Cornwall's Spring Story

Cornwall has always had a penchant for marching to the beat of its own drum, doing things slightly different from the rest of England. We put jam first on scones, embrace a more relaxed pace of life, and have our own language. Naturally, in true Cornish fashion, we even have our own start to spring, which is always much earlier than the rest of England, of course.

Thanks to our milder climate and our location on the edge of the Gulf Stream, spring tends to arrive early in Cornwall. To mark the start of spring we rely on our magnolia trees. Each year six magnolia trees are nominated in six different Great Gardens of Cornwall. These trees have the task of leading Cornwall into Spring. The moment the first magnolia blooms on one of the selected trees, they unknowingly signal the start of the countdown to spring - no pressure. Once each of the six trees has at least 50 blooms, then spring has arrived.

This year, spring has come even earlier with all six trees adorning 50 magnolias by the 16th February 2024. To celebrate, we’ve put together three of our favourite spots where you can find three of the magnolia trees chosen to usher in spring.

Situated alongside the Helford River with its very own private beach, Trebah Garden is a sub-tropical paradise graced with exotic plants, towering palms and four miles of footpaths to meander through. Trebah is home to a number of magnolia varieties, but you can find their champion magnolia tree in the Chilean Coomb.

Alongside beloved magnolia trees, Trebah is home to a variety of Mediterranean and southern hemisphere plants creating a wild and magical atmosphere. Explore the gardens by following the natural spring that flows downhill through a series of pools, including a Koi pond, cascading amid vibrant waterside flora.