Snowdrop-gazing at Upton Wold

There’s nothing quite like the sight of naturalised late winter flowers to lift the spirits. They were certainly needed when I visited Upton Wold garden on a cold, wet February morning.

Even in such dismal weather the garden in the heart of the Cotswolds was sparkling with colour from naturalised bulbs.

The garden has opened to the public for many years but its ‘Snowdrop Walking’ is something that started during lockdown when Ian and Caroline Bond allowed local people to take exercise in the 30 acres of garden and arboretum.

“We thought people might like to come and walk here,” explained Mrs Bond., “and we decided to do it again this year.”

The display is mainly of the common snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis, although collecting is starting with varieties including ‘Trumps’, ‘South Hayes’ and ‘Spring Cottage’ planted near the entrance.

“We want to start getting a bit of a collection,” said head gardener Jack Worthy who showed me around.

It had been some years since I’d visited Upton Wold and then always in the summer. Seeing a familiar garden in the winter gives a different perspective and the chance to appreciate the struture that underpins the planting.

Upton Wold, which has been developed over nearly 50 years, had input in the early years from landscape architects Hal Moggridge and the late Brenda Colvin.

The influence of good design principles is obvious, not least with the carefully constructed long view from the back of the house. Hidden until the last moment by yew hedges as you walk across the back of the house, it’s unexpected even when you know it’s there.

I’ve always loved interesting paths and this stood out even more in the Kitchen Garden without the distraction of crops.

There’s also a beautiful mass planting of hellebores, set off by old trained fruit trees.

But it was snowdrops I had gone to see and there were plenty not only in massed displays through the formal gardens but also nestled into corners.

Here and there, they are combined with hellebores, crocus or aconites – I particularly liked this lime green-tinged white hellebore set against the snowdrops.

One site earmarked for possible planting with named varieties is among the moss-covered roots of a huge Pterocarya fraxinifolia that is surprisingly only 40 years old.

Yellow was the only colour showing in the three colour-themed sections of the Lower Border where Eranthis hyemalis (winter aconites) have spread to fill the first space. The pink area has tulips waiting to take over, while the white far end has wisteria and roses for later, although that is due to change.

“We’re replanting,” said Jack. “It’s a bit shady and dry. It’s a question of creating the right planting for the right areas.”

That will be for later displays. Now it’s the snowdrops that are in the spotlight.

Upton Wold is open for Snowdrop Walking daily from 10-4 until Sunday March 6. Entry is £5 with a donation going to the National Garden Scheme. More details on the website.

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