Spectacular snowdrops

Make time in the new year to visit this collection of stunning gardens and arboretums

1 CHIRK CASTLE, NATIONAL TRUST

Chase away those winter blues with a walk around Chirk Castle’s award-winning gardens and take in the carpet of delicate snowdrops in the Pleasure Ground. Warm your hands over the fire in the Woodsman’s Hut, enjoy early spring bulbs throughout the gardens, explore the medieval tower or warm up in the 1920s splendour of the East Wing. chirkcastle@nationaltrust.org.uk | nationaltrust.org.uk/chirk-castle

2 CHIPPENHAM PARK

More than 35 acres of spectacular woodland, lakes and formal gardens. A magnificent display of snowdrops, aconites and hellebores followed by vast numbers of daffodils and blossoms. Licensed tearoom with hot food and cakes. £5 entry. Nr Newmarket, CB7 5PT. 10 February – 9 March & 17 – 30 March. 10am - 4pm info@ chippenhamparkevents.co.uk | 01638 721416

4 SNOWDROPS AT BENINGTON LORDSHIP GARDENS

Historic ruins serve as a spectacular backdrop to the stunning display of naturalised snowdrops at Benington Lordship. The walled garden will showcase the impressive collection of snowdrop varieties. Snowdrops and hellebores for sale. Open daily 7 February – 4 March 2018, 12-4pm. Admission £5, children free. beningtonlordship.co.uk | 01438 869668

3 GREEN ISLAND GARDENS

Twenty acres of gardens within a natural woodland setting. The start of the year sees carpets of snowdrops, cyclamen and hellebores interspersed with a large collection of hamamelis, along with a huge variety of scented shrubs all at their best in January and February. Nursery and tearoom. greenislandgardens.co.uk | 01206 230455

5 RODE HALL AND GARDENS

Experience one of the UK’s finest Snowdrop Walks at Rode Hall and Gardens in Cheshire to mark the start of spring. A beautiful end-of-winter walk for all the family with a wonderfully diverse landscape and over 70 varieties of snowdrops. Homemade lunches and cream teas served in delightful tearooms. rodehall.co.uk | 01270 873237

6 BENINGBROUGH HALL, GALLERY AND GARDENS

An impressive carpet of snowdrops lies along the ha-ha walk at Beningbrough’s beautifully kept gardens. In 2016, 300,000 bulbs of snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils were planted creating a spectaclular sight in spring as the gardens awaken. The walk itself has fantastic views and passes by several of the estate’s oldest trees. nationaltrust.org.uk/beningbrough | 01904 472027

8 HEVER CASTLE AND GARDENS

Follow a snowdrop trail through the grounds of Hever Castle, once the home of Anne Boleyn, and enjoy the early blossoms of camellia and quince in the awardwinning gardens. Meander along the paths for fabulous snowdrop displays and enjoy blankets of these delicate flowers alongside the double moat that surrounds the Castle. hevercastle.co.uk | 01732 865224

10 WATERPERRY GARDENS

Celebrate the first signs of spring with Snowdrop Weekends at Waterperry Gardens on 17-18 and 24-25 February. With more than 60 different varieties carpeting the ornamental gardens, enjoy these little heralds of spring in a magical setting. Free guided tours at 11am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm. Garden entrance fee applies. waterperrygardens.co.uk | 01844 339226

7 COLESBOURNE GARDENS

Historic home of snowdrops started in the 1880s by plant collector Henry John Elwes FRS with G. elwesii and greatly enhanced in recent years. Ten acres with lakeside and woodland paths, 350 varieties. Gates open 1pm. £8; children free, dogs welcome. Open Saturday and Sunday from 3 February until 4 March. 01242 870264 | colesbournegardens.org.uk

9 CERNEY HOUSE AND GARDENS

Cerney House Gardens is a romantic English garden for all seasons. There is a beautiful, secluded Victorian walled garden, which is filled with herbaceous borders and overflowing plants. We open our doors again at the end of January for the arrival of our fabulous winter display of snowdrops and hellebores. cerneygardens.com | 01285 831300

11 DODDINGTON HALL AND GARDENS

In the Wild Gardens, snowdrops are at the head of the Spring Bulb Pageant with drifts of bright pink Cyclamen coum and delicately coloured Crocus tommasinianus. On the Nature Trail, Cecily’s Snowdrops enter their thirteenth winter, added by Claire Birch in memory of her grandmother. Gardens open Sundays from 11 February. doddingtonhall.com | 01522 694308

12 NATIONAL TRUST ICKWORTH

The first hints of spring are starting to emerge with a carpet of sensational snowdrops at Ickworth. Follow the paths where snowdrops are complemented by the golden glow of aconites. In February join us on a speciality walk and be led around the best areas on the estate and see our beautiful historic snowdrop bulbs. ickworth@nationaltrust.org.uk | 01284 735270

14 CHELSEA PHYSIC GARDEN

A very special and secret place, lying nestled behind walls and positioned close to the River Thames in London. Today the garden’s features include Europe’s oldest rockery, the Cool Fernery, the Garden of Edible and Useful Plants, and the Garden of Medicinal Plants. Walks, talks and workshops. Snowdrop trails and sales. chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk

16 HEDINGHAM CASTLE – SNOWDROP SUNDAYS

In February and March Hedingham Castle’s grounds are blanketed with magnificent drifts of snowdrops, making the winter gardens possibly the most romantic in the East of England. Explore the woodland walk, the bog garden and the ornamental lake. Open 11, 18, 25 February and 4 March. hedinghamcastle.co.uk | 01787 460261

13 CAMBO GARDENS

Home to the National Collection of snowdrops with over 300 varieties in winter gardens, walled garden and woodlands. Enjoy woodland walks to the sea, family trails and lots of Snowdrop Festival events. Stables Visitor Courtyard plant shop bursting with hellebores, specialist snowdrops and aconites. Open daily from 10am. keri@cambogardens.org.uk | 01333 451040

15 PAINSWICK ROCOCO GARDEN

Nestled in a hidden valley and famed for having one of the largest collections of naturalised snowdrops in the country. Each year around five million snowdrops bloom and there are 15 known varieties in the Garden. Throughout February the expert horticultural team will be giving a daily talk about the snowdrops. rococogarden.org.uk | 01452 813204

17 NATIONAL TRUST CLIVEDEN

In the gloom of February, snowdrops are the little wonders of nature which can lift our spirits and help carry us through to spring. Snowdrops are one of the first signs of life in our gardens, despite the harsh winter frost that still lingers. There’s a variety of winter walking routes taking you through these majestic pathways. nationaltrust.org.uk/cliveden | 01628 605069