See spectacular snowdrops at the Gardens of Easton Lodge this February

The Gardens of Easton Lodge’s renowned snowdrops will be on display this Sunday and next.

Single and double blooms of galanthus nivalis grow in profusion in the landmark’s bosquet, or wood grove, some mixed in with aconites. There are more among the trees near the treehouse and in the glade and the walled kitchen garden. Some of the snowdrops were planted in Victorian times while others were planted more recently.

This year the gardens open for two Snowdrop Sundays on February 17 and 24 from 11.30am. There will be snowdrops in the green for sale as well as a plant stall. Hot drinks, bacon and cheese rolls, homemade cakes and soup are available at Daisy’s, the refreshment kiosk.

Guided and self-guided tours explain the history of the Historic England Grade II listed gardens and their most famous owner, the Countess of Warwick.

A mansion house was first built on the site in the Elizabethan era and was handed down through generations. Frances Evelyn Maynard, who became the Countess of Warwick through marriage, was a great socialite. She entertained guests at Easton Lodge regularly and lavishly, including the Prince of Wales, with whom she had a long relationship before he acceded to the throne as Edward VII.

The Countess later became an active socialist and welcomed the leaders of the trade union movement and socialists for weekend meetings. She commissioned the Edwardian designer Harold Peto to modernise her gardens in 1902 and his work is still very much in evidence.

The house and gardens fell into disrepair after their use by the US Army Air Force and RAF in the Second World War and are being restored and made open to the public by the preservation trust.

Further information is available at www.eastonlodge.co.uk. To enquire about visiting, volunteering, hosting a talk about the gardens or arranging a private group tour email enquiries@eastonlodge.co.uk or call 01371 876979 and leave a message.