Spring arrived in Cornwall on Thursday.  

The date was declared by The Nare on the Roseland Peninsula, together with The Great Gardens of Cornwall,  as part of Cornwall’s Spring Story – which marks the moment the Cornish magnolias flower, spring has arrived in England.

Thanks to the Gulf Stream, the county’s mild, sub-tropical climate ensures that Cornwall sees signs of spring much earlier than the rest of the country. 

The first botanical day of spring is declared once six magnificent Magnolia Campbellii in each of the Great Gardens of Cornwall have flowered, with at least 50 blooms on each of the champion trees.

Cornwall’s Spring Story was founded by Toby Ashworth, proprietor of The Nare Hotel, in partnership with the Great Gardens of Cornwall in 2012 - to ensure garden lovers enjoy the splendid sight of the early spring Magnolia Campbellii. 

The six champion Magnolia Campbellii trees are located within Cornwall’s Great Gardens of Caerhays, Trebah, Tregothnan, Trewidden, Trewithen, and The Lost Gardens of Heligan.

Annually, each head gardener closely monitors the trees, signalling the start of spring the moment all six prized Magnolia trees flower with at least 50 blooms. 

Mr Ashworth said: “Spring always arrives early in Cornwall, often an entire month before the other parts of Britain, and this year is no different.

“We were delighted to see the blooms flowering in the beautiful gardens across the Duchy and to welcome many friends to The Nare to celebrate Cornwall at its best.”

Charles Williams, the owner of Caerhays Castle and Gardens and Chairman of the Great Gardens of Cornwall, added: “There’s nowhere better to enjoy early spring than in Cornwall.

“Garden lovers should plan to come here in March to really see the gardens in all their spectacular and unique beauty. Flowering Magnolias are the true start of the Spring season”.