Snowdrops at Colesbourne Park

I had a rare trip out last week to see the snowdrops at Colesbourne Park. It’s long been a favourite winter jaunt and this year didn’t disappoint.

It’s a garden that’s well known to galanthophiles, as snowdrop enthusiasts are called. Not only does it have big displays of snowdrops, such as ‘S Arnott’ and ‘Ophelia’, it also has many unusual bulbs.

The collection has been built up by Sir Henry Elwes and his wife, Carolyn, and now numbers around 300 different varieties.

I caught the garden at the very beginning of its snowdrop display with the huge drifts of naturalised bulbs just beginning to open up.

Colesbourne Park’s first snowdrops, such as G. reginae-olgae and ‘Three Ships’ were all about three weeks earlier than usual but the bulk of the display is bang on time.

“They’re about a week away from being at their best,” Sir Henry told me. “I think it’s going to be a good show.”

Many of the more unusual snowdrops are displayed in raised beds where their intricate markings can be seen more easily. They are likely to have been in the collection for some years before being planted out.

“We’ve probably had them for two or three years until they’re ready to plant in a big clump. There’s no point in just planting a single snowdrop.”

Among those already out in the raised beds were ‘Franz Josef’ and ‘Green Tear’, a snowdrop with an unusually green hue.

Cyclamen coum are a favourite winter partner for snowdrops and Colesbourne Park has lots.

In fact, rather too many. “They are self-seeding all over the place,” commented Sir Henry.

“I run the mower over them most of the summer but it doesn’t seem to matter.”

Winter aconites (Eranthis hyemalis) are another of the garden’s winter stars and these too were just starting to show.

Planting in the Spring Garden has been thinned as the mix of bulbs and perennials was becoming a bit congested. A lot has been cut back and the area top dressed with compost, which sets off the flowers.

My visit was on a very cold day just before the weekend’s snow and the frost added a white sheen to everything.

The winter sunshine was an added bonus, lighting up clumps of bulbs.

Colesbourne Park is going to open this year albeit it in a very different way to usual. Local visitors can book a timed slot so that numbers in the 10-acre garden and woodland can be controlled. Payment will be made by card at the gate and strict Covid guidelines will be in place.

The usual sale of snowdrops will take place and this year there will also be a range of perennials. Again, payment must be by card. There will be no refreshments available.

The garden will be open on Saturday and Sunday February 6 & 7, Thursday February 11-14 inclusive and Thursday 18-21 inclusive. Entry is from 1pm to 3.30pm and must be pre-booked online. For more information, visit the website.

It is also advisable to check the website before travelling in case arrangements are altered or bad weather closes the garden.

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