The snowdrops at Ickworth House. Courtesy National Trust
Anyone not enjoying the crisp and cold weather enveloping the country at the moment may be heartened to hear that the traditonal harbinger of spring, the snowdrop, is already making an appearance at the National Trust’s Ickworth House.
The small, but perfectly formed white nodding heads of snowdrops are beginning to peep through the undergrowth at Ickworth’s gardens and parklands, signalling that winter is finally coming to an end.
Ickworth gardeners plant thousands of snowdrops each year to bulk up the displays and to offer a bit of colour and warmth for winter visitors.
“The start of the snowdrop season at Ickworth is a very exciting time for all the staff that work here,” explained Ickworth's Head Gardener, Sean Reid. “Everyone visits the Trim Trail each day wanting to see the first glimpses of these beautiful flowers."
The snowdrop and aconite displays are to be found in the Oak Walk, Geraldine's Walk and the Trim Trail at Ickworth, and are at their best from late January through to the middle to end of February.
However, before you discard the winter mittens, scarves and other woollies, the snowdrop, paradoxically, loves cold weather. The colder it is, the longer the flowers last, with some flowering as late as March.
Ickworth Park is open daily from 8am to dusk and the gardens are open daily from 11am - 4pm.
