which I think held everything back.

"But in the last week, with the sun coming out and the weather warming up, it really feels like things have just burst into bloom."

A visitor admiring the blossom at Trelissick

But it is not just the mighty magnolia putting on a display.

Visitors to Glendurgan Garden are greeted with a spectacular early spring display of snowdrop and crocus flowers, thanks to the planting of 5,000 bulbs around the grounds over the past year.

Thousands of spring bulbs have been planted at Glendurgan Garden

"We are excited to be adding to the garden's diversity and seasonal interest by increasing the early flowering bulbs in some of our more delicate meadows," said Tom, assistant head gardener at Glendurgan.

"We hope our visitors enjoy this earlier display and continue to watch it grow in the years ahead as the bulbs become more established."