Britain’s tallest magnolia tree looked beautifully covered in bright pink blooms in a seaside suburb today as parts of the country enjoy comfortable spring temperatures this week.
The 60ft tall magnolia tree was planted well over 50 years ago in the back garden of a family home in the Lilliput area of Poole, Dorset by its former owner, who died in the 1980s – and it is a stunning sight in full bloom.
The mercury is set to hit 59F (15C) in southern England this afternoon as much of the country enjoys a dry day with sunny spells – and comfortable conditions are expected for most areas over the next two days.
But the north and west of England and Scotland are expected to experience showers on Thursday, which will spread to most of the country on Friday – although the outlook for this weekend ahead of next week’s highs of 65F (18C) is good are.
This is welcome news for those planning an outdoor gathering from March 29, when the rule of six returns to parks and gardens – with many also banking on good weather over the Easter weekend from Good Friday, April 2.
Britain’s tallest magnolia tree, pictured today, was planted in the back garden of a house in Lilliput, Dorset, over 50 years ago
A dog walker makes his way past Britain’s tallest magnolia tree in the Lilliput area of Poole in Dorset this morning
Britain’s tallest magnolia tree looked beautiful today in the seaside suburb of Dorset, covered in bright pink blooms
Dorset’s stunning magnolia tree is in full bloom today as parts of the country enjoy comfortable spring temperatures
It comes after a warm weekend that saw mercury hit 57.6F (14.2C) in both Hampshire and Wales yesterday and 63.7F (17.6C) in Aberdeenshire on Saturday – following a UK high of 66.2°F (19°C) last Thursday in Edinburgh.
There was a chilly start for many areas today with some early morning fog in western England and Wales before turning to a broadly dry day with sunny spells – despite the possibility of showers for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Tonight there will be more clouds with more drizzle for western Scotland. It will be generally cloudy in Northern Ireland and the Midland with scattered patches of fog and mist into the early hours.
After that, tomorrow will initially be a dry day with bright spells for many before becoming cloudier in the afternoon but remaining brighter across the south coast and north east of Scotland.
People walk on Weymouth beach in Dorset this afternoon while enjoying the sunny conditions
People sit and relax at the edge of a fountain in Trafalgar Square, London this afternoon
A group of people enjoy the sunny weather at Potters Fields Park near Tower Bridge in London this afternoon
People enjoy the warm weather as they walk along the South Bank of London in Spring weather today
The City of London can be seen in the background as people enjoy the warm and sunny weather in Potters Fields Park today
Sheep graze on a hilltop at Hambledon in Hampshire today on a fine spring day for many parts of the country
The sun is rising today over artist Sean Henry’s The Couple, which sits off the coast of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea in Northumberland
However, showers in the northwest will start in the afternoon and move across much of Scotland in the evening, before a band of cloud and drizzle move south-east from Wales and the Midlands on Wednesday.
This is expected to reach parts of East Anglia in the afternoon – but there will be plenty of sunny spells beyond that band. There will also be showers in the northwest before Thursday brings sunshine and breezy showers.
Last Thursday, Britain recorded its warmest day of the year so far when Edinburgh hit 66.2°F (19°C), beating the previous high of 65.1°F (18.4°C) set on February 24 erected at Santon Downham in Suffolk.
March 18 was also the warmest day in Britain since October 8 last year, when Writtle in Essex hit 19.1°C (66.4°F), and it was the highest maximum in Scotland since October 21. 71.4°F (21.9°C) were recorded at Fyvie Castle on September 12th. 2020
