This one is for the flower lovers in Slough – and I know that can’t be just me. All the big Instagrammers are sharing their beautiful floral photos from their days out in London, but you don’t have to live in the big smoke to find these picture-perfect trees. In this post I am going to share with you where I found pretty trees in Slough last year (and nearby towns), and roughly when you should find them flowering. Now I’m not going to pretend to be some sort of flower expert, I have learnt everything from Instagram. I know nothing about the history of them, how to look after them or anything like that – I’ll just tell you where and when to go!

Magnolia

Magnolias are flowering NOW so go out for a walk and talk some beautiful photos. They tend to flower from late February and through March before the flowers turn into green leaves. Some flower from late in April to June though, it depends on the variety. In Slough, the magnolia trees I have found are actually in people’s front gardens – so I wouldn’t advice a selfie, that would be weird. But they are lovely to admire. It is a shame that there aren’t any magnolia trees in Slough’s public parks (well, I haven’t seen any). I wish the council would plant some with the funding they got from the Forestry Commission but I didn’t see Magnolia on the list of trees they have chosen 😦

Anyhoo, if you walk along Oatlands Drive (near the Waterbeach Road junction) there are quite a few magnolia trees in the front gardens on both sides of the road. There’s also a tree on Albert Street in the front garden across from Diana Lodge (opposite side of the road from St Mary’s Church). Over in Wexham, there are a few along Church Lane and Wexham Park Lane. This is a photo I took on Church Lane last year.

This year I’ve discovered Lansdowne Avenue which near the old Horlicks Factory, the trees are just flowering now. I’ve also been told there’s one on Bridge Street in Colnbrook.

Speaking of magnolia trees that are not in Slough, this one is actually in my parents’ neighbours’ garden. The house I grew up in… and I never noticed the neighbours’ magnolia tree until Instagram happened!!

This photo was taken at Kew Gardens in April last year, which is why it is looking more green than pink. The tree was right by the Elizabeth Gate entrance.

The key with magnolia trees is to literally take a walk around your neighbourhood and look for them, and now is the time to do it.

Cherry Blossom

I like pink blossom, not the white blossom that my husband keeps pointing out to me – I want PINK! They flower in Spring and generally last several weeks, and they are already flowering now. I would say March to April is the key flowering period.

This one is in Langley Park and it is on the edge of Temple Gardens, the playground side. The fact that it’s in a public place means you can faff about taking photos and no one will bat an eyelid

Another gorgeous blossom tree is nearer the town centre – it’s actually in Salt Hill Park, and I was glad I wasn’t the only one taking photos. This bloke came along and did a few selfies of himself with the tree in the background. This tree is near the children’s playground and Salt Hill activity centre.

This one was in my kids’ school – I’m not going to advise you to go looking for this one, and it’s not even flowering yet this year. But when it does, it will look so pretty.

Once you start looking, you will find cherry blossom everywhere. And if you fancy a trip out of Slough, head to Henley-on-Thames by train. The playground by the train station is surrounded by gorgeous flowering trees. We went in April last year and the colours were so vivid.

Bluebells

Bluebells flower from mid-April to May, and in Slough we have our very own bluebell woods. It’s called Cocksherd Bluebell Wood. You’ll find it in Britwell, on a pathway where Calbroke Road and Rokesby Road meet on a bend. You can park your car there and walk up the path. Bluebells are a protected species – please do stick to the paths so that you won’t step on them. It is absolutely magical in these woods, I can’t believe it’s in Slough. The sea of bluey-purple is just WOW. We went in mid-April last year.

Wisteria

Wisteria blooms in late spring, from May to June. It’s one of those where you have to be quick to take your photos or else they turn into green very quick. So just keep an open eye from May.

In Slough, the best wisteria I have found in at the Red Lion pub on Stoke Green. It’s just gorgeous, look at these photos I took last year.

In nearby Datchet is this cute house with wisteria crawling along the front – unfortunately I just missed the flowering period last year so they are turning green in this photo. It’s on the main road, the opposite side from Costa.

A bit further out is a hidden gem in Eastcote, Middlesex. The park is called Eastcote House Gardens and it’s on Field End Road. There is this amazing pergola with wisteria wrapped all around it. It was pouring down with rain on the day we visited, but it was still breathtaking. You have to go and see it during flowering season. The pergola is in the middle of the park, right by the cafe.

Poppies

Last but not least is poppies. I could not believe it when I found this sea of red here in Slough. This poppy field is at Kennedy Park in Britwell on the top of a hill, so there are amazing views of Slough from here – yes even the industrial backdrop of Slough looks nice, honestly! The poppies flower in June, again you just have to keep an eye out for when they flower during the month. Also, be warned there are lots of bees here, you have to be brave. It is worth it though, the photos come out gorgeous

So there you have it, my guide to flowering photo spots in and around Slough – I hope I have inspired you to go out and take photos. You don’t have to be an Instagrammer or blogger – take the photos for yourself, frame them on your wall. Yeah, just do it! 

I will do my best to keep you updated with when the trees are actually flowering this year – follow @sloughitsnotsobad on Instagram for updates. And do share your photos on Instagram with the hashtag #sloughitsnotsobad – I will share them at the end of each month.

Also, these are just the ones I have found – I am sure there are more. Do let me know if you find anymore photo spots in the nearby area!

Sabrina x