SNOWDROP DAYS
28 January-3 February
Snowdrop Days at the Chelsea Physic Garden, London. See snowdrops early in all their glory, thanks to the warm microclimate at the Chelsea Physic Garden. The Snowdrop Trail leads around the Garden’s collection of more than 120 cultivars and species, highlighting their provenance, breeding and patterning. Volunteer guides will give free tours and will be selling a huge selection of rare and unusual snowdrops and spring bulbs in the plant marquee. 10am-4pm, 66 Royal Hospital Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 4HS (020 7352 5646; chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk).
4 February – 5 March
Snowdrop Walks at Rode Hall, Cheshire. One of the UK’s finest snowdrop walks for all the family with a wonderfully diverse landscape and over 70 varieties of snowdrops. Walk along paths amidst carpets of white flowers on an enchanting mile-long route (with options for longer or shorter walks). A labour of love, the snowdrops have multiplied over six generations of the Wilbraham family; they were first planted by Sibella Wilbraham in 1833. This passion and care continues to the present day. 11am – 4pm (closed Mondays), Rode Hall & Gardens, Cheshire ST7 3QP (01270 873237; rodehall.co.uk).
11 – 19 February
Snowdrop Week at Easton Walled Gardens, Lincolnshire. Swathes of snowdrops, as well as innovative spring planting schemes, spread over the 12 acres of beautiful, restored grounds. Also workshops from horticultural expert Jackie Murray, who will explain how to grow and divide snowdrops, as well as giving her tips on naturalising a collection. Rare varieties for sale, as well as cyclamen, hellebores and aconites. Tickets £7.25 adult , £3.25 per child. Open daily 11am-4pm, Easton Walled Gardens, Easton, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG33 5AP (01476 530063; visiteaston.co.uk).
12 February
Snowdrop walk, Great Chalfield Manor, Wiltshire. You may recognise the stunning grounds from scenes in Wolf Hall and, more recently, Poldark. The Arts and Crafts __garden and private chapel will be open and homemade cakes donated by volunteers will be available to buy along with hot drinks. Entry £4 in aid of Dorothy House Hospice, Bradford on Avon.
2- 4pm, Great Chalfield Manor, nr Melksham, Wiltshire SN12 8NH (dorothyhouse.co.uk).
12&19 February
Snowdrop Days at Goldsborough Hall, North Yorkshire. A wander round 12-acres of Royal Gardens. A Species Snowdrop Walk was created in 2012 with help from Mike Heagney of Tudor Croft gardens in Guisborough, and snowdrop expert Della Kerr. The spectacular annual display is made up of two species, Galanthus nivalis and double Galanthus nivalis 'Flore Pleno’, as well as more than 40 rare varieties (some so rare they haven’t even been named yet). Entry £5 adults, under 16s free. 10am-4pm, Goldsborough Hall, Goldsborough, North Yorkshire HG5 8NR (01423 867321; goldsboroughhall.com).
17-19 February and 24–26 February
Snowdrop weekends, Holker Gardens, Cumbria. Usually closed for winter, make the most of this rare opportunity to stroll the Holker Gardens and see trails of delicate snowdrops. Highlights include the cascade and Burlington Fountain, The Sunken Garden, Pagan Grove and the 400 year old Great Holker Lime, plus rolling expanses of parkland. 10.30am-4pm, Holker Estate, Cark-in-Cartmel, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria LA11 7PL (015395 58328; holker.co.uk).
18&19 February
Snowdrop Charity Walk, Shropshire, in aid of Lingden Davies Cancer Fund. Tea, coffee and cake. Entry £5, children free, dogs welcome. 10.30am-4pm, Winsley Hall, Westbury, SY5 9HB (01743 492396).
19 February
Snowdrop Sensation at Great Comp Garden, Kent. A rare opportunity to buy choice snowdrops and to see delicate displays of snowflakes and hellebores in one of Sevenoaks finest gardens. Great Comp __garden was created by Roderick Cameron in the 1950s and is now curated by salvia expert William Dyson. The garden opens for just one day in February to share its winter secrets. Val Bourne, the award winning Telegraph writer, will be giving a lecture a entitled 'The Snowdrop Vortex - One Woman’s Obsession With The White Stuff’. 10am-12 noon (lecture from 11.30am), Great Comp Garden, Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 8QS (01732 885094; greatcompgarden.co.uk).
Read about the National Gardens Scheme's Snowdrop Festival here. For a list of National Trust snowdrop gardens, visit this webpage.
POTATO DAYS
How to find a potato day near you
Check this listing of potato days nationwide hosted by Pennard Plants, and look here for a listing of National Allotment Society potato days. Read about East Anglia potato day here and for Hampshire potato day, visit potatoday.org
11 February
Potato Day organised by Flintshare and N. Wales Plant Heritage. More than 80 types of seed potato for sale, plus veg seed, herbs, rhubarb, soft fruit. Entry free. 9am-1pm, Church Hall, King Street, Mold, CH7 1LA (flintshare.co.uk).
12 February
London charity Roots and Shoots holds its first ever Seed Potato and Vegetable Seed Fair with Somerset-based Pennard Plants, winners of three Chelsea Flower Show gold medals. More than 60 varieties of seed potatoes, heritage and modern, on sale, along with onion and shallot sets and garlic. Pennard Plants’ own range of heritage seeds, fruit trees, soft fruit and kitchen garden plants also available.
Also, children’s art activities, honey and honey products, bee jewellery, potato themed lunches, homemade cakes, tea and coffee. Entry £5, concessions £2, children free. Proceeds to Roots and Shoots. 11am – 2pm, Roots and Shoots, Walnut Tree Walk, Kennington SE11 6DN
MORE GARDENING EVENTS IN 2017
28 January
Hellebore tours, West Midlands. Discover the fascinating story behind leading specialist Ashwood Nursery’s award-winning hellebores. Entry £2.50 for charity. 10.15am-2.30pm, Ashwood Nurseries, Ashwood Lower Lane, near Kingswinford, West Midlands (01384 401996; ashwoodnurseries.com).
4&5 February
Winter Flower Festival, Cambridgeshire. Snowdrops in churchyard and church full of arrangements to reflect the time of year. Warming refreshments served all weekend in All Saints’ Community Hall; craft stall selling beautiful hand made Valentine and Easter gifts, cards and lots more. Closing on Sunday with a service for candlemas at 5pm. Come along and enjoy (01763 261225). 10.30am - 5pm, All Saints’ Church, Melbourn (near Royston), Cambs SG8 6DX.
4 February-5 March
Kew Orchids Festival, Surrey. India’s vibrant and colourful flora and culture is celebrated at Kew Gardens. Talks, tours (booking essential), hands-on demonstrations and late evening openings (tickets £15) in the Princess of Wales Conservatory. 10am-4pm, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond Surrey TW9 3AE (020 8332 5655; kew.org).
6 February
Talk for Buckhurst Hill Hort Soc, Essex. 'The Seasonal Container Garden’ by Andrew Babicz. Free entry for members (£1 non-members). Refreshments. 7.30-9.30pm, St James’ United Reformed Church, Palmerston Rd, Buckhurst Hill, Essex IG9 5NG (020 8504 8436).
14-15 February
RHS Early Spring Plant Fair, London. The first event of the year for the RHS, featuring fresh winter colour and early spring flowering plants including snowdrops, hellebores and irises displayed by some of the UK’s best nurserymen and growers with bulbs and plants to purchase. Visitors will also have the chance to meet some of the top garden designers who will be featuring at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show with a designer Q&A session and an exhibition of their plans. 10am-5pm, RHS Westminster Halls, London SW1P 2QW (rhs.org.uk).
14 February
Apple Tree Pruning Workshop at Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens, Yorkshire. A hands-on workshop aimed at novices who will learn the skills to prune their own fruit trees. Tickets £25, includes coffee & biscuits and entry to the garden. 10am-12 noon, Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens, Stewart Lane, Stillingfleet, York YO19 6HP (01904 728506; stillingfleetlodgenurseries.co.uk).
18 February
All About Roses workshop, Godinton House & Gardens, Kent. Get more from your roses. A practical workshop with head gardener Viv Hunt and Fiona Abrahams, looking at choosing, planting, maintaining and pruning roses to give you the best display, including a hands-on session giving you the confidence to go home and tackle your own plants. Tickets £55 including a light lunch and refreshments. 9.30am – 2.30pm, Godinton Lane, Ashford, Kent TN23 3BP (01233 643854; godinton.co.uk).
5 March
Hellebore garden open day, Bath. Magnificent display of Lenten hellebores in plantswoman’s garden previously featured in the Telegraph. Entry £4. Tea and home-made cakes. In aid of Dorothy House Hospice, Bradford-on-Avon. 2-4pm, Kapunda, Southstoke Lane, Bath, BA2 5SH (dorothyhouse.org.uk).
25&26 March
The Gardens Illustrated Festival at the stunning Westonbirt School in Tetbury, Glos. A fantastic programme of more than 20 speakers, including Roy Lancaster, Cleve West and Alys Fowler plus self-guided garden tours, a vintage shopping marquee with more than 40 of the magazine’s favourite retailers and free advice at a Plant and Design Clinic.
EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Enjoy 15 per cent off all tickets. Use code T15 at gardensfestival.com to book tickets and for further information. Offer valid until 13 March 2017. Westonbirt School, Tetbury GL8 8QG.
1 April
Ewell Horticultural Association Spring Show, Surrey. Displays of spring flowers, cookery, handicrafts, photography and floral art plus plants and garden sundries for sale. Free entry - all welcome, free parking, a raffle, plus refreshments with delicious homemade cakes. 2.30-4.30pm, Blenheim High School, Longmead Road, Epsom KT19 9BH (ewellhortassn.co.uk).
24-28 April and 2-7 May
Tulip Celebrations at Hever Castle & Gardens, Kent (excl BH). A brand new event - enjoy a tulip trail either self-guided or with Hever’s head gardener Neil Miller and marvel at the 7,000 tulips, in 60 varieties planted along the Pergola Walk, Pompeiian Wall, Tudor Garden and Italian Garden. Miller says: “We have planted 3,500 tulips around the Castle walls using 'Orange Lion’ interplanted with Erysimum 'Vulcan’, a dwarf variety of wallflower with velvety crimson flowers. The Italian Garden will look stunning with 2,000 tulips planted in wonderful formal displays including some unusual green varieties such as 'Spring Green’ (white with a green stripe), 'Evergreen’ (green with a yellow stripe) and 'Green Jay’.” 10.30am-5pm, Hever Castle & Gardens, Hever, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 7NG (01732 865224; hevercastle.co.uk).
27 May
Plant Lovers’ Day, Creake Abbey, Norfolk. Garden nurseries and plantsmen from Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex alongside leading nurseries from Hertfordshire and Nottinghamshire will be showing a wide range of plants, from perennials to exotics, bulbs and rare or specialist plants, shrubs, climbers, trees and vegetables. 10am-4pm, Creake Abbey, North Creake, Norfolk NR21 9LF (07801 418907; creakeabbey.co.uk).
23-25 June
West Woodhay Gardeners’ Fair, near Newbury, Berks. A brand new Gardeners’ Fair from the same team who created the much loved Cottesbrooke Plant Fair will be held in the private gardens and estate of West Woodhay House. The Fair offers passionate gardeners a selection of high quality plants and gardening products from some of UK’s finest plant nurseries and product makers. For further details visit westwoodhayfair.co.uk
16&17 September
Garden & Harvest Festival at Forde Abbey, Somerset. Charlie Dimmock and Christine Walkden are confirmed as the celebrity garden experts at Toby Buckland’s new Garden & Harvest Festival, a cornucopia of autumnal gardening ideas, practical demos, talks and harvest-themed entertainment. Under-16s free; early bird tickets £8.50 (£12.50 on the gate).
Forde Abbey, Chard, Somerset TA20 4LU (tobygardenfest.co.uk).
