Join the Natural History Society of Northumbria (NHSN) as we celebrate the National Trust’s Festival of Blossom with a full week of creative, calming, and nature-inspired events. From botanical illustration to flower crown making, there’s something for everyone to enjoy as we welcome the beauty of spring!
Botanical Illustration Course
Monday 26 May | 10.00 am – 3.00 pm | NHSN Council Room, Level 2, Great North Museum: Hancock
Ever wanted to try your hand at botanical art? Now’s your chance! Join local artist Ruth Sheldon for a relaxed, in-person workshop introducing you to the delicate art of botanical illustration. Learn traditional techniques and create your own beautiful artwork to take home.
Event cost: £30 (NHSN members) / £35 (non-members)
All materials provided | Light refreshments included (please bring a packed lunch)
Book your space here: Botanical Illustration Art Course Tickets, Mon, May 26, 2025 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite
Blossom: Spot and Sketch
Sunday 25 May | 10:00 am – 2:30 pm | Gosforth Nature Reserve, Salters’ Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 5EP
Join us for a relaxing and creative day in nature, all skill levels welcome! This event will be led by local artist and naturalist Amber Tatman, alongside NHSN Urban Naturalist Ellie Davison. Whether you’re an artist or just looking for a peaceful day outdoors, this session is a wonderful way to explore the beauty of spring. We’ll begin with some warm-up exercises to get those creative juices flowing before heading out for a leisurely walk around the reserve. Together, we’ll search for blossom and other seasonal treasures to sketch, photograph, and admire. After our morning exploration, we’ll return to the field studies room to work on our final artistic pieces using the sketches and photos we gathered. Some artistic materials will be provided, but feel free to bring along your preferred tools and mediums to make your creations truly your own. We hope to see you there for a day of inspiration, nature, and creativity.
Event cost: £10 (NHSN members) / £15 (non-members)
Please bring a packed lunch with you
Book your space here: Blossom: Spot and Sketch Tickets, Sun 25 May 2025 at 10:00 | Eventbrite
Signs of Spring: Lantern & Keyring Crafting
Thursday 29 May | 10.00 am – 12.30 pm | Field Studies Room, Gosforth Nature Reserve
Come along to Gosforth Nature Reserve for a creative and relaxing session inspired by nature! The session will begin with a relaxed walk with a focus on wildflowers and get inspiration for our crafts. Back indoors, we’ll get hands-on with two nature-themed creations: delicate tealight holders made from upcycled glass jars and pressed flowers, and hand-painted wooden keyrings featuring your own blossom-inspired designs. Whether you gift them to someone special or keep them all to yourself as a reminder of spring, they’re sure to brighten your day!
Event cost: Free to all
Book your space here: Signs of Spring: Lantern & Keyring Crafting Tickets, Thu, May 29, 2025 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite
Nature Walk and Pottery Painting: Signs of Spring
Saturday 31 May | 1.00 pm – 3.30 pm | Field Studies Room, Gosforth Nature Reserve
Come along to Gosforth Nature Reserve for a creative and relaxing session inspired by nature! We’ll start with an informal walk, exploring the changing seasons and finding inspiration in the plants, patterns, and wildlife around us.
After the walk, we’ll head back to decorate pottery, bringing your nature-inspired ideas to life on a ceramic mug. Whether you’re inspired by emerging wildflowers, delicate leaves or textured bark, you’ll create a one-of-a-kind piece to treasure forever.
Mugs will be returned to ‘Canny Crafty’ in Gosforth for firing and you will be notified when they are ready for collection.
Event cost: £18 for standard size mug / £25 for large mug (includes all equipment and firing)
Book your space here: Nature Walk and Pottery Painting: Signs of Spring Tickets, Sat 31 May 2025 at 13:00 | Eventbrite
Stitching Spring: Nature Embroidery Workshop
Sunday 1 June | 1.00 pm – 3.30 pm | Field Studies Room, Gosforth Nature Reserve
Come along to Gosforth Nature Reserve for a creative and relaxing session inspired by nature! The session will begin with a relaxed walk with a focus on wildflowers and get inspiration for our embroidery.
Then we will then get some practice with needle and thread, with local artist Rachael Eden leading us through some simple stitches. Once we’re all feeling confident, we will flex our new skills to create a mini embroidery hoop design. Using stitches, loops, and knots to bring life to a forever flower you can take home to enjoy all year round.
Event cost: Free to all
Book your space here: Stitching Spring: Nature Embroidery Workshop Tickets, Sun, Jun 1, 2025 at 1:00 PM | Eventbrite
Discover Newcastle’s Ancient and Veteran Trees
Monday 2 June | 1.00 pm – 3.30 pm | Heaton Park
Join us for a woodland walk with a difference. Nick Johnson (Northumbria Veteran Tree Project lead) will show us how to identify some of Newcastle’s most significant trees and determine their category or veteran tree status. This experience will help contribute not only to Newcastle City council’s tree strategy but also to the Woodland Trusts Ancient Tree Inventory, a citizen science project raising awareness of ancient veteran and notable trees.
Event cost: Free to all
Book your space here: Discover Newcastle’s Ancient and Veteran Trees Tickets, Mon 2 Jun 2025 at 10:00 | Eventbrite
Gosforth’s Wild Web Stall
Monday 26 May – Sunday 1 June 10am – 4pm | Great North Museum: Hancock
Pop by throughout the week to meet our NHSN naturalists to discover more about Gosforth’s Wild Web, Gosforth Nature Reserve and how you can explore and record nature in your local area. With so much to enjoy in and around Newcastle, from blossom to bees and birds to butterflies, come and chat to us to pick up some free resources and learn more about nature near you!
Free resources available
Event cost: Free to all
No booking necessary, just pop in!
Gosforth Blossom Trail
Monday 26 May – Sunday 1 June | Gosforth Nature Reserve
Come down to Gosforth Nature Reserve during National Trust Blossom Week and explore our ‘Blossom Trail’, which will take you on a family friendly route with an emphasis on some of the beautiful blossom and flowers you can expect to find throughout the Nature Reserve.
Event cost: Free upon entry to the Gosforth Nature Reserve
No booking necessary, just pop in!
Drop-In NENA Lounge
Wednesday – Friday, 10am – 4pm | NHSN Council Room, Level 2, Great North Museum: Hancock
NHSN’s North East Nature Archive (NENA) is open for Blossom Week! Join us on Level 2 for a complementary cuppa and the chance to share your own story of how nature has helped you in times of need. As you sip your tea, enjoy browsing NHSN’s collection of rare and unique blossom-themed books and archives, and learn more about NHSN’s role in North East nature.
Event cost: Free to all
No booking necessary, just pop in!
There are also lots of blossom-related activities to get involved with around the Great North Museum: Hancock. Visit their website here for more details:
Blossom | What’s On | Great North Museum: Hancock
The National Trust Festival of Blossom is supported by the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery. Many of these events are also facilitated by the ‘Nature’s Cure in Time of Need: New Voices for North East Nature’ project, generously funded by NHSN members and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
