The First Signs of Spring at Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens

As winter begins to loosen its grip, Leonardslee shifts in gentle, almost secretive ways. Spring never arrives all at once here. It unfurls slowly, inviting you to notice the quiet changes before the famous bursts of colour take over the valley.

Walk the paths in late February and early March and you’ll see the earliest clues. Magnolia buds start to swell on the branches, each one holding the promise of those enormous blooms that later define the season. The first camellias unfurl their pinks and whites along Camellia Walk and Camellia Grove, where some of the specimens are over a century old. Fresh new shoots edge the woodland trails, and the lakes reflect the soft light of the season’s return.

For many, this early window is the most peaceful time to visit. The gardens feel calm, the air carries that unmistakable spring crispness, and the stillness around the lakes offers moments of pure quiet. It’s an ideal time for photography, with delicate details and gentle tones before the full spectacle begins.

Soon, the awakening gathers pace. Camellias intensify across the valley, joined by the first magnolias opening into their dramatic, sculptural flowers. By late March, the Rock Garden begins its transformation, with Kurume azaleas, Rhododendron ‘Amoenum’, and even the rare Himalayan blue poppy taking their place in the season’s showcase.

From April into May, the gardens shift again as carpets of bluebells wash over Bluebell Bank and the secluded Top Garden, creating one of the estate’s most iconic spring scenes. At the same time, the world-famous Rhododendron Loderi hybrids begin to bloom. These treasured plants, unique to Leonardslee and recognised as a National Collection, fill the valley with fragrance and colour as the season reaches its peak.

Spring at Leonardslee is never the same twice. Members know this well. Each visit reveals something new, a magnolia opening overnight, fresh colour on the camellias, the pure white blossoms of our Champion Tree Prunus serrulata ‘Alboplena’ that last for just a single week. Even the wildlife begins to stir, with early dragonflies, nesting birds, and the playful joeys exploring near the Wallaby Enclosure.

Whether you return year after year or are planning your very first spring walk, the season invites you to slow down, look closely, and experience the gardens as they wake from winter. This is the moment to visit again and again, because no two days ever look quite the same.

Experience spring