THORPE Perrow Arboretum, near Bedale in North Yorkshire, is celebrating the beauty of spring with a series of guided spring bulb trails.

A daffodil trail runs mid-March to mid-April, a blossom and bluebell trail runs April to May, and a snowdrop trail runs throughout February.

The 100-acre site holds several ancient varieties of daffodil in its historic Springs Wood area – The Daffodil Society found Narcissus barrii conspicuous growing there, pre-dating 1869.

Included in the 25 varieties of snowdrop in the arboretum’s collection are some which are rare and unusual, ranging from larger, double headed flowers, to varieties with Shakespearean names such as Galanthus Ophelia.

Bluebells are generally found in large number in ancient woodland, and at Thorp Perrow they create a glorious purple carpet in the Autumn Bays and historic beeches.