Snowdrop Openings for 2011
When the first snowdrops start to appear you know winter is finally coming to an end. So what better way to celebrate the change in seasons than by visiting one of nearly 100 gardens which will be opening to the public with The National Gardens Scheme (NGS) over the coming months.
As well as blowing away the winter cobwebs, you’ll be helping good causes too with these gardens expected to raise more than £100,000 for charities, which include Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Help the Hospices and Crossroads Cares. What better way to start the New Year.
Chris Morley, Marketing Manager at the NGS, said: “The NGS gardens that open early in the year are really popular - attracting more than 35,000 people. With an average entrance fee of less than £3, and most gardens admitting children 16 and under free, a garden visit is excellent value for money – and the best part is that the money raised goes to such good causes.”
From sprawling woods to romantic cottage gardens, it’s the perfect way to gain inspiration for your own garden or to simply while away an afternoon.
Highlights include the gardens of C16th/17th Lexham Hall in Norfolk with an extensive collection of scented, winter flowering shrubs and woods carpeted with snowdrops; the spectacular 250 acre Surrey estate, Gatton Park, which was landscaped by “Capability” Brown in the 1760s and boasts extensive woodlands, grasslands and formal gardens; The Beeches in Nottinghamshire with 250 named snowdrops; and, opening for the NGS for their second time, Avon Cottage in Wiltshire with snowdrops, aconites, crocus, hellebores, erythroniums and other spring bulbs.
Gardens are listed in county order. Please click on the garden link for further details
Sandleford Place
Berkshire
Newbury
By Appointment Only
Admission: £4
Grange Drive Wooburn
Buckinghamshire
Wooburn Green
Sun 20 Feb (11-2) Magnolia House only. Sun 26, Wed 29 June (2-5). Sun 26 Feb 2012 Magnolia House only
Admission: £3.50
Magnolia House
Buckinghamshire
Thorngumbald
Buckinghamshire
Mill House
Cambridgeshire
Bassingbourn
By Appointment Only
Admission: £4
39 Foster Road
Cambridgeshire
Woodston, Peterborough
By Appointment Only
Admission: £3
6 Robins Wood
Cambridgeshire
Sun 27 Feb (11-4)
Admission: £2.50
Rosewood
Cheshire & Wirral
Puddington Village, Neston
By Appointment Only
Admission: £3
Bucklow Farm
Cheshire & Wirral
Plumley
Sun 13 Feb (1-4)
Admission: £2.50
Rode Hall
Cheshire & Wirral
Scholar Green
Sat 29 Jan to Sun 13 Mar daily (except Mondays.)
Admission: £4
Coombegate Cottage
Cornwall
St Ive
Sat 5 Feb (11-4), Suns 13, 27 Feb (1-4). For 2012, Sat 11 Feb (11-4), Suns 19, 26 Feb (1-4)
Admission: £3
Summerdale House
Cumbria
Nook, nr Lupton
Suns, Fris, 27 Feb; 1, 8, 15, 22, 24, 29 Apr; 6, 13, 15, 20, 27 May; 19 June; 28 Aug (11-5); 2012 Sun 19 Feb
Admission: £3.50
Swarthmoor Hall
Cumbria
Ulverston
Daily Wed 5 Jan to Fri 15 Apr; Sat 3 Sept to Sat 8 Oct; (10-4.30)
Admission: £4.50
Little Cumbre
Devon
Exeter
Suns 30 Jan; 6, 13, 20 Feb 2011; Suns 5, 12, 19 Feb 2012 (12-3.30)
Admission: £3.50
Pikes Cottage
Devon
Madford, Hemyock
Sats, Suns 19, 20, 26, 27 Feb (1-5); 30 Apr; Sun 1, Mon 2 May, Sats, Suns 14, 15, 21, 22 May; 11, 12 June; 9, 10 July; 27, 28 Aug, Mon 29 Aug; Sats, Suns 24, 25 Sept (2-6); 22, 23 Oct (1-5); 18, 19, 25, 26 Feb 2012 (1-5)
Admission: £3.50
Higher Cherubeer
Devon
Middle Cherubeer
Devon
Cherubeer Gardens
Devon
Dolton
Suns 30 Jan; 6 Feb (2-5); Suns 29 May; 28 Aug (2-6); Sun 5, Thur 16 Feb 2012
Admission: £3.50
Feebers Gardens
Devon
Westwood, nr Broadclyst
Suns 19 June; 17 July (2-6)
Admission: £3
1 Feebers Cottage
Devon
Rousdon Cottage Gardens
Devon
Rousdon
Suns 10 Apr; 8 May; 12 June; 10 July; 14 Aug (11-5)
Admission: £3.50
Charton Tree Cottage
Devon
Charton
Snape Cottage Plantsman's Garden
Dorset
Chaffeymoor, Bourton, nr Gillingham
Sats, Suns 26, 27 Mar; 23, 24 Apr; 28, 29 May; 25, 26 June; 30, 31 July; 27, 28 Aug (2-5); 25, 26 Feb (2-5) 2012
Admission: £3
Lawsbrook
Dorset
Shillingstone
Sun 27 Feb (10-4); Sun 29 May (10-6)
Admission: £2.50
The Old Rectory
Essex
Boreham
Sat 19, Sun 20 Feb; (12-3); Sun 5 June (2-5)
Admission: £3.50
11 Arno Road
Glamorgan
Barry Gardens
Glamorgan
Barry
Sat 30 July (2-6)
Admission: £5
Trench Hill
Gloucestershire North & Central
Sheepscombe
Suns 13, 20 Feb (11-5); Suns 20 Mar; 24 Apr, Mon 25 Apr; (11-6); Weds 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 June (2-6); Suns 17 July; 28 Aug; 11 Sept (11-6). Suns 12, 19 Feb 2012
Admission: £3
Kempsford Manor
Gloucestershire North & Central
Kempsford
Suns, 6 Feb to 27 Feb; Sat 19 Feb; Sun 6, 27 Mar; Thur 14, Sun 17, Sat 23, Mon 25 Apr; Suns 8 May |26 June ; Suns 7 Aug to 21 Aug; 11 Sept (2-5). Suns 12 Feb to 26 Feb; Sat 18 Feb 2012 (2-5)
Edward Jenner Museum
Gloucestershire North & Central
Berkeley
Sun 27 Feb (11-4)
Admission: £2.50
Cotswold Farm
Gloucestershire North & Central
nr Duntisbourne Abbots, Cirencester
Wed 15, Sun 19 June (2-6)
Admission: £5
Cerney House Gardens
Gloucestershire North & Central North
Cerney
Sun 8 May (12-5)
Admission: £4
Tan Dinas
Gwynedd
Llanfairpwll, Anglesey
By Appointment Only
Admission: £3
Llyn Rhaeadr
Gwynedd
Centre of Harlech
Sun & Mon 3, 4, Sat - Mon 23, 24, 25 Apr; Sun & Mon 1, 2, Sun - Mon 29, 30, 31 May; Sun 31 July; Mon - Fri 2, 3, 4, 5; Sun & Mon 28, 29 Aug (2-5)
Admission: £3
Penrhyn Castle
Gwynedd
Bangor
Sat 19 Feb (11-3); Sat 11 Feb 2012
Admission: £3
The Down House
Hampshire
Itchen Abbas
Sun 20 Feb (12-4); Wed 22 June (12-6), Sun 26 June (2-6)
Admission: £3
Bramdean House
Hampshire
Bramdean
Suns 20 Feb (2-4); Suns 20 Mar; 17 Apr; 12 June; 17 July (2-5); Sun 18 Sept (2-4). Sun 19 Feb 2012
Admission: £4
Brandy Mount House
Hampshire
Alresford
Sat 12 Feb (11-4)
Admission: £3
Ivy Croft
Herefordshire
Ivington Green, Leominster
Each Thurs in Feb; (9-4); Suns 24 Apr; 22 May; 10 July; 11 Sept (2-5.30) Private visits and groups welcome by appt. 2011 Feb by appt
Admission: £3
St Paul's Walden Bury
Hertfordshire
Hitchin
Suns 3 Apr; 8 May (2-7)
Admission: £4
Highwood
Isle of Wight
Cranmore
Snowdrops Days, by appointment only, Sat 19, Sun 20 Feb. Visitors also welcome by appointment all year for groups, max 12
Admission: £3, chd free
190 Maidstone Road
Kent
Chatham By Appointment Only
Admission: £2
Southover
Kent
Hunton, Maidstone
Sun 20 Feb; Wed 25 May (11-4)
Admission: £3.50
Spring Platt
Kent
Sutton Valence
Suns 6 Feb; 6 Mar (12-4)
Admission: £3.50
Mere House
Kent
Mereworth
Suns 13, 20 Feb (2-5); Sun 27 Mar; Mon 25 Apr; Sun 23 Oct (2-5.30). Sun 19 Feb 2012
Admission: £3.50
Goodnestone Park Gardens
Kent
Wingham
Suns 20 Mar; 10 Apr; 11 Sept (12-5)
Admission: £5.50
Weeping Ash
Lancashire Merseyside & Greater Manchester
Glazebury
Suns 13, 20, 27 Feb (11-3.30); Sun 17 Apr (11-4.30); Suns 12, 19, 26 Feb 2012
Admission: £2
6 Denis Road
Leicestershire & Rutland
The Homestead
Leicestershire & Rutland
Normanton-by-Bottesford
Sun 6 Mar (1-5)
Admission: £2
Burbage Gardens
Leicestershire & Rutland
Suns 27 Feb (11-4); 29 May (11-5)
Admission: £3
Westview
Leicestershire & Rutland
Great Glen
Sun 27 Feb (11-4); Sun 26 June; Sun 4 Sept (11-5)
Admission: £2
Copper Coin
Leicestershire & Rutland
Gaddesby
Sun 10 Apr (11-5)
Admission: £3
7 Hall Road
Leicestershire & Rutland
21 Chapel Street
Lincolnshire
Hacconby, Bourne
Sat & Sun 26, 27 Feb; (11-5); 25, 26 Feb 2012 (11-5)
Admission: £2.50
Goltho House
Lincolnshire
Goltho
Thur & Fri 17, 18 Feb (10-3); Mon 30 May (10-4)
Admission: £5
Easton Walled Gardens
Lincolnshire
Easton
Fri 22 Apr (11-4)
Admission: £6
Little Ponton Hall
Lincolnshire
Grantham
Sat & Sun 12, 13 Feb (11-4)
Admission: £4
Hornbeams
London
Stanmore
By Appointment Only
Chestnut Farm
Norfolk
West Beckham
Suns 6 Mar; 21 Aug (11-5)
Admission: £4
Bagthorpe Hall
Norfolk
Bagthorpe
Sun 20 Feb (11-4)
Admission: £3.50
Horstead House
Norfolk
Horstead, Norwich
Sat 26 Feb (11-4)
Admission: £3.50
Lexham Hall
Norfolk
nr Litcham
Sun 13 Feb (11-4); Sun 22, Mon 23 May; Wed 21 Sept (11-5)
Admission: £4.50
10 Low Row
North East
North Bitchburn, Crook
By Appointment Only
Admission: £2
Glog Ddu
North East Wales
Llangernyw, Abergele
By Appointment Only
Admission: £3
Dolphins
Northamptonshire
Great Harrowden
Sun 27 Feb (10-4)
Admission: £3
67-69 High Street
Northamptonshire
Woodchippings
Northamptonshire
Juniper Hill
By Appointment Only
Admission: £4
Beech House
Northamptonshire
Burton Latimer
Sun 20 Feb; Sun 6 Mar (10-4)
Admission: £3
Greywalls
Northamptonshire
Farndish
Sun 6 Mar (12-4)
Admission: £3
67-69 High Street
Northamptonshire
Finedon
Evening Opening, wine, Thurs 9, 16, 23 June (5-9)
Admission: £3
Rosemount
Northamptonshire
Hollowell
Sun 27 Feb (11-3)
Admission: £3
The Beeches
Nottinghamshire
Milton, Tuxford, Newark
Suns 27 Feb (11-4); 13 Mar; 1 May; (2-5); 22 Jan 2012 (11-4)
Admission: £3
Crows Nest Cottage
Nottinghamshire
Sun 1 May (12-5)
Admission: £3
Hodsock Priory Gardens
Nottinghamshire
Blyth, Worksop
Daily Sat 5 Feb to Sun 6 Mar; (10-4)
Admission: £5
Felley Priory
Nottinghamshire
Underwood
Sun 17 Apr (10-4)
Admission: £3
Holme Pierrepont Hall
Nottinghamshire
Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham
Sun 6 Mar (2-5)
Admission: £3
Gable End
Oxfordshire
Kingston Bagpuize House
Oxfordshire
Kingston Bagpuize, nr Abingdon
Sun 27 Mar (12-5); Mon 26 Sept (1-6)
Admission: £5
Rock House
Somerset & Bristol
Elberton
Suns 30 Jan; 6 Feb 2011; 5, 12 Feb 2012 (11-4)
Admission: £2.50
East Lambrook Manor Gardens
Somerset & Bristol
East Lambrook
Sun 6 Feb; Sat 14 May; Sun 10 July (10-5). Sun 5 Feb 2012
Admission: £5.50
Bath Priory Hotel
Somerset & Bristol
Bath
Tues 12 Apr; Thur 18 Aug (2-5)
Admission: £2.50
Newark Park
Somerset & Bristol
Ozleworth
Wed 16 Feb (11-4.30)
Admission: £6.25
Elworthy Cottage
Somerset & Bristol
Elworthy, Taunton
Tue 12, Mon 25 Apr; Tue 24, 31 May; Tue 21 June; Mon 29 Aug (11-5)
Admission: £3
Gable House
Suffolk
Redisham, Beccles
Sun 20 Feb (11-4); Sun 5 June (11-5)
Admission: £3.50
Gatton Park
Surrey
Merstham
Sun 20 Feb (11-4), Wed 23 Feb (12-4); Sun 12 Feb 2012 (11-4)
Admission: £4
Vann
Surrey
Hambledon
Sun 27 Mar to Sun 3 Apr incl (10-6); Mon 2 May (2-6); Tue 3 May to Sun 8 May incl; Sun 5 June to Sun 12 June incl (10-6)
Admission: £4.50
Pembury House
Sussex
Clayton, nr Hassocks
Tues, Weds, Thurs 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24 Feb (11-4). Fri 11 Mar (11-4). 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23 Feb 2012
Admission: £4
Mitchmere Farm
Sussex
Stoughton
By Appointment Only
Admission: £3
The Manor of Dean
Sussex
Tillington, Petworth
Suns 6 Feb (1.30-4.30); 20 Mar; Sat 16, Sun 17 Apr; Suns 15 May; 19 June; 14 Aug; 11 Sept (2-5)
Admission: £3.50
New Barn
Sussex
Egdean, nr Petworth
By Appointment Only
Ragley Hall Gardens
Warwickshire
Alcester
Sun 6 Feb (11-3), garden only adm £4, chd free.
Admission: £3, chd free
Lacock Abbey Gardens
Wiltshire
Chippenham
Sats & Suns 12, 13, 19, 20 Feb (11-4); 11, 12, 18, 19 Feb 2012 adm £5, chd £2.50 (11-4)
Admission: £4
Great Chalfield Manor
Wiltshire
Melksham
Sun 6 Feb (2-4.30)
Admission: £4
Avon Cottage
Wiltshire
Salisbury
Suns 20 Feb; 20 Mar (11-3); 17 Apr (2-5); Sun 19 Feb 2012 (11-3)
Admission: £3
Westcroft
Wiltshire
By Appointment Only
Boscombe Village Gardens
Wiltshire
Boscombe
Suns & Mons 20, 21 Feb (11-4); 27, 28 Mar; 24, 25 Apr; 29, 30 May; 26, 27 June (2-5); 19, 20 Feb 2012 (11-4)
Admission: £4.50
Dial Park
Worcestershire
Chaddesley Corbett
Wed 23 Feb (11-4)
Admission: £3
The Cottage
Worcestershire
Broughton Green, Droitwich
Weds 9, 30 Mar; 11 May; 22 June; 13 July; 24 Aug; 14 Sept (2-5)
Admission: £3
Austwick Hall
Yorkshire
Austwick, nr Settle
Sun 14 Aug (12-5); Wed 22 Feb 2012
Admission: £3.50