Snowdrops

With the snow keeping the snowdrops under wraps, there will be a slightly later than usual display of snowdrops in beautiful National Trust gardens and parklands this year. However with the snow finally relenting, and dare we say it, spring rearing its head, a new white carpet will soon be seen across the country.

The delicate white flowers transform woodlands and are the first signs of life after the winter months and the National Trust has beautiful displays of snowdrops at special places around the country. From stunning bulb meadows to the UK's largest winter garden, get the family together and experience nature's new beginnings with a refreshing stroll amongst the snowdrops.

Here are the top National Trust places to enjoy a special snowdrop day out with the family:

Anglesey Abbey, Gardens and Lode Mill, Cambridgeshire
Anglesey's garden majestically boasts 240 different varieties of snowdrop scattered across 114 acres throughout February. Meander through the paths and soak up the fabulous show that the garden offers during this time. But snowdrops will not be all that you see: the winter garden shows coloured tree barks, winter flowering shrubs, ground cover plants and even the first signs of daffodils.

Special snowdrop tours, weekdays from 28th January – 24th February, 2pm
Join a special weekday tour at 2pm to uncover our fascinating snowdrop story and gain expert advice. Booking advisable on 01223 810080.

General admission charges apply.

Booking advisable, please call 01223 810080.

The Argory, Co. Armagh

This spectacular riverside estate shows a stunning display of snowdrops and other superb spring bulbs throughout February. Snowdrop self-guided walks run every Saturday and Sunday in the month, where the scenic walk shows off the garden as the frost thaws. The show keeps getting better and better each year with the stunning backdrop of sweeping vistas. With delicate snowdrop plants available to buy in the shop and fun for children in the adventure playground, a trip to The Argory this February is a great day out for the family.

Grounds admission charges apply.

Snowdrop walks, 2-3, 9-10, 16-17 and 23-24 February, 12pm-5pm
After a self-guided walk through the blankets of snowdrops that cover the estate, enjoy a warm refreshment in the courtyard coffee shop.

Booking is not required for this event
£3 per adult, £1.50 per child or £7.50 per family

For more information please call 028 8778 4753.

Attingham Park, Shropshire
Watch the woodland floor transform into a stunning carpet of snowdrops during Attingham's snowdrop season. Stroll around this great estate near Shrewsbury, wander alongside the River Tern, and enjoy abundant sprinkles of the delicate flowers in beautiful parkland, designed to impress.
Snowdrop evening walk, 22-24 February, 5pm – 8pm (last admission at 7.30pm)
Walk up to the bothy along the mile walk and follow the candlelight through the woods to experience the park and snowdrops in different light.

Booking is not required for this event.
Park and grounds admission charges apply.

For more information please call 01743 708123.

Chirk Castle, Wrexham
Chase away those winter blues with a bracing walk around the beautiful gardens and woodland carpeted with delicate snowdrops. Glimpses of the spring bulbs can be found throughout the garden, scattered between clipped yews, herbaceous borders, shrub and rock gardens, as well as drifting along the woodland floor.

Snowdrop days, 1-28 February, 10am-4pm
See the pleasure ground wood carpeted with delicate snowdrops, a sure sign that spring is on it way.
Normal admission to gardens and tower apply.
Booking is not required for this event.

For more information, please call 01691 777701.

Dunham Massey, Cheshire
Discover the delights of Britain's largest winter garden, where the white carpet will be rolled out for visitors during snowdrop season. The garden contains almost 700 different plant species and a further 1,600 shrubs specifically bred for the seven-acre wonder. January heralds the first signs of spring with the delicate charms of snowdrops, where clusters of over 100,000 double and single snowdrops and 20,000 narcissi bloom amongst the trees.

Damian Harris, head gardener at Dunham Massey, said: "Around 250,000 snowdrops have now been planted in the winter garden at Dunham Massey and we estimate we now have over 600,000 bulbs ready to flower this season. Many people don't realize how important the humble snowdrop is: not only does it raise our spirits in the winter highlighting to us that winter is nearly over, but it also provides one of the earliest nectar sources for honey bees.

"One of the easiest things anyone can do to add early interest in their garden is to underplant shrubs and short herbaceous perennials with single snowdrops and to really maximise this plant winter aconites (Eranthus) among the snowdrops to add a wonderful splash of yellow."

Garden admission charges apply.

For more information, please call 0161 941 1025.

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, Yorkshire
This World Heritage Site, set in 323 hectares of beautiful countryside, offers an unparalleled opportunity to appreciate Britain's heritage and natural beauty. Early spring is a very special time to explore the picturesque abbey ruins and amble through the beautiful landscaped Georgian water garden, surrounded by white carpets of snowdrops. This is a stunning sight that dates back to the 19th-century, when Earl de Grey planted snowdrops to spell out his name along the backs of the river Skell.

Normal admission charges apply.

For more information please call 01765 608888.

Ickworth, Suffolk
Wander around Ickworth park and along Geraldine's walk, the oak walk and the trim trail, where snowdrops are complemented by the golden glow of aconites. Discover amazing views of the estate, or warm up in the west wing restaurant with delicious food and drink (Friday to Tuesday).

James Berrington, senior gardener at Ickworth, said: "At Ickworth spring is first announced by the arrival of our snowdrops. On the oak walk, the white carpets of gently nodding flowers are complimented by the bright yellow aconites. Geraldine's and Erskine's walks are woken from their winter sleep by Galanthus's arnott a relatively large snowdrop with a strong honey scent giving a feast for the eyes and nose.
Small they may be, but when the snowdrops pull together they give a display that gives us all a reason to smile."

Garden admission charges apply.

For more information please call 01284 735270.

Kingston Lacy, Dorset
Kingston Lacy welcomes a dazzling blanket of snowdrops each year. The garden wakes up to spring in January and February when thousands of bulbs burst through the soil, transforming the garden into a sea of white. Special snowdrop openings are a tradition at Kingston Lacy so visitors can wander through the displays and salute this first welcome sign of spring.

Park and garden admission charges apply.

For more information please call 01202 883402.

Mottisfont, Hampshire
Snowdrops thrive along the banks of the Font stream, where the warmer water creates its own microclimate, teasing them into bloom a week or two before their companions in colder corners of the garden. Elsewhere, the open acres of the river garden are magically transformed by drifts of purest white. I
David Stone, head gardener at Mottisfont, said: "It is always a joy when the first snowdrops break through the frozen ground. Along with aconites and primroses, they are the harbingers of spring - it really is most exciting! Spring is on its way!

Wild snowdrops walk, 16-17 and 23-24 February, 10-11am, 12-1pm and 2-3pm.
Take a guided walk through the grounds of Mottisfont to witness the beauty of the wild snowdrops that carpet the neighbouring woodland, heralding that spring is finally on its way.
Normal admission charges apply.
Booking is not required for this event.

For more information, please call 07769301992.

Newark Park, Gloucestershire
Discover the beauty of pure-white snowdrops that mingle among the other early-spring flowers throughout the garden at Newark.

Matthew Ward, Head Gardener, said: "Snowdrops are a wonderful start to the flowering year; their purity stands against the bare earth giving hope of spring and renewed growth. At Newark there are drifts throughout the garden and they mingle with aconites and cyclamen to give a very impressive show. We have more than six varieties and Newark is a haven for Gloucestershire galanthophiles."

Snowdrop week, 9-10 and 13-17 February, 11am-4pm
During half term week, why not have fun as a family at Newark Park, following the snowdrop trail around the estate. Get the children to have a closer look at the flowers and take a photo to create a special snowdrop memory.
Normal admission charges apply.
Booking is not required for this event.

For more information, please call 01793 817666.

Nymans, West Sussex
This 20th-century garden is famed for its amazing collection of rare and important plants. At the start of spring, spot wonderful displays of snowdrops as well as camellias and magnolias underplanted with a host of daffodils and grape hyacinths. The bulb meadow in the wall garden is full of snowdrops and early narcissus and there are rare hellebores all around the garden.

Ed Ikin, Garden and Countryside Manager at Nymans, said: "Snowdrops mark the beginning of a sensational sequence of colour at Nymans. Lying in extensive drifts under early magnolias and richly-coloured camellias, they conspire to overwhelm the senses and inspire a feeling that spring is just weeks away.
"By Valentine's day, over 150 different types of plant are flowering at Nymans and our snowdrop drifts offer cool contrasts to fiery witch hazel oranges and the rich red stems of our dogwoods."

Garden admission charges apply.

For more information please call 01444 405250.

To plan a family day out with the National Trust visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk
To book a holiday cottage visit: www.nationaltrustcottages.co.uk