17th Century – Where Can We Walk

Springhill Shamrock Walk

March 9, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

Visit Springhill House in Belfast for Shamrock Shenanigans on St. Patrick’s Day 17 March 2013

Wood Sorrel (AKA Shamrock) — Wood Sorrel, “seamrog” Little clover

As winter melts away, take a self guided walk around the Shamrock trail in the grounds of Springhill House, A beguiling 17th-century ‘Plantation’ home, with its walled gardens and parkland, full of tempting waymarked paths.

With free entry for anyone who can prove they are called Patrick, this is sure to be a fine way to celebrate St. Patricks Day.

Traditional food, music and more.

Location – Springhill House, 20 Springhill Road, Magherafelt, Belfast. BT45 7NQ

To find out more visit the National Trust Springhill House web pages

Finding Shamrocks in the UK

If you don’t live in Ireland but want to see this delicate and beautiful plant in it’s natural surroundings, try visiting some of our British Woods. Wood Sorrel (AKA the Shamrock) can be found growing in many woodland habitats especially those in the north of England such as Whinlatter Forest.

To locate your nearest woodland go to the Visit Woods website.

More information

What is a Shamrock and can you grow it? – Visit the British Cut Flowers website

Daffodil Walks 2011

February 22, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Despite the extremely cold winter, our daffodils seem to be blooming earlier this year. This is probably due to the fact that February has been fairly mild compared to last year.

Trumpets of bright and pale yellow light up our countryside and let us know that spring is truly here. The delicate, wild version of our common narcissus is of course, the inspiration for Wordsworth’s famous poem “I wandered lonely as a cloud” and blooms later than our commercial garden varieties, usually around mid March.

One of the most famous places to see daffodils in Cumbria, is Dora’s Field in Rydal near Ambleside.

William Wordsworth bought the land next to St. Mary’s Church and planned to build a residence there. However, when his daughter Dora died in 1847, he and his family and gardener planted hundreds of daffodils in her memory.

There are many places in the UK to see swathes of daffodils in bloom and here are a few of them. If you are aware of any for our list, then please contact us using the comments section at the end of this article.

Where to see daffodils

Ragley Hall, Warwickshire – Early in the season the bank boasts a spectacular show of welcome colour.

Farndale, North Yorkshire – Farndale is internationally famed for its show of wild daffodils which normally bloom at the end of March / beginning of April each year.

Kempley Daffodil Weekend – Details of daffodil walks around Kempley and easter bonnet competition.

Brigsteer Woods – Brigsteer Woods has a network of paths running through it and is pretty at any time of year but especially so in daffodil season from March to April.

Dymock Daffodil Walks – The area around Dymock is renowned for it’s wild daffodils and the local parishes arrange walking tours of the daffodil fields during March each year.

Daffodil Walks In Cheshire – If you love daffodils, beautiful countryside, and a lovely day out, then come along for a guided daffodil walk near the village of Whitegate, in the heart of the Vale Royal, Cheshire.

Wisley Gardens, Surrey – With over 240 acres of glorious gardens, the Royal Horticultural Society’s Wisley Gardens are worth a visit at any time of the year. Over 70 different varieties of daffodil, from the miniature Tête-à-Tête to the classic trumpets.

Dunsford Nature Reserve, Devon – A two mile walk along the River Teign and the edges of the coppiced woodland has areas covered with wild daffodils.

Wordsworth daffodils – Wander on over to see the famous Wordsworth daffodils, which you can find on the lakeshore at Wordsworth Point near Glencoyne Bay. It was here that the poet was thought to have taken inspiration for the well-known poem ‘Daffodils’. NY388192

Great British Gradens – Where to see good displays of Daffodils in Gardens throughout the British Isles from mid March onwards depending on location.

More information

I hate daffodils.org – A website dedicated to the conservation of wild flowers in the British Countryside. Find out all about our native daffodil and the difference between it and the cultivated narcissi we see in gardens.

Gardener’s Tips – Tips to help you get the best from your daffodils.

Snowdrop Walks 2011

January 11, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Spring time in the UK is signaled for many people with the arrival of the snowdrop.

With it’s blue green foliage and delicate white flower, the snowdrop ( Galanthus ) is one of the first flowers to peep above the ice and snow of winter.

Throughout England, Scotland and Wales many villages, houses and public places celebrate the snowdrop with festivals and activities.

Early February sees the arrival of the snowdrops

One of the major events, held for many years, is the Snowdrop Festival in Scotland.

This year the festival takes place from the 1 February to the 15 March.

Snowdrop walks and events

Ragley Hall, Warwickshire – Early in the season the bank boasts a spectacular show of welcome colour.

Colesbourne Park -near Cheltenham – Every Saturday and Sunday in February plus Saturday 5th March and Sunday 6th March 2011

Chippenham Park – Cambridgeshire – is a large country house with substantial gardens, lakes, woodland walks and parkland dating back to the 17th century. The display of naturalised snowdrops at Chippenham Park is probably the finest in East Anglia.

For years Snowdrop Valley, Wheddon Cross, was a local secret. Wheddon Cross is the highest village on Exmoor. You can now visit the area, and the snowdrops, using the Park and Ride scheme.

Rode Hall – Cheshire – A spectacular snowdrop display with over fifty varieties set in a Repton landscape. The mile-long Snowdrop Walk is a perfect stroll out in the fresh air for the whole family, amidst swathes of cascading white flowers.

Welford Park – Berkshire – Welford Park is at the heart of the Lambourn Valley and is home to the extraordinary seven acre drift of snowdrops.

Howick Hall Gardens – Visit the stunning Snowdrop Walks from 6th February onwards. The gardens and tea room are open every Wednesday – Sunday 10.30am – 4.00pm until 27th March. There is a large collection of snowdrops mainly planted between the wars by Lady Grey, who was a great bulb enthusiast; over time, a number of natural hybrid’s have evolved and multiplied.

Painswick Rococo Garden – The Rococo Garden has one of the largest naturalistic plantings of snowdrops in the country and is in many ways the spiritual home of Galanthus Atkinsii.

Benington Lordship Gardens – The gardens are famous for the huge drifts of naturalised Snowdrops that cover most of the moat and the grounds around the Norman castle and house in February & March.

Chelsea Physic Garden – The Garden boasts a collection of over 75 species, largely grouped together as a tribute to some of the most famous snowdrop breeders of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Goldsborough Hall’s first ever snowdrop day – Sunday, 20 February 2011 – This will be the first time the Hall will be open to visitors so early in the year and they are keen to attract Galanthophiles and gardeners with a keen interest in snowdrops, in the hope that they might be able to help identify some rare varieties in the 11 acres of garden.

National Trust properties

Many National Trust properties feature snowdrop walks. From Wiltshire to Yorkshire the dark, cold woodland floors will soon be carpeted with thousands of white blooms.

Stourhead – Wiltshire – Follow criss-crossing paths to enchanting temples, enjoy lakeside walks and spot the first signs of spring all around you.

Nymans – West Sussex – At the start of spring, wonderful displays of snowdrops as well as camellias and magnolias underplanted with a host of daffodils and grape hyacinths.

NGS – The National Garden Scheme has a few early opening gardens, some with over 50 species of snowdrop as well as cyclamen and helebores.

Orkney – Perhaps the most northerly of the snowdrop walks can be found at Binscarth Wood on mainland Orkney.

More information

Gardening For Health – Find out more information about Snowdrops and how to grow them.