Snowdrop Season
22nd January 2024
Is there anything more lovely than a walk through a garden or park in late winter and seeing thousands of snowdrops peppering the ground? They evoke a sense of cheer, flowering when little else does, marking the end of winter and the beginning of longer days and kinder weather. We look at special snowdrop-related events across the region.
Snowdrops, dubbed ‘venturous harbingers of spring’ by William Wordsworth, poke up through the dormant ground in January, and by early to mid-February their delicate yet tough flowers have slowly opened up to nod gently in the breeze with an understated elegance.
Snowdrop Season at Easton Walled Gardens (10 miles north of Stamford on the A1; NG33 5AP) begins on Wednesday 14 February, from when the gardens will be open Wednesdays to Sundays, 11am to 4pm. The Courtyard Shop will be open, as will The Coffee Room and Applestore, serving hot drinks, savoury snacks and cake – perfect for warming up on chilly days. There will be snowdrop plants available to purchase, if you are a keen galanthophile.
See www.visiteaston.co.uk for more details.
A few other excellent spots for snowdrops in our region:
Coton Manor, Nr Market Harborough. Coton Manor’s gorgeous gardens are open for several weekends in February and early March for snowdrops and hellebores This year’s dates are 17–18 February, 24–25 February and 2–3 March (11am–4.30pm on all those dates). For more information, visit www.cotonmanor.co.uk
Deene Park, Nr Corby. Snowdrop Sundays will be on 18 February and 25 February. Refreshments will be available. Visit deenepark.com for full details.
Barnsdale Gardens, Nr Oakham. Book for a special morning on 13 February (9.30am–12.30pm) for a Winter Gardens and Snowdrops Walk: Breakfast and a Guided Walk with Nick Hamilton. The whole month is being promoted as Snowdrop Month – you can visit from 5–29 February, 10am–4pm. See barnsdalegardens.co.uk for more information.
Rockingham Castle, Nr Corby. From 18–25 February, 11am–5pm, enjoy the swathes of snowdrops in the castle grounds. www.rockinghamcastle.com
NGS gardens: You can also banish the dark days of winter with a visit to some of the National Garden Scheme’s 2024 Snowdrop and Spring Flower gardens. A number of gardens across the region, including Boughton House and Hedgehog Hall (Tilton on the Hill) will be open to visitors to showcase their snowdrops and raise money for charity. For more information, visit www.ngs.org.uk