It’s snowdrop season, when drifts of dazzling flowers light up gardens, woodland and churchyards. Here are some of our favourite Norfolk places to marvel at snowdrops:
Walsingham Abbey, Little Walsingham. Snowdrops sweep across 18 acres of woodland and riverbank in the beautiful gardens which include the ruins of an ancient priory and have been a place of peace and pilgrimage for nine centuries. Open daily 10am-4pm until March 3. walsinghamabbey.com
Raveningham Gardens near Loddon sparkles with swathes of at least 150 varieties of snowdrops throughout February. The hall is the home of Sir Nicholas Bacon. His mother, Priscilla Bacon, began planting the snowdrops and money raised from visitors on Sundays February 4 and 25 will go to the Priscilla Bacon Hospice. Open daily, except Saturdays, throughout February, 11am-4pm. raveningham.com
The Walled Garden at Little Plumstead, near Norwich, hosts snowdrop walks on February 3 at 11am, 12 noon and 2pm, led by horticulturalist and botanist Richard Hobbs. The many varieties of snowdrops range from autumn species, originally from Greece, through the festively named Santa Claus and Three Ships which flower at Christmas to snowdrops blooming in mid March.
A fine snowdrop collection, donated to the garden, has been replanted in the walled Victorian garden, which is tended by volunteer gardens under the expert direction of Richard. Walk £3 (£6.50 with soup), at the community garden, shop and café, plus snowdrops for sale.
Brinton Hall, near Holt. See snowdrops displayed in Brinton’s splendid snowdrop theatre. Walk through gardens and parkland to the snowdrop theatre for close-up appreciation of the fragile flowers. Snowdrop walks on February 9, 16 and 23 include lunch as well as a tour of the 16th century hall. Book via historichouses.org
Stow Hall Gardens at Stow Bardolph, near Downham Market, open to show off their snowdrops on Sundays February 11 and 18. The beautifully-maintained gardens were designed around a series of grand houses built from Tudor to Victorian times. The last was demolished 30 years ago, but the snowdrops still reappear every year.
National Trust. Find drifts of snowdrops across the parkland and gardens of the magnificent Norfolk estates looked after by the National Trust. At Sheringham Park the snowdrops include a variety called Upcher after the family who lived here. At moated Oxburgh Hall, near Swaffham, thousands of snowdrops carpet the Wilderness, My Lady’s Wood and the north terrace. Blickling Hall, near Aylsham, has a winter garden alight with snowdrops throughout February. nationaltrust.org.uk/norfolk
Churchyards. Hundreds of Norfolk churchyards glitter with snowdrops throughout February with especially dazzling displays at St Margaret’s, Thorpe Market, near Cromer; St Peter’s, Spixworth, near Norwich; St Nicholas, Dersingham, near Sandringham and around the ruins of St Theobald, Great Hautbois, near Coltishall. From St Andrew’s church in North Burlingham, near Acle, a network of footpaths winds through woodland and swathes of snowdrops.
Snowdrop Festival. The garden-visiting season for the National Garden Scheme in Norfolk begins with a Snowdrop Festival of six Norfolk gardens, raising money for nursing and health charities. Snowdrop-lovers can enjoy woodland walks surrounded by drifts of flowers, find out how to grow different varieties, and take tours led by snowdrop experts.
At Lexham Hall, near Litcham, snowdrops shimmer through the woodland. The parkland includes a lake, riverside walks and walled garden with crinkle crankle wall. Lexham Hall, near Litcham, has been opening for NGS for more than 50 years. February 4 and 11, 11am-4pm, admission £6, children free. Light refreshments.
At Horstead House, Mill Road, Horstead, near Norwich, as well as beautiful displays of snowdrops there is also a collection of dogwoods growing on a small island in the River Bure, which flows through the garden. February 10 and 11, 11am-3pm, (and by arrangement February 1-18.) Admission £5, children free. Home-made teas.
At Bagthorpe Hall, Bircham, near King’s Lynn a circular walk meanders through a splendid woodland display of snowdrops, and back through a walled garden. Open for the NGS, February 18, 11am-4pm. Admission £5, children free. Light refreshments.
Join Sir Nicholas Bacon, former president of Royal Horticultural Society, for a guided walk around the many varieties of snowdrop growing in the gardens and parkland of his home at Raveningham Hall on Monday February 19, 2-4pm. Booking essential, £22, home-made teas.
Old Hall Farmhouse, Little Wood Lane, Swanton Novers near Melton Constable opens its snowdrop gardens, for the first time for NGS, on February 22 and 24. Enjoy a welcome and introduction to the joy of collecting and growing snowdrops from the snowdrop-loving owner of the charming garden packed with snowdrop cultivars, hellebores and other winter-flowering plants. Booking essential, £10, light refreshments available in aid of the local church.
More than 100 varieties of snowdrops glitter across the three acre gardens at Chestnut Farm, Church Road, West Beckham, near Holt. The garden has been developed over 60 years and has many unusual plants and trees plus drifts of aconites and crocus. Open for the NGS snowdrop festival on February 25, 11-4, and by special arrangement. Admission £5, children free. Light refreshments.
For more information and to book where necessary visit ngs.org.uk
Chestnut Farm, West Beckham, will also open to raise money for St John Ambulance on February 18 with home-made refreshments and plant sales. Admission cash only. Full information at stjohnopengardensgmail.weebly.com
