Northants, Leics &amp; Rutland


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northants/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/02/SNOWDROPS-01.jpg" alt="Snowdrop walks in northapmtonshire coutryside, english" class="wp-image-45410"/></figure>



<p>Shorts and sandals at the ready, spring is here. Er, okay maybe not, but the snowdrops are! If you’ve thawed out enough to venture outside and see them, here are the best snowdrop hotspots in&nbsp;our ‘hood. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-northants">NORTHANTS</h2>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-boughton-house-nr-kettering"><a href="https://www.boughtonhouse.co.uk/event/ngs-february-gardens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Boughton House</a>, nr. Kettering</h2>



<p>Opening under the National Garden Scheme for one day only on <strong>Sun 25 Feb</strong>, the spectacular grounds at the country home of the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch boast a historic walled garden and herbaceous borders filled with spring bulbs. Head to the Wilderness Woodland for drifts of snowdrops. Advance booking is a must.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lamport-hall-nr-northampton"><a href="https://www.lamporthall.co.uk/events/snowdrops/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lamport Hall</a>, nr Northampton</h2>



<p>You can tiptoe through the snowdrops as they pop up at <strong>Lamport Hall</strong> on <strong>10 &amp; 1</strong>1 and <strong>17 &amp; 18 Feb</strong>, when the gardens will be open to visitors alongside the Northants Open Studios Spring Open Exhibition. This whopping Grade I listed stately pile that also manages to feel like a welcoming home as you swing into the gracious tree-lined driveway past swathes of gorgeous spring bulbs popping up through the pretty lawns.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rockingham-castle-nr-corby"><a href="https://www.rockinghamcastle.com/event/snowdrops/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rockingham Castle</a>, Nr Corby</h2>



<p>This magnificently situated Norman stronghold is usually extolled for its incredible views across five counties, but visit on <strong>18 &amp; 25 Feb</strong> this year and you&#8217;ll have the chance to enjoy the gorgeous snowdrops in bloom through the gardens and woodland, along with a trail for children. The castle itself won&#8217;t be open to visitors on these dates. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deene-park-nr-corby"><a href="https://deenepark.com/snowdrops-sunday-20st-27th-february-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Deene Park</a>, nr Corby</h2>



<p>At Deene Park swathes of these delicate flowers begin to shake off the winter blues. The spectacular display includes ‘Pusey Green Tip’ and ‘Blewbury Tart’; two among a cast of thousands and both in abundance in the grounds and gardens alongside a variety of other early flowering plants and shrubs such as hellebores and crocus. <strong>Open 18 &amp; 25 Feb</strong>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northants/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/02/SNOWDROPS-03.jpg" alt="english country walks gardens snowdrops" class="wp-image-45412"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coton-manor-garden-nr-northampton"><a href="https://www.cotonmanor.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Coton Manor Garden</a>, nr Northampton</h2>



<p>This gorgeous garden is opening for three weekends to show off it&#8217;s always fantastic display of snowdrops and hellebores (<strong>17-18 Feb, 24-25 Feb and 2-3 March</strong>) and the lovely stableyard cafe will be open too. Always a bonus in chilly weather. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-thenford-arboretum-nr-banbury"><a href="http://thenfordarboretum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Thenford Arboretum (opens in a new tab)">Thenford Arboretum</a>, nr Banbury</h2>



<p>This privately owned arboretum, (home to Lord and Lady Heseltine, FYI) has over 5000 trees and shrubs including an impressive display of snowdrops woven throughout the impressive sculpture gardens, water gardens and medieval fish ponds. The gardens are only open to the public for a few dates each year with snowdrop season prime time to have a wander around for a few hours. Open days are on <strong>2, 6, 10, 17 &amp; 21 Feb</strong>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evenley-wood-garden-nr-brackley"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.evenleywoodgarden.co.uk" target="_blank">Evenley Wood Garden</a>, nr Brackley</h2>



<p>One of our all time favourites for spotting snowdrops, as there&#8217;s plenty of space for little ones to run around and enjoy the carpets of white. You can spot over 80 varieties of snowdrop in this 60-acre woodland, including local variety the Evenley Double. Open every day <strong>from 1 Feb</strong>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-national-trust-canons-ashby-nr-towcester"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/canons-ashby" target="_blank">National Trust Canons Ashby</a>, nr Towcester</h2>



<p>You can expect a flurry of snowdrops and crocuses to be gracing the pretty flowerbeds and wooded glades at Canons Ashby, a delightfully tranquil spot to enjoy the fresh air and signs of spring popping up through the soil.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northants/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/02/Snowdrops2023003.jpg" alt="Snowdrops Northants" class="wp-image-37701"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-leicestershire">LEICESTERSHIRE</h2>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-belvoir-castle-grantham"><a href="https://www.belvoircastle.com/snowdrops-walks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Belvoir Castle</a>, Grantham</h2>



<p><strong>From 12 Feb</strong>, visitors to Belvoir can embark on a journey through the snowdrop walks, immerse in the beauty of seasonal blooms and wander through the enchanting winter gardens of this historical estate. The gardens and children&#8217;s playground will be open, but you&#8217;ll have to wait until March for the castle and tearooms. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://quorninbloom.wordpress.com/church-view-garden/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Church View Garden,</strong></a><strong> Quorn</strong></h2>



<p>The local garden here is usually home to the first few sprinklings of snowdrops already. Head there early to avoid too many people and admire the gardens at your leisure and explore the perennials and native wildflowers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.lrwt.org.uk/nature-reserves/dimminsdale/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Dimminsdale Nature Reserve,</strong></a><strong>&nbsp;Staunton Harold, National Forest</strong></h2>



<p>They&#8217;re starting to peep out now&nbsp;and it&#8217;s a gorgeous view over at the nature reserve. If you&#8217;re local, then take a walk around the reserve to discover the amazing industrial heritage and beautiful swathes of snowdrops that grow at the end of a wooden walkway. Free to visit. Call 0116 262 9968 for more info.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-acers-hinckley"><strong><a href="https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/36915/the-acers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Acers</a>, Hinckley</strong></h2>



<p>Open as part of the National Open Garden Scheme on <strong>18 Feb</strong>, visitors can enjoy over 200 varieties of snowdrops in this medium-sized garden. It comes with a Japanese theme including a zen garden, Japanese tea house, koi pond and more. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-westview-great-glen"><strong><a href="https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/22272/westview" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Westview</a>, Great Glen</strong></h2>



<p>This organically managed small walled cottage garden features rare and unusual plants, many grown from seed.&nbsp;In addition to 300 varieties of snowdrops, there will also be other winter floral and fauna to admire. Teas and cakes will be on sale, and the garden owners are also providing homemade soup and bread rolls to fend off any winter chill. <strong>Open 24 Feb</strong>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northants/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/02/SNOWDROPS-02.jpg" alt="english gardens country walks snowdrops" class="wp-image-45413"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hedgehog-hall-tilton-on-the-hill"><strong><a href="https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/21608/hedgehog-hall" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hedgehog Hall</a>, Tilton on the Hill</strong></h2>



<p>Half an acre of an organically managed, plant lover&#8217;s garden. Steps leading to three stone walled terraced borders filled with shrubs, perennials, bulbs and a patio overlooking the valley. Here you can admire the small garden full of snowdrops and early flowers, all carefully displayed on terraces, a great way to view snowdrops. <strong>24 Feb</strong>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rutland">RUTLAND</h2>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-barnsdale-gardens-oakham"><a href="https://barnsdalegardens.co.uk/february-events.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Barnsdale Gardens</strong></a><strong>, Oakham</strong></h2>



<p>Hit up this brilliant garden and enjoy an excellent range of snowdrops (around 9000 varieties to be exact!) all individually planted throughout the gardens. Snowdrop expert Gill Hadland will be in the Garden Studio on <strong>16 &amp; 18</strong> Feb giving short talks and will have snowdrops for sale and on <strong>13 Feb</strong> you can book to join a freakfast and guided winter snowdrops walk. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-afield">FURTHER AFIELD</h2>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-burghley-house-stamford-lincs"><a href="https://burghley.co.uk/events/snowdrop-walks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Burghley House</a>, Stamford, Lincs</h2>



<p>On <strong>14 Feb</strong> you can enjoy a exclusive tour of the private South Gardens and Sculpture Garden with Burghley&#8217;s Head Gardener, Joe Whitehead, admire the swathes of snowdrops across Capability Brown&#8217;s undulating landscapes, see all the newly planted areas ready for the open season and find out what the team has been working on over the winter season.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-national-trust-stowe-bucks-nbsp"><strong><a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stowe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Trust Stowe</a>, Bucks&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>And there we were thinking Stowe Landscape Gardens, just over the Northants/Bucks border, couldn’t get any more picturesque. Stowe loves its snowdrops, or should I say <em>Stowedrops&nbsp;</em>(their pun, not mine!),&nbsp;with the vast landscape gardens usually carpeted until the end of Feb. Hit up the Elysian Fields, Sleeping Wood and Lamport Garden to see the best of them.</p>


Where to see drifts of snowdrops

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