Where can you see beautiful blossoms this spring?

Spring is well and truly here, bringing with it lots of bright colours in nature and new life.

In winter, many plants are dormant to survive the colder weather, but as the temperature increases the flowers undergo a remarkable transformation.

The increase in sunlight causes them bloom, providing nectar and pollen for insects and other creatures.

One of the most popular sights of spring is seeing fresh and beautiful blossoms appear on trees.

Why do trees have blossom?

Blossom is the flowers produced by stone fruit trees, for example plums, cherries, apples and hawthorns.

The reason for the trees producing these colourful and sweet-smelling flower is to attract insects, for pollination - the process that helps the tree to reproduce.

But not all trees are pollinated by insects, some are able to go through the process by wind blowing.

These tend to have drooping or hanging clusters of flowers that are more green or brown in colour.

When can I see trees in blossom?

Many blossoms can look very similar so you'll need a good eye to tell them apart

You're in luck because according to the Woodland Trust you should be able to see new flowers forming throughout the season, which means you should have lots of opportunities to see some.

In March, you should be able to see white blossoms from blackthorn, cherry plum, pear and plum trees.

By the time April comes around, there is a bit more variety - with white or pink blossoms from crab apple, hawthorn, Midland hawthorn, and Plymouth pear trees, as well as white blossoms from bird cherry and wild cherry trees.

In May many of these will continue to hold their blooms, while in May and June we'll also see sour cherry and rowan trees getting white flowers, and domestic apple trees with either white or pink.

What is cherry blossom?

Cherry blossoms is arguably the most famous of all the different kind of blossom you can expect to see.

It has a strong association with Japan, where it is known as Sakura and comes out just as the country celebrates the start of a new school and business year.

In spring people travel from all over the world to Japan and other nearby countries like South Korea to see the spectacular sight.

Sakura has deeply influenced Japanese culture for centuries and is often seen in art, poetry and literature.

Where can I see blossoms in the UK?

Sometimes you can be lucky and see blossom by chance when out and about

You don't have to travel all the way to Japan to see wonderful blossoms, there are lots of places in the UK where you can also take in the beautiful sight.

The National Trust has published a list of all of it's properties where you can see blossoms.

Orchards, parks, gardens, woodlands and even along streets and hedgerows are all good places to spot blossom.