SNOWDROP HEAVEN!
UK gardens extend a warm welcome for Covid-safe winter bulb experiences, writes Ian Hodgson
Snowdrop-visiting season around the UK has been disrupted, with organisers forced to revise or abandon plans due to the new restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet, working within government guidelines, some are still going ahead to support local communities.
The National Gardens Scheme (NGS) has 95 gardens opening, some owned by snowdrop experts, including Higher Cherubeer, Devon; Knowle Hill Farm, Kent; and Pembury House, East Sussex.
“Under current guidelines, gardens normally open to the public can continue to open to provide public recreation and wellbeing, but organisers and visitors together must ensure this happens in a compliant manner, in particular with travel restricted to a local area and group rules and social distancing being observed. On this basis, gardens due to open for the NGS in the coming weeks will do so, but only on a pre-booked basis,” said NGS CEO George Plumptre.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Snowdrop Festival will run from January 23 until March 6. This year’s event is being co-ordinated by tourism agency Discover
Scottish Gardens, in conjunction with Scotland’s Gardens Scheme, to help raise money for the garden-visiting charity. Notable gardens that will be open include Shepherd House in Inveresk, home to artist Ann Fraser, whose collection of specialist snowdrops often feature in her paintings.
In picturesque Dartmoor,
The Garden House at Buckland Monachorum is still opening from January 15 with a 335-strong collection of species and varieties of snowdrop. The world-renowned Matt Bishop Snowdrop Collection, created by a former head gardener, is one of the most diverse assemblages of named and naturalised snowdrops in the UK. This has now been augmented by the Colin Mason Snowdrop Collection.
Colin, late owner of specialist garden and nursery, Fieldgate Snowdrops, created a number of successful hybrids, such as late-flowering ‘Fieldgate Tiffany’, ‘Fieldgate Sophie’ and ‘Fieldgate Superb’.
“The snowdrop collection is not only extraordinarily pretty, it’s a unique chance to see some of the rarest varieties in an exceptionally beautiful setting,” said visitor services manager Karen Willcocks.
Although the National Trust (NT) had planned to stage snowdrop visiting in more than 60 of its gardens, this was abandoned following the announcement of new lockdown measures, with its gardens, parks and countryside venues remaining open just for local people to exercise.
“We know how important it is for people to seek fresh air, space and nature, but we urge visitors to stick to the rules and stay local,” said NT Director General Hilary McGrady.