As spring takes hold in North Devon, the landscape comes alive with colour and scent from the frothy white flowers of the May blossom, also known as hawthorn. Blooming from mid to late May, these delicate blossoms transform hedgerows and country lanes offering a visual and fragrant reminder that spring is in full swing.
The May tree is a familiar sight in Devon’s countryside. Its blossoms burst in dense clusters, often buzzing with bees and surrounded by the hum of renewed life. For many, the arrival of May blossom is a seasonal milestone. The old saying, “Cast not a clout till May is out,” refers to the flowering of this very tree — a sign that warmer days are finally here.
North Devon’s ancient hedgerows are the perfect home for hawthorn. These living boundaries, some centuries old, line fields, footpaths, and high hedged country lanes. Whether you’re walking the Tarka Trail, exploring the wooded valleys of Exmoor, or meandering through picturesque villages, you can’t fail to spot May blossom lighting up the landscape.
Beyond its beauty, the hawthorn plays a vital role: its flowers offer early nectar for pollinators, while its autumn berries, known as haws, feed birds and mammals through the colder months. They are even used for medicinal purposes. In folklore, the tree is steeped in tradition — used in May Day celebrations and believed to bring good luck and prosperity. In parts of Devon, lone hawthorns are still respected as “fairy trees”, offering a portal into the realm of the Otherworld.
If you’re lucky enough to be on holiday in North Devon this May, don’t miss the chance to witness a little spring magic.
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So true. And every year the blossom seems to be more plentiful – the yellow primroses in the banks and hedgerows, the gorse on hillsides and on the moor, and carpets of bluebells in open spaces in the forests… but my favourite is the soft fresh green of the beech trees now adorning the hedgerows. The best time to see North Devon and Exmoor!