Blossom by the River

I've never been sure what this tree is but it produces some of the earliest blossoms in Spring, looking far too delicate to withstand the winds of March. The tree where these flowers grow stands by the river Cocker. Looking at the grey water rippling along and the pink of the petals seems to be a perfect combination of the colour and mood of this Northern season. I nipped out quickly to get the picture as the day was spent indoors doing a marathon clean and tidy at my sister's house. A spring clean of grey dust and pink faces!