More than 100 varieties of snowdrops have been planted for visitor enjoyment
Cluster of snowdrops at Burnby Hall Gardens, Pocklington(Image: burnbyhallgardens.com)
It is widely known for its beautiful display of water lilies during the summer and, preceding that, its array of colourful spring tulips. Now, an East Yorkshire tourist attraction is encouraging visitors in for an even earlier show of “fascinating flowers”.
During February, Burnby Hall Gardens, at Pocklington, is inviting visitors to focus on its new collection of around 100 individual varieties of snowdrops that have been planted over the past couple of years. Jill Ward, head gardener, has sourced and planted examples of Galanthus (snowdrops), primarily in the Rock Garden, Walled Garden and Birch Walk of the award-winning gardens, each being subtly different and labelled accordingly.
Peter Rogers, assistant estate manager, said: “Our event is a bit different in that we’re not offering huge coverings of snowdrops. Instead, our focus is on the individual plants in the collection which have been planted and labelled by Jill and her team.
“We hope that anyone visiting the gardens over this period will be able to learn a little more about these fascinating flowers.” On Thursday, February 12, there will also be short talks on the snowdrops.
“Snowdrops for Beginners” will be given by Jill and “Snowdrops and other jewels of the winter garden” will be presented by Peter Williams, gardens trustee and horticulturalist. These talks will run from 10.30am to 11.30am and will be repeated from noon to 1pm.
To attend, visitors should please pay on the day and register at the events table near the Visitor Centre. After a short break, between 1.30pm and 2.30pm, there will be a short informal workshop and demonstration on snowdrop identification and propagation by Jill and Peter.
Winter admission prices to Burnby Hall Gardens apply. Two years ago, Burnby Hall Gardens launched its first ever winter lights event, Illuminate, with the first ever chance to see the gardens lit by night.
The event, helping to mark Burnby’s Diamond Jubilee, provided a new and sparkling run-up to the festive season. Burnby Hall Gardens and Museum draws around 97,000 visitors each year to the Yorkshire In Bloom award-winning site.
The gardens are home to a National Collection of water lilies which bloom on its lakes in the summer. Elsewhere in East Yorkshire, you can see swathes of snowdrops in the woodland around Burton Agnes Hall, near Driffield.
The woodland is open for walking among the snowdrops from January 31 to March 1, from 11am to 4pm daily. Garden admission applies.