Spectacular snowdrops
Make time in the new year to visit this collection of stunning gardens and arboretums
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RODE HALL AND GARDENS
Enjoy one of the UK’s finest Snowdrop Walks at Rode Hall & 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. Saturday 1 February until Sunday 1 March, Tues-Sun 11am-4pm. Church Lane, Scholar Green ST7 3QP | 01270 873237 | rodehall.co.uk 2
HEVER CASTLE & GARDENS
Follow a snowdrop trail through the grounds of Hever Castle, once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, and enjoy the early blossoms of camellia and quince in the award-winning gardens. Meander along the paths for fabulous snowdrop displays and enjoy blankets of these delicate flowers.
Edenbridge, Kent TN8 7NG | 01732 865224 | hevercastle.co.uk 3
MYDDELTON HOUSE GARDENS
This historic eight-acre garden, once home of the renowned plantsman Edward Augustus Bowles, gloriously changes with the seasons and in winter carpets of snowdrops grace the gardens. Visit the gardens to marvel at its winter majesty. 25 January – Ultimate Snowdrop Sale event.
Enfield, Middlesex EN2 9HG | visitleevalley.org.uk/myddelton 4
HEDINGHAM CASTLE
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. Halstead, Essex CO9 3DJ | 01787 460261 | hedinghamcastle.co.uk 5
KINGSTON BAGPUIZE HOUSE
Explore the garden, parkland and copses surrounding this family home and enjoy the naturalised snowdrops and winter flowering shrubs every Sunday in February 2pm-5pm. Refreshments available.
Snowdrop & Plant Fair - Sunday 23 February 11am-2pm. See website. 01865 820259 | Nr Abingdon OX13 5AX | kbhevents.uk
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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. Painswick, Stroud GL6 6TH | 01452 813204 | rococogarden.org.uk 7
BENINGTON LORDSHIP GARDENS
Historic ruins serve as a spectacular backdrop to the swathes of naturalised snowdrops around the moat and house. Winter flowering shrubs, aconites and other early bulbs enhance the display as well as many special galanthus varieties in the borders. Open daily 5 February until 1 March, 11am-4pm.
Stevenage, Herts SG2 7BS | 01438 869668 | beningtonlordship.co.uk 8
WATERPERRY GARDENS
Celebrate the first signs of spring with Snowdrop Season at Waterperry Gardens. With more than 60 different varieties carpeting the ornamental gardens. 22-23 February 2020 – free guided tours at 11am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm (garden entrance fee applies). Open: 10am-5pm.
Waterperry, Oxfordshire OX33 1LA | 01844 339226 | waterperrygardens.co.uk 9
CHIPPENHAM PARK
Set around a large lake and ancient canals, spectacular displays of snowdrops and aconites followed by a succession of hellebores, scillas, cyclamen, daphnes and viburnums and a crescendo of daffodils. Tea rooms and gardens open 8 February to 22 March 10am-4pm. Chippenham, Cambs CB7 5PT | 01638 721416 | info@chippenhamparkevents.co.uk 10
BENINGBROUGH HALL, GALLERY & GARDENS An impressive carpet of snowdrops lies along the ha-ha walk at Beningbrough’s beautifully kept gardens. 300,000 snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils create a spectacular sight in spring, the first of Andy Sturgeon’s designs for this National Trust garden. York YO30 1DD | 01904 472027 | nationaltrust.org.uk/beningbrough 11
WALLINGTON – NATIONAL TRUST
For that early sign of spring, take a tranquil walk through the Wallington estate to enjoy a carpet of snowdrops as they cover the woodland floor; a muchneeded wow moment after the long winter. To keep the carpet growing, join our gardeners as they plant another 100,000 snowdrops this February. Cambo, Northumberland NE61 4AR | nationaltrust.org.uk/wallington