Japanese cherry blossom trees bloom early

Japanese cherry blossom trees at a Gloucestershire park have flowered two weeks earlier than usual, thanks to the weather conditions.

Batsford Arboretum is home to 120 trees across 60-acres, providing a stunning display of pinks and whites.

The cherry blossom season normally reaches its peak in late April.

The cold snap in December, and the wet, sunny summer is thought to be the reason for the early bloom.

Batsford's head gardener, Matthew Hall, said: "Equal amounts of rain and sun last summer, along with a cold snap in December, helped make the blossom so magical.

"There was also very mild weather in February which helped develop the flower buds on many of the trees, and having very few frosts has helped protect the flowers.

"It’s fair to say we are in the midst of a magical time for spring flowering trees and shrubs."

The arboretum holds the national collection of Prunus (Sato-Zakura group) cherries, known as Japanese village cherries.

The collection of trees was established in the 1950s by Lord Dulverton, and also features incisa cherries – a mountain variety of Japanese cherry.

Also blooming early are the park's Paulownia fortunei ‘Fast Blue’ trees – which are known as the Fox Glove tree.