This month sees around 100 gardens across England and Wales open for the third annual National Garden Scheme (NGS) Snowdrop Festival. reports
Their little white skirts dotting a cold landscape is one of the first signs that winter has almost passed. Heralding the start of spring, drifts of snowdrops are a welcome sight and of particular joy to those who will embrace a seasonal celebration of the to give the humble plant its botanical name.
This month will see around 100 gardens across England and Wales open for the third annual National Garden Scheme (NGS) Snowdrop Festival.
Our love affair with the dainty white plant has helped to ensure the event’s success in recent years.
“During our first Snowdrop Festival in 2016 many of our garden owners were overwhelmed by the amount of visitors that attended their openings,” said George Plumptre, NGS chief executive.
“Many remarked that visitors were perfectly happy to wrap up warm and brave the elements to see the stunning view of hundreds of snowdrops on display in a garden.
“Whether you want to admire the different varieties of snowdrops or just have a walk in lovely surroundings followed by a nice cup of tea and slice of cake, visiting a National Garden Scheme garden in February will be the perfect escape.”
A range of sites will take part in the festival from cottage gardens to more illustrious grounds including the home of the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch; Boughton House in Northamptonshire.
“Our parks and gardens team works tirelessly to ensure light can access the woodland floor, maintaining ivy, competing vegetation and the surrounding woodlands,” explained Bernard Opara, the stately home’s head gardener.
“As such, the snowdrops dominate an area of more than one and a half acres when in bloom.” The snowdrop is not native to the UK but this has not hampered its popularity, particularly in recent decades. Single bulbs have fetched eye-watering amounts of money and it is not unusual to see some retailing for more than £100. “The current world record is £1,390 for one bulb,” said selfconfessed galanthophile Michael Myers. He talks of “galanthomania” to describe the prices that some snowdrop bulbs can fetch. “There have been a number of enthusiasts all the way through the 20th century but it is only since about the 1980s that they have really taken off in interest,” said Michael.
The horticulture lecturer at Craven College, North Yorkshire, was himself seduced by the beguiling plant several decades ago and has been growing snowdrops for 35 years - once holding the record for discovering the world’s most expensive variety. But their attraction is less about the money than what they represent.
“The appeal to me is that it is a cheeky little plant that is in flower at a time when there’s not much else in the garden,” said Michael. “They are the harbingers of spring, the first real proper floral displays you see in the garden. They are easily obtainable and will grow in pretty much all gardens. You do not have to be an expert gardener to grow them.”
Many gardens open during the festival display a mix of snowdrops, hellebores and other early spring flowers.
Visitors will have the benefit of knowing that their entrance fee is supporting good causes; the NGS currently donates around £3 million annually to its beneficiary charities, which include Marie Curie, Hospice UK and Parkinson’s UK.
The NGS Snowdrop Festival marks the beginning of the open gardens season. Around 3,700 gardens open each year for the scheme which raises money for nursing charities - and has donated more than £50 million to date.
“The majority are private gardens that you would not get to see at any other time,” said Jane Cooper, publicity officer NGS, Yorkshire. “You have a chance to look around some fabulous gardens of all styles; we have large country houses with landscaped grounds down to small cottage gardens and allotments. The garden owners are usually there and are always willing to answer questions.
“There are many reasons why so many people open their garden for us but the two main reasons are to share the pleasure it gives to them, their friends and family and to raise funds for some marvellous caring and nursing charities. It may seem daunting at first, but most garden owners find it a really enjoyable experience and continue to open their gardens year after year.”