Shipley Snowdrops

My last snowdrop trip of the season was the nearest to home and one of my favourite spring walking spots - Shipley Country Park, near Ilkeston, Derbyshire.

I'd been putting this visit off for a while as last time I visited, in September, the uphill walk from the carpark to the old hall's grounds had proved too much for my not-quite-recovered legs.  This time, thankfully, all went well.

So I slowly headed up the hill, through the beeches on Horsepool Hill, where the first daffodils were flowering, and followed the ha-ha around the old hall grounds.

There are snowdrops in clumps scattered throughout this area but the best in my opinion are along the old driveway, presumably planted to impress visitors. It's always tricky trying to guess the best time to catch snowdrops at their best, and I think this year I was a little late.

Having proved to myself that I can now manage this short walk quite easily I'll be back before long as the daffodils come into full flower.

 

Thornbridge Hall

Sometimes you can drive past a place for years but never stop, so I thought it was time to at last visit Thornbridge Hall, near Bakewell, Derbyshire. I'd been persuaded to visit at this perhaps less-than-delightful time of year by the promise of snowdrops (I'd seen Thornbridge feature in a Top Derbyshire Places to see Snowdrops guide) but apart from the occasional clump here and there I didn't see any. 

The delight of Thornbridge lies though in its water garden and formal Italian garden.

In the first, streams tumble down the hillside, with mini-cascades and still pools breaking their journey. 

Grottoes provide a place to sit and relax - though possibly more appealing in warmer months.

The lawns in the front of the hall take advantage of the terrain, looking out over fields to the surrounding countryside.

Returning towards the exit, we ambled through the Italian garden; formal with trimmed box-hedging, but quiet and relaxing.

 Last stop - the cafe for tea and cake (as always)

More snowdrops? Yes, please

I don't think it's possible to have too many snowdrops, so on a rare sunny day I headed out in search of more. 

Hopton Hall, near Carsington Water in Derbyshire, is a private estate open to the general public for just two periods of the year - in February for the snowdrop display, and in July when the rose garden is at its best. 

To one side of the entrance drive lies a woodland and in early spring it's carpeted in white flowers with the occasional splash of yellow from aconites.

The path winds back and forth between trees to give a view of this amazing sight from almost every angle, but really I want to just stand, whirl round, and say Wow!

It's just totally enchanting to see snowdrops spreading like this. I assume they cannot all have been planted individually but, like the smaller display in my own garden, have colonised an ever-increasing area over the years, by seed dispersed by the wind or with help from birds. The result is stunning.

From the woodland, the visitor trail leads behind the Hall to the rose garden. Empty of flowers at this time of year, it still has a charm derived from the formal clipped hedges and trees.

 

Paths then wind down towards a small lake where it was warm enough to sit and admire the view for a few minutes. Not for long, but to be able to sit outside in February is marvelous.

 It was even pleasant enough that we sat outside for tea and cake. Spring certainly feels like it's arrived

Snowdrops and more at Calke Abbey

Now, it's not a good sign for the second of February (Candlemas/Groundhog Day) to be bright and sunny, but it was so I decided to make the most of it by going out to Calke in search of more snowdrops.

First though on the way into the gardens there were other signs of Spring's approach - the scent of a winter honeysuckle, and the bright sparks of witchhazel's flowers

Just inside the walled garden, the visitor is met by a display of snowdrops; so many subtly different varieties!

Turning round though my attention was caught by a flash of pink - tiny cyclamens flowering almost unnoticed, and nearby the brilliant blue of iris reticulata.

In the mostly empty vegetable garden, I found more irises, in pots in a sheltered spot, so further advanced.

And narcissus growing along the edge of the vegetable beds. 

Such a variety of spring flowers made it feel like winter truly was behind us.

On the slope below the walled gardens and on the tree-lined walk up to the church more snowdrops were shrugging off the winter cold 

and on the path back up to the exit, I spotted the bright yellow of aconites. Somehow I'd missed them on the way in, but they were a lovely note to end my visit on.
 

The End of Winter? Snowdrops at Kedleston

February came in with mild weather and sunshine, so I went off out in search of snowdrops and any other signs of Spring which could be found. 

First stop was, as so often, Kedleston Hall. I know this National Trust property has at least one sweeping bed of snowdrops and hoped to find other flowers too. Like many places, Kedleston has suffered from too much rain in the last few months and various grassed areas are cordoned off to help them recover, which unfortunately meant I couldn't get really close to the snowdrops in the Pleasure Grounds. They aren't open fully yet though so hopefully I'll be able to see them at closer quarters on a return visit. 

The Pleasure Grounds themselves feel larger at this time of year, without trees breaking up the view. The orangery isn't open to visitors but in the shrubbery behind it is a surprise - a really early-flowering rhododendron. It's not quite flowering yet but there are plenty of buds waiting for warmer weather.

Heading up the Short Walk I found more snowdrops, a cherry-plum in bud, and, most surprisingly, a daffodil in flower. The first I've seen this year.

On the way home, the sky lit up, first yellow then red, promising another good day ahead.