1 00:00:23,639 --> 00:00:26,639 KATE MARTIN: Hello and welcome to a new season of the National 2 00:00:26,649 --> 00:00:27,899 Trust podcast. 3 00:00:28,100 --> 00:00:31,579 I'm Kate Martin lead Ranger in the Northwest for the National 4 00:00:31,590 --> 00:00:32,259 Trust. 5 00:00:32,450 --> 00:00:35,900 And in this episode, we're going to be exploring one of the most 6 00:00:35,909 --> 00:00:44,180 beautiful phenomena of the season of Spring, blossom. 7 00:00:44,180 --> 00:00:50,580 In spring of 2020 the first lockdown hit the UK. The normal 8 00:00:50,590 --> 00:00:53,830 rhythm of life was interrupted and this resulted in many people 9 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:55,540 wanting to reconnect with nature. 10 00:00:57,130 --> 00:01:00,299 Many more of us appreciated bird song, walking in the 11 00:01:00,310 --> 00:01:03,580 countryside, trees, flowers and blossom. 12 00:01:05,970 --> 00:01:09,209 The trials and the hardship brought out the kindness of many 13 00:01:09,239 --> 00:01:11,830 and highlighted the real resilience of people in the face 14 00:01:11,839 --> 00:01:12,830 of adversity. 15 00:01:13,449 --> 00:01:15,930 It was at this time that the National Trust started the 16 00:01:15,940 --> 00:01:20,440 movement'Blossom Together' a campaign to encourage people to 17 00:01:20,449 --> 00:01:23,389 share their experiences of blossom from all around the 18 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:23,989 country. 19 00:01:24,730 --> 00:01:28,309 Blossom has a significance and mirrors the feelings that our 20 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:33,470 experience of life is transient, as is joy, as is sorrow and we 21 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:36,230 need to appreciate this beauty and fragility of life. 22 00:01:37,309 --> 00:01:40,410 In this episode, we're on a journey to experience some of 23 00:01:40,419 --> 00:01:42,370 the most meaningful blossoms. 24 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:50,919 Our journey begins in a country which over the centuries has 25 00:01:50,930 --> 00:01:53,730 developed a rich culture around celebrating blossom. 26 00:01:55,550 --> 00:02:01,199 Japan is 5730 miles from the UK shores in the Pacific Ocean. But 27 00:02:01,209 --> 00:02:04,529 the two countries are linked by a surprising natural history. 28 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:09,860 Naoko Abe is a Japanese writer living in London and Naoko wrote 29 00:02:09,869 --> 00:02:13,059 her first English language book after discovering an intriguing 30 00:02:13,070 --> 00:02:17,279 story of an Englishman who was captivated by Japan's blossoms 31 00:02:17,559 --> 00:02:20,539 and the seeds for friendship sown between the two countries, 32 00:02:20,550 --> 00:02:22,940 which is still having an impact to this day. 33 00:02:25,309 --> 00:02:28,619 NAOKO ABE: As you know, we Japanese are crazy about cherry 34 00:02:28,630 --> 00:02:33,570 blossoms. When I moved to England in 2001, I was surprised 35 00:02:33,580 --> 00:02:36,779 to see so many cherry blossoms in spring. 36 00:02:36,779 --> 00:02:41,550 Everywhere, parks streets, people's homes and they were 37 00:02:41,559 --> 00:02:46,729 really diverse. So I wondered why the English cherry landscape 38 00:02:46,740 --> 00:02:47,869 was so different. 39 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:52,149 So I did a bit of research and very quickly I discovered there 40 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:56,960 was this eccentric Englishman who was totally in love with 41 00:02:56,970 --> 00:02:58,619 Japanese cherry blossoms. 42 00:02:59,009 --> 00:03:01,270 KATE MARTIN: His name was Collingwood Ingram and he was 43 00:03:01,279 --> 00:03:04,800 born in 1880 in Kent into a wealthy Victorian family. 44 00:03:07,270 --> 00:03:11,220 NAOKO ABE: He went to Japan when he turned 21 and fell in love 45 00:03:11,229 --> 00:03:13,729 with the countryside and nature. 46 00:03:14,580 --> 00:03:17,509 KATE MARTIN: Ingram especially liked the cherry blossom trees 47 00:03:17,539 --> 00:03:20,600 and began avidly collecting as many different varieties as he 48 00:03:20,610 --> 00:03:24,419 could from Japan and cultivating them in his garden in Benenden, 49 00:03:24,419 --> 00:03:25,029 Kent. 50 00:03:25,449 --> 00:03:29,179 NAOKO ABE: Within six years, he collected as many varieties and 51 00:03:29,190 --> 00:03:33,559 species as possible. And he was already an expert. 52 00:03:33,559 --> 00:03:36,809 KATE MARTIN: As Ingram built his collection, he decided to return 53 00:03:36,820 --> 00:03:38,589 to Japan again. 54 00:03:38,589 --> 00:03:43,509 NAOKO ABE: In 1926 in Ingram's third visit to Japan was 55 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:48,759 entirely focused on cherry hunting. And at that time, all 56 00:03:48,770 --> 00:03:53,110 the top Japanese leaders were focused on becoming a strong 57 00:03:53,119 --> 00:03:58,449 nation and also a military power. 58 00:03:58,449 --> 00:04:00,660 KATE MARTIN: In the country's quest for industrialization and 59 00:04:00,669 --> 00:04:04,330 political power, preservation of cherry trees was not a high 60 00:04:04,339 --> 00:04:05,070 priority. 61 00:04:06,539 --> 00:04:10,720 NAOKO ABE: So the cherry varieties were forgotten and 62 00:04:10,729 --> 00:04:13,630 Ingram was deeply shocked and depressed. 63 00:04:14,380 --> 00:04:18,209 He gives a warning to the Japanese people saying that you 64 00:04:18,220 --> 00:04:22,510 are not doing anything to preserve the old precious, 65 00:04:22,510 --> 00:04:26,920 precious varieties that your ancestors had developed over 66 00:04:26,929 --> 00:04:30,779 many, many years with such painstaking efforts. 67 00:04:31,250 --> 00:04:35,160 And if you don't do anything, now you would have permanently 68 00:04:35,170 --> 00:04:38,450 lost them. Everybody became silent. 69 00:04:42,179 --> 00:04:46,399 His warning unfortunately fell on to deaf ears. 70 00:04:49,970 --> 00:04:54,799 Ingram then decides to preserve rare varieties himself and bring 71 00:04:54,809 --> 00:04:58,410 them back to England. So that was an extraordinary thing for 72 00:04:58,420 --> 00:04:59,119 him to do. 73 00:04:59,559 --> 00:05:02,989 And I I'm really glad that he did because some of the 74 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:07,570 varieties which had gone extinct in Japan did survive in this 75 00:05:07,579 --> 00:05:08,640 country in his garden. 76 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:12,549 KATE MARTIN: One of the species of cherry tree to go extinct in 77 00:05:12,559 --> 00:05:15,239 Japan during the industrialization was the 78 00:05:15,250 --> 00:05:16,850 Taihaku cherry tree. 79 00:05:17,070 --> 00:05:20,410 It was well known for many historical drawings and thought 80 00:05:20,420 --> 00:05:21,529 loss forever. 81 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:26,010 NAOKO ABE: The Taihaku is one of the most admired and loved and 82 00:05:26,019 --> 00:05:31,039 popular varieties in the world today. 83 00:05:31,039 --> 00:05:33,359 KATE MARTIN: Ingram learned from an old cherry expert that this 84 00:05:33,369 --> 00:05:35,700 variety had seemingly gone extinct. 85 00:05:36,100 --> 00:05:39,470 The expert was desperately looking for it all over Japan, 86 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:41,239 but without any success. 87 00:05:42,489 --> 00:05:45,059 NAOKO ABE: And then Ingram- Ingram said, "I've got this 88 00:05:45,070 --> 00:05:47,029 cherry tree in my garden." 89 00:05:47,029 --> 00:05:51,750 He promised this old cherry expert in Japan that he would 90 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:54,190 return the variety to Japan. 91 00:05:55,070 --> 00:05:57,760 KATE MARTIN: So Ingram painstakingly took cuttings of 92 00:05:57,769 --> 00:06:01,089 the cherry tree and tried to send them by ship to Japan. 93 00:06:01,239 --> 00:06:04,369 However, the ship's route meant passing through the Suez Canal 94 00:06:04,380 --> 00:06:07,440 and the cuttings didn't survive the tropical weather. 95 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:12,510 Years passed as Ingram tried and tried and failed. It was time 96 00:06:12,519 --> 00:06:13,230 for a new plan. 97 00:06:13,589 --> 00:06:19,609 NAOKO ABE: So in the end, Ingram cut the scion branches from the 98 00:06:19,619 --> 00:06:23,829 tree and then stuck them onto potatoes and then put them on 99 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:26,029 the Trans Siberian train. 100 00:06:27,470 --> 00:06:34,390 So finally they arrived at Kyoto alive and then they were 101 00:06:34,399 --> 00:06:40,190 successfully grafted. And that was a moment in 1931 that the 102 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:43,910 variety returned to Japan. 103 00:06:43,910 --> 00:06:46,820 KATE MARTIN: Common English potatoes, save this beautiful 104 00:06:46,829 --> 00:06:50,660 variety of cherry tree from extinction. Ingram became 105 00:06:50,670 --> 00:06:54,200 affectionately known as Cherry Ingram and wrote one of the 106 00:06:54,209 --> 00:06:57,510 definitive books on cherry trees that is still used today. 107 00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:03,709 NAOKO ABE: Five more varieties have been returned actually last 108 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:08,829 year and they were all introduced by Cherry Ingram. The 109 00:07:08,890 --> 00:07:13,950 blossoms have become again a symbol of peace and friendship. 110 00:07:17,910 --> 00:07:20,899 KATE MARTIN: In recent times, ties between Japan and the UK 111 00:07:20,910 --> 00:07:25,250 have deepened. Two years ago, Japanese residents in the UK 112 00:07:25,260 --> 00:07:29,130 gave over 6000 cherry trees to the British people as a symbol 113 00:07:29,140 --> 00:07:34,059 of friendship. The trees have been planted in over 130 sites. 114 00:07:34,380 --> 00:07:38,149 One of these is Chartwell in Kent, the historic home of one 115 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:42,059 of Britain's most famous prime ministers, Winston Churchill. 116 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,950 Senior volunteering officer at Chartwell, Claire Vincent, 117 00:07:45,950 --> 00:07:48,970 explains the role cherry trees have played in the property's 118 00:07:48,980 --> 00:07:49,619 history. 119 00:07:50,910 --> 00:07:53,750 CLAIRE VINCENT: We were approached by the Sakura Cherry 120 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:58,579 Tree Project which is a initiative between the UK and 121 00:07:58,589 --> 00:07:59,179 Japan. 122 00:08:00,010 --> 00:08:04,600 We were fortunate enough to receive a gift of 30 trees to be 123 00:08:04,609 --> 00:08:06,079 planted at Chartwell. 124 00:08:06,660 --> 00:08:09,269 KATE MARTIN: The official planting ceremony was attended 125 00:08:09,279 --> 00:08:12,709 by local dignitaries, school children and the Japanese 126 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:13,559 ambassador. 127 00:08:14,019 --> 00:08:16,940 CLAIRE VINCENT: So the Sakura trees that we have used them in 128 00:08:16,950 --> 00:08:20,070 our first part of the site that you come into at Chartwell. 129 00:08:20,079 --> 00:08:24,519 So once they are in full bloom, they really will enrich the 130 00:08:24,529 --> 00:08:25,829 welcome to the site. 131 00:08:27,029 --> 00:08:31,869 Churchill bought Chartwell in 1922. Its role in his life was 132 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:35,479 of course, where his family lived, but it was a place of 133 00:08:35,489 --> 00:08:39,219 solace that he could escape the pressures of political life. 134 00:08:39,549 --> 00:08:43,520 And actually, there's a really nice quote in a letter that 135 00:08:43,530 --> 00:08:47,780 Churchill wrote to his wife in 1950 which references the cherry 136 00:08:47,789 --> 00:08:52,030 tree in the garden and the mass of blossom that he can see when 137 00:08:52,039 --> 00:08:52,929 he's writing. 138 00:08:52,950 --> 00:08:54,476 KATE MARTIN: The letter reads.... [ 139 00:08:54,476 --> 00:08:56,179 WINSTON CHURCHILL: Actor] "I have thought much about you my 140 00:08:56,190 --> 00:08:59,260 sweet darling and it will be a joy to have you back. Your 141 00:08:59,270 --> 00:09:02,140 flowers are growing beautifully on the Chartwell balcony and 142 00:09:02,150 --> 00:09:05,469 here the cherry tree is a mass of blossom. All your 143 00:09:05,479 --> 00:09:08,309 arrangements have worked perfectly in your absence and no 144 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:10,900 one could have been more comfortable than your pea. With 145 00:09:10,909 --> 00:09:14,080 tender love, your ever loving husband." 146 00:09:14,080 --> 00:09:16,940 CLAIRE VINCENT: Although these are new additions to Chartwell, 147 00:09:16,950 --> 00:09:21,039 they are very much in keeping with the kind of trees and views 148 00:09:21,049 --> 00:09:23,260 that he would have been looking out on, which is a really lovely 149 00:09:23,270 --> 00:09:24,890 connection I think. 150 00:09:24,890 --> 00:09:27,260 KATE MARTIN: The simplicity and symbolism of blossom means 151 00:09:27,270 --> 00:09:30,880 different things to individuals and cultures around the world. 152 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:33,940 Or perhaps the best known and most joyous way of celebrating 153 00:09:33,950 --> 00:09:36,179 the season also comes from Japan. 154 00:09:38,619 --> 00:09:41,650 And what better way to find out about this tradition than to 155 00:09:41,659 --> 00:09:44,750 attend a Hanami Party in London's Greenwich Park. 156 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:47,710 RIMIKA SOLLOWAY: My name is Rimika Solloway and I'm the 157 00:09:47,719 --> 00:09:49,799 director of the charity Aid For Japan. 158 00:09:50,299 --> 00:09:54,669 Today's a Hanami which is a cherry blossom viewing picnic. 159 00:09:55,280 --> 00:10:01,419 Hanami means- Hana is flower and Mi is to watch or to see. 160 00:10:01,419 --> 00:10:05,440 Hanami is done primarily for Sakura. That's what Japanese 161 00:10:05,450 --> 00:10:06,919 people call cherry blossom. 162 00:10:07,159 --> 00:10:11,000 The transience of their beauty really matches a lot of Japanese 163 00:10:11,010 --> 00:10:11,840 philosophy. 164 00:10:12,070 --> 00:10:14,280 It's not about being beautiful forever. It's about really 165 00:10:14,289 --> 00:10:16,869 appreciating the moment that you're beautiful and then 166 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:17,619 letting it go. 167 00:10:18,299 --> 00:10:21,669 They celebrate it quite similar to what people here in Greenwich 168 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:26,890 Park are doing. They all get some picnic mats or tarpaulin, 169 00:10:26,900 --> 00:10:31,309 find the best tree if they can and then, they set up underneath 170 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:34,280 it they bring food and people drink beer and sake. 171 00:10:36,570 --> 00:10:40,250 YUKA PA: My name is Yuka Pa. I've got a chicken. This is 172 00:10:40,260 --> 00:10:43,539 called Golden Chicken. It's the coated with egg and then it's 173 00:10:43,549 --> 00:10:47,890 like a Dashi on it and like a bit like a teriyaki Japanese 174 00:10:48,099 --> 00:10:49,099 twist on it. 175 00:10:49,169 --> 00:10:52,099 And I got the egg omelette. It's called dashi maki. 176 00:10:52,530 --> 00:10:56,539 Yeah so that's a green tea. That's a cocoa chocolate 177 00:10:56,549 --> 00:10:57,239 flavour. 178 00:10:57,809 --> 00:11:01,897 We say that it's Hanami- Hanami Dango is the Japanese way of 179 00:11:01,897 --> 00:11:05,390 saying- is that everybody attending that cherry blossom 180 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:09,179 viewing. However, the most important thing is food. 181 00:11:10,849 --> 00:11:13,510 GENERIC: We came here, especially for the blossoms. We 182 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:18,710 knew from researching that it was at its most prettiest right 183 00:11:18,719 --> 00:11:23,760 now. So we decided as friends and family to actually come 184 00:11:23,770 --> 00:11:26,710 down, make a day out of it and have a picnic here as well. 185 00:11:28,030 --> 00:11:33,099 I'm Olga, I'm Sophia. We are from Ukraine from Kyiv. That's 186 00:11:33,109 --> 00:11:37,789 why we come here to see how Japanese cherry is blossoming. 187 00:11:38,299 --> 00:11:42,760 Just very you know, unusual and very interesting for us. It's 188 00:11:42,770 --> 00:11:44,609 like first time we see it. 189 00:11:49,229 --> 00:11:52,030 KATE MARTIN: Hanami inspired gatherings are such a joyful way 190 00:11:52,039 --> 00:11:55,309 to experience the blossoms together. And public parks like 191 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:58,090 Greenwich are an ideal spot for festivities. 192 00:11:59,989 --> 00:12:02,869 You might not realize it but London actually contains the 193 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:07,000 largest urban forest in the world with over 8 million trees. 194 00:12:07,010 --> 00:12:12,659 21% of England's capital has tree cover. These trees help to 195 00:12:12,669 --> 00:12:17,989 remove 2241 tons of pollution from the atmosphere every year, 196 00:12:18,489 --> 00:12:21,869 saving millions of pounds and lowering the risk of flooding. 197 00:12:22,770 --> 00:12:25,309 But the distribution of that cover is uneven. 198 00:12:26,059 --> 00:12:29,000 Both the physical and mental health benefits of trees have 199 00:12:29,010 --> 00:12:33,039 long been proven. But for many urban communities, physical and 200 00:12:33,049 --> 00:12:35,960 cultural barriers can prevent easy access to nature. 201 00:12:36,859 --> 00:12:40,289 One resident in Lewisham in Southeast London took matters 202 00:12:40,299 --> 00:12:43,530 into her own hands and started to make the changes that she 203 00:12:43,539 --> 00:12:45,250 wanted to see in her neighbourhood. 204 00:12:46,809 --> 00:12:48,650 MARIE-CLAIRE DENYER: Hi, my name is Marie-Claire Denyer. 205 00:12:50,609 --> 00:12:53,510 So I first heard about'Street Trees for Living' through a 206 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:57,190 social media forum. I heard that it was possible to get a street 207 00:12:57,200 --> 00:13:01,309 tree planted on your street if you had the time and facilities 208 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:05,179 to help fundraise and look after the tree. 209 00:13:05,179 --> 00:13:07,640 In my street that I live on didn't have any trees on it at 210 00:13:07,650 --> 00:13:08,090 all. 211 00:13:08,159 --> 00:13:10,919 So I thought, yeah, great, why not get involved? And another 212 00:13:10,929 --> 00:13:12,390 neighbour felt the same way. 213 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:15,900 And so we just went door to door talking to neighbours seeing if 214 00:13:15,909 --> 00:13:18,530 they would be interested in having any trees, if they would, 215 00:13:18,539 --> 00:13:21,750 if they could possibly donate some money towards them and 216 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:24,590 managed to fundraise for 2 to 3 trees. 217 00:13:25,390 --> 00:13:29,469 KATE MARTIN: It costs residents about £350 for a tree. And then 218 00:13:29,479 --> 00:13:30,880 there are the logistics. 219 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:33,090 MARIE-CLAIRE DENYER: There's quite a lot to take into 220 00:13:33,099 --> 00:13:35,739 consideration when planting a street tree, you have to plant a 221 00:13:35,750 --> 00:13:40,309 standard size tree which are about 3 m upwards and you're 222 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:43,510 obviously digging into hard ground where there's all sorts 223 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:46,750 of infrastructure under the pavements, lots of health and 224 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:49,650 safety issues that you need to take into consideration. 225 00:13:49,909 --> 00:13:52,109 KATE MARTIN: Initially, there was pushback from some of the 226 00:13:52,119 --> 00:13:55,369 residents. However, Marie-Claire and her neighbour pressed on 227 00:13:55,380 --> 00:13:58,250 with their plan to bring blossom trees to the neighbourhood. 228 00:14:00,309 --> 00:14:02,890 MARIE-CLAIRE DENYER: From March till October roughly once a 229 00:14:02,900 --> 00:14:06,000 week. It's an excuse to sort of get a watering can go out into 230 00:14:06,010 --> 00:14:09,679 the street, do a little walk bit of exercise. And then quite 231 00:14:09,690 --> 00:14:12,840 often people will walk past and ask what you're doing or thank 232 00:14:12,849 --> 00:14:15,400 you for what you're doing and you get to know people like 233 00:14:15,409 --> 00:14:17,549 who've lived on the street for the same amount of time as you 234 00:14:17,559 --> 00:14:20,119 say, like 8, 10 years that you've never spoken to before. 235 00:14:20,130 --> 00:14:22,549 And then from then on you, you say hello every time you see 236 00:14:22,559 --> 00:14:22,840 them. 237 00:14:24,140 --> 00:14:28,280 And then the first spring after the trees went in, we got really 238 00:14:28,289 --> 00:14:31,219 positive comments from neighbours. They'll be like, oh, 239 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:35,140 the trees look amazing. When are you getting more trees? And this 240 00:14:35,150 --> 00:14:37,700 was off, someone who didn't want them initially as well. 241 00:14:37,710 --> 00:14:40,479 KATE MARTIN: The trees made a marked improvement to the look 242 00:14:40,489 --> 00:14:41,919 and feel of the street. 243 00:14:44,820 --> 00:14:47,820 Encouraged by the success of blossom trees. Marie-Claire 244 00:14:47,830 --> 00:14:50,799 decided to keep going with the transforming work. 245 00:14:51,010 --> 00:14:53,849 MARIE-CLAIRE DENYER: So that then led on to trying to change 246 00:14:53,859 --> 00:14:56,260 the environment outside my children's school. 247 00:14:56,270 --> 00:14:59,969 One of the benefits of planting street trees with schools is it 248 00:14:59,979 --> 00:15:03,570 does help to create a screen between the car emissions and 249 00:15:03,580 --> 00:15:06,789 the area where the children are every day during term time, 250 00:15:06,820 --> 00:15:09,390 there's now 13 street trees outside the school. 251 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:13,039 And then it led to a whole overhaul of the inside of the 252 00:15:13,049 --> 00:15:13,799 playground. 253 00:15:14,020 --> 00:15:16,570 KATE MARTIN: What started as a piece of tarmac was changed to 254 00:15:16,580 --> 00:15:20,090 incorporate plants and trees with areas of shade and green 255 00:15:20,099 --> 00:15:20,849 space. 256 00:15:21,369 --> 00:15:24,010 Another school approached Marie-Claire to work the same 257 00:15:24,020 --> 00:15:27,369 magic on their school. And before long, she was inundated 258 00:15:27,380 --> 00:15:29,369 with the request to plant more trees. 259 00:15:29,820 --> 00:15:33,150 Taking the leap to full time, she's now managing director 260 00:15:33,159 --> 00:15:34,849 for'Street Trees for Living'. 261 00:15:35,710 --> 00:15:37,469 MARIE-CLAIRE DENYER: That just came off the back of planting 262 00:15:37,479 --> 00:15:41,729 one street tree outside my house. So yeah, it led on to 263 00:15:41,739 --> 00:15:45,010 lots of really positive change in the localized area. 264 00:15:45,140 --> 00:15:47,349 KATE MARTIN: 'Street Trees for Living' is now planting 265 00:15:47,359 --> 00:15:52,520 approximately 100 to 150 street trees outside 10 schools every 266 00:15:52,530 --> 00:15:56,570 year and working so that every child in London can see a tree 267 00:15:56,580 --> 00:15:58,169 directly from their house. 268 00:15:58,179 --> 00:16:01,690 MARIE-CLAIRE DENYER: It helps to make you realize that you're not 269 00:16:01,700 --> 00:16:05,849 sort of separate to nature. You are nature, you're growing and 270 00:16:05,859 --> 00:16:08,700 changing all the time just as much as the trees are on your 271 00:16:08,710 --> 00:16:09,179 street. 272 00:16:09,409 --> 00:16:12,799 And that's quite a nice feeling really. Yeah, it makes you feel 273 00:16:12,809 --> 00:16:13,520 happy. 274 00:16:15,989 --> 00:16:18,390 KATE MARTIN: Communities like Marie-Claire's are doing their 275 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:21,080 bit to bring the benefits of blossom to those who need it 276 00:16:21,090 --> 00:16:24,780 most. But even beyond the cities, most of our blossom tree 277 00:16:24,789 --> 00:16:28,289 coverage, once a common sight across the UK landscape has been 278 00:16:28,299 --> 00:16:29,000 lost. 279 00:16:29,820 --> 00:16:34,510 Research suggests that since 1900 we've lost 80% of our 280 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:38,890 traditional orchards and that blossom has declined by over 50% 281 00:16:38,900 --> 00:16:42,320 in England and Wales largely driven by urban growth and 282 00:16:42,330 --> 00:16:44,030 agricultural practices. 283 00:16:44,659 --> 00:16:48,000 So to help bring back blossom, the National Trust has pledged 284 00:16:48,010 --> 00:16:51,190 to plant 4 million blossom trees by 2030. 285 00:16:51,619 --> 00:16:54,909 This includes filling orchards with fruit trees and planting 286 00:16:54,919 --> 00:16:58,809 blossom circles for people to access and benefit from nature. 287 00:17:00,130 --> 00:17:04,770 Our final location takes us to Britain's ocean city, Plymouth. 288 00:17:04,770 --> 00:17:08,530 On the edge of town lies Devil's Point where one of these bottom 289 00:17:08,540 --> 00:17:12,739 circles explores an unusual and other worldly type of flower you 290 00:17:12,750 --> 00:17:14,430 won't find in any orchard. 291 00:17:16,088 --> 00:17:19,609 EMMY REEDMAN: Welcome to Devil's Point in Plymouth. As we're 292 00:17:19,619 --> 00:17:22,759 walking, what we can see over the water of the river Tamar 293 00:17:22,769 --> 00:17:26,149 over there. That's cornwall. We're on the Devon side of the 294 00:17:26,159 --> 00:17:26,668 river. 295 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:31,430 We're stood right now, both feet on the South West Coast path. As 296 00:17:31,439 --> 00:17:34,310 we round the corner here, you're looking at our new'Blossom 297 00:17:34,310 --> 00:17:35,660 Together' circle. 298 00:17:36,089 --> 00:17:39,439 My name's Emmy Reedman. I work for Plymouth City Council on the 299 00:17:39,449 --> 00:17:42,410 Green Minds Project. 300 00:17:42,410 --> 00:17:45,280 Before we benefited from the blossom Together National Trust 301 00:17:45,290 --> 00:17:48,520 funding. This is sort of a bit of a tired part of Devil's 302 00:17:48,530 --> 00:17:49,040 point. 303 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:52,449 And Devil's Point is a gorgeous site, but this bit, it was a 304 00:17:52,459 --> 00:17:56,410 disused area of tarmac. We've chosen to plant Tamarix trees 305 00:17:56,420 --> 00:17:59,109 around the site alongside Hawthorn trees. 306 00:17:59,109 --> 00:18:02,329 In the spring time they go a feathery pale pink colour and 307 00:18:02,339 --> 00:18:03,310 they're really pretty. 308 00:18:03,979 --> 00:18:08,500 So we're very lucky that we can see some beautiful blossoming 309 00:18:08,510 --> 00:18:12,199 happening up here on land. But if we were to dip our toes into 310 00:18:12,209 --> 00:18:16,319 the sea and take a peek beneath the waves, what might we see? 311 00:18:17,150 --> 00:18:21,650 And in the National Marine Park in Plymouth, what you would see 312 00:18:21,969 --> 00:18:26,390 are seagrass meadows and they are blossoming probably as we 313 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:26,849 speak. 314 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:33,300 KATE MARTIN: Sea grass is the only plant that blossoms 315 00:18:33,310 --> 00:18:36,890 underwater. These ocean flowering meadows are totally 316 00:18:36,900 --> 00:18:39,199 unlike anything above the surface. 317 00:18:39,910 --> 00:18:43,270 And thanks to some artistic interpretation, you don't need 318 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:46,790 to be an expert diver to get a glimpse of these unique aquatic 319 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:48,569 ecosystems. 320 00:18:48,569 --> 00:18:51,099 In the centre of the Devil's Point blossom circle will be a 321 00:18:51,109 --> 00:18:54,459 piece of art, interpreting the beauty of sea grass blossom and 322 00:18:54,469 --> 00:18:56,489 making it visible to those on land. 323 00:18:56,890 --> 00:19:00,089 And if you head to Plymouth's famous National Aquarium, you 324 00:19:00,099 --> 00:19:03,069 can even find out what it might be like to wander through one of 325 00:19:03,079 --> 00:19:04,849 these underwater meadows. 326 00:19:08,030 --> 00:19:10,430 ROSIE SHERWOOD: My name's Rosie Sherwood, I'm an artist and we 327 00:19:10,439 --> 00:19:13,760 are standing at the entrance to the National Marine Aquarium in 328 00:19:13,900 --> 00:19:13,959 Plymouth. 329 00:19:14,910 --> 00:19:19,849 I'm here today to show my installation, the Seagrass Walk, 330 00:19:19,859 --> 00:19:23,609 which has just been shortlisted for the Aesthetica Art Prize. 331 00:19:24,359 --> 00:19:27,000 So we are currently walking past the Eddystone Tank, which is a 332 00:19:27,010 --> 00:19:31,859 huge floor to ceiling tank that makes incredible light. And here 333 00:19:31,869 --> 00:19:33,729 we are in my installation. 334 00:19:34,109 --> 00:19:39,920 So the Seagrass Walk is a multimedia immersive 335 00:19:39,930 --> 00:19:46,000 installation space that is about exploring blue carbon, which is 336 00:19:46,010 --> 00:19:49,670 the term for carbon sequestered in the oceans. 337 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:54,109 So this space has a sound installation. It's got video 338 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:56,420 installation, it's got photography, it's got some light 339 00:19:56,430 --> 00:20:00,030 art and then there's some very important information at the end 340 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:01,219 of the space as you exit. 341 00:20:01,229 --> 00:20:03,640 And it has a series of beautifully curated tanks that 342 00:20:03,650 --> 00:20:06,160 the aquarium designed and look after. 343 00:20:08,339 --> 00:20:11,319 MARK PARRY: A lot of people don't realize that we do have 344 00:20:11,329 --> 00:20:15,160 plants in the sea. People think they're algae or seaweeds, but 345 00:20:15,170 --> 00:20:19,449 we do have plants that have roots and flowers as well. So 346 00:20:19,459 --> 00:20:21,390 during the summer, they blossom. 347 00:20:21,900 --> 00:20:24,979 KATE MARTIN: Marine biologist and diver Mark Parry studies 348 00:20:24,989 --> 00:20:28,810 seagrass meadows and explains how these unusual little flowers 349 00:20:28,819 --> 00:20:31,859 are completely different to their terrestrial relatives. 350 00:20:33,910 --> 00:20:37,050 MARK PARRY: So the blossom on our British seagrass plants is 351 00:20:37,060 --> 00:20:42,770 very subtle. It would form maybe five centimetres of the leafed 352 00:20:42,780 --> 00:20:46,489 part of the plant, they are slightly transparent. 353 00:20:48,209 --> 00:20:52,590 Diving around the south west of the UK and certainly on sea 354 00:20:52,590 --> 00:20:58,729 grass meadows, we do see fish, Bib and Bass as well as Gobis 355 00:20:58,739 --> 00:20:59,689 and Dragonet. 356 00:21:00,300 --> 00:21:04,040 But I've also been fortunate enough to see some of the rarer 357 00:21:04,050 --> 00:21:05,270 species in the UK. 358 00:21:05,739 --> 00:21:11,229 Having done in excess of 500, 600 seagrass dives, we looked 359 00:21:11,239 --> 00:21:14,880 down and at the base of one of these plants, It was what looked 360 00:21:14,890 --> 00:21:17,680 like a piece of seaweed wrapped around the bottom but it wasn't, 361 00:21:17,689 --> 00:21:21,339 it was one of our Long Snouted Seahorses which are very rare 362 00:21:21,569 --> 00:21:25,560 that we observe it, enjoy seeing it and then give it as much 363 00:21:25,569 --> 00:21:26,560 space as possible. 364 00:21:36,619 --> 00:21:39,300 KATE MARTIN: Given the chance blossom thrives in diverse 365 00:21:39,310 --> 00:21:43,280 spaces, including the most unexpected places. 366 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:47,199 And like a national sports event festival or holiday the show of 367 00:21:47,209 --> 00:21:50,689 blossom in Spring is a fleeting shared moment with the power to 368 00:21:50,699 --> 00:21:51,959 bring people together. 369 00:21:52,859 --> 00:21:56,150 There are so many different ways to celebrate its arrival, 370 00:21:56,280 --> 00:21:59,790 whether it's seeking quiet and solace amid floating petals, a 371 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:02,790 family trip to a tree trail, brightening up the online 372 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:05,920 community by sharing your blossom pictures or gathering 373 00:22:05,930 --> 00:22:09,160 locally with friends and family and sharing food and drink in a 374 00:22:09,170 --> 00:22:10,319 park or garden. 375 00:22:11,449 --> 00:22:15,430 So why not plan to make your own annual blossom celebration and 376 00:22:15,439 --> 00:22:18,510 take the time to acknowledge and enjoy this beautiful and 377 00:22:18,520 --> 00:22:22,510 symbolic natural wonder while Spring's promise is at its most 378 00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:23,390 resplendent. 379 00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:38,150 Thanks for listening to the first episode in a new series of 380 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:41,819 the National Trust podcast to find out more about where to see 381 00:22:41,829 --> 00:22:47,180 the best blossoms. Head to nationaltrust.org.uk/blossom. 382 00:22:47,609 --> 00:22:50,229 To make sure you're notified of every new episode of the 383 00:22:50,239 --> 00:22:53,420 National Trust podcast please follow us on your favourite 384 00:22:53,430 --> 00:22:56,150 podcast app where we'd appreciate your ratings and 385 00:22:56,160 --> 00:22:57,050 reviews too. 386 00:22:57,329 --> 00:23:00,229 Find out more about audio programmes from the National 387 00:23:00,239 --> 00:23:05,040 Trust at nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts. 388 00:23:05,719 --> 00:23:09,219 And until next time from me, Kate Martin. Goodbye.