Outdoor Adventures To Immerse Yourself In Nature This Spring

The first signs of spring are arriving, as the snowdrops begin to flower and cheerful bursts of daffodils will soon be sprouting on verges and gardens. It’s the perfect time to plan a group outing by coach hire as the days get longer and the weather is a little more predictable. Here are some inspirational ideas for a spring adventure to immerse yourself in nature. 

Snowdrop walks

There’s still time to appreciate these pretty white flowers that are one of the first signals that spring is on the way. They are in bloom from January through to early March, and many National Trust properties throughout England and Wales have created dedicated snowdrop walks through woodlands and gardens. 

Great places for a beautiful snowdrop walk include Chirk Castle near Wrexham in north east Wales; Lyme Hall in Marple, Cheshire; the gardens and grounds at Shugborough in Staffordshire; and Anglesey Abbey in Cambridgeshire. 

Anglesey Abbey is famous for its sensory winter garden, which includes a three-mile walk along accessible paths lined with silver birch trees. The garden has been designed to provide a balanced sensory experience of scent, texture, and vibrant colours throughout the winter and into early spring. The garden hosts an amazing 500 varieties of snowdrop.

Slightly later on in the season, the spring garden provides a joyful display of daffodils, hyacinths, and horse chestnut trees in full bloom.

Harrogate Spring Flower Show

The award-winning Harrogate Flower Show takes place from 24-27 April, and it’s hugely popular so book your tickets and travel well in advance. It’s held at the Great Yorkshire Showground and features designer gardens and artistic floral displays. It’s the perfect place to visit to provide you with plenty of inspiration and ideas for your own garden. 

There are also family-friendly activities and entertainment, live talks and gardening workshops and live music. You will also find plenty of popup shops and stalls selling everything you need to stock up your own garden, with extensive plant nurseries, tools and equipment. 

There are also two beautiful National Parks to explore on the doorstep: The Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors. Furthermore, the historic city of York is just over an hour’s drive away, and is well worth a visit at any time of the year. 

BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair, Beaulieu, Hampshire

Looking slightly further ahead, the BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair takes place from 2-4 May 2025 in the scenic grounds of Beaulieu. It’s a favourite of everyone from horticultural professionals to interested beginners, and there are hand-on workshops, demonstrations and talks. 

There are also creative displays and show gardens, and a variety of outlets selling plants, gifts, and locally produced food and drink. 

Take a bluebell walk

Bluebells tend to flower from late March to early May, depending on the weather conditions and geographical location (warmer areas such as the south east tend to see earlier blooms). They provide magical carpets of blue on the floors of forests and woodlands. 

The bulbs are tightly packed together, so the bell-shaped flowers have a dense coverage and put on a memorable display. They tend to favour ancient woodlands, but you can also grow them in sheltered spots in your garden. 

To enjoy them in the wild, there are lots of dedicated routes that are managed by the Woodland Trust, and the National Trust also has bluebell walks at many of its properties. A popular location is Old Wood in Sheringham, North Norfolk. It’s set in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is a short distance from the seaside town of Sheringham. 

The waymarked walk features a sculpture trail and ancient broadleaved woodland including oak, beech, and sweet chestnut trees. It’s a haven for wildlife with many species of birds and mammals, and three freshwater ponds that are breeding sites for frogs, toads, fish, dragonflies and damelflies. In March and April, you can also enjoy the gorgeous bluebells.