Where are magnolias in flower in Great Gardens of Cornwall

The blooming of six magnolia trees at the Great Gardens of Cornwall have heralded the end of winter in local Cornish folklore for more than a century.

The plants are currently sporting 50 blooms, which is said to mean that spring has arrived in the county - several weeks ahead of the rest of the UK.

The colourful flowery scenes are a stark contrast to the stormy winter scenes over much of Britain in recent days.

Cornwall has always enjoyed spring before the rest of the UK due to its milder climate - and the earliest flowering Magnolia campbellii was recorded in 2015 on January 21.

This year 'spring' was announced on Friday. 

There are 50 blooms on six of the trees in the Great Gardens of Cornwall (Image: Daniel Dayment/SWNS)

Charles Williams, owner of Caerhays Castle and Gardens and chairman of the Great Gardens of Cornwall, a group of 14 of the best-known and most historically or horticulturally important gardens in Cornwall, said: “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”.

Historically the six champion Magnolia campbellii trees - in Caerhays Castle Gardens, Trebah Garden, Tregothnan, Trewidden, Trewithen, and The Lost Gardens of Heligan - have been used to mark the sign of spring's arrival in the county.

The magnolia flowers are welcome sight each year (Image: Daniel Dayment/SWNS)

Cornwall declares the arrival of spring when all six trees each have over 50 blooms.

Cornwall's Spring Story - the moment Cornish Magnolias flower, spring has arrived in England - was founded by Toby Ashworth of The Nare Hotel, in partnership with the Great Gardens of Cornwall.

It was in response to the fact that, by waiting until May, many garden lovers were missing the most splendid sight of all - the flowering of the magnolias which occurred in February and March each year.

Blooming gorgeous! (Image: Daniel Dayment/SWNS)

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.”

The 14 gardens that make up the Great Gardens of Cornwall are: Antony Woodland Garden, Bonython Estate Gardens, Caerhays Castle Spring Gardens, Eden Project, The Minack Theatre Garden, Tregrehan Garden, Lamorran Gardens, Trebah Garden, Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Tregothnan, Tresco Abbey Gardens, Trewidden and Trewithen.