The private gardens of Rotherham’s hidden gem Wentworth Woodhouse are a tranquil and beautiful place to visit any time of year.
But early every spring, they are transformed into something even more magical – thanks to the humble snowdrop.
The valiant little bloom, known as the first flower of the year, is making a big impact at the Grade I listed stately home being brought back to life by the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust.
Throughout February, snowdrop flurries form dainty carpets of white at every end and turn.
The flower symbolises winter nearing an end and hope for better times ahead. Five varieties – from the most common Galanthus Nivalis to the honey-scented Galanthus Atkinsii – stretch across several acres.
They peep from woodland areas, surround the Punch Bowl near the South Terrace and line the avenue of beech trees leading to the mansion’s Baroque West Front.
The picturesque scenes are thanks to the backbreaking toil of Head Gardener Scott Jamieson, his right-hand man Andy Smith and their two teams of garden volunteers – the Tuesday Welly Wangers and the Wednesday Bramble Bashers.
Members of the charity ArtWorks South Yorkshire, local businesses involved in Corporate Responsibility Days play a huge part, too.
Each year, once the time is right, they begin the back-breaking task of splitting and transplanting thousands of snowdrop bulbs, ensuring the drifts are ever-bigger the following year.
“Our Snowdrop Mantra is ‘Dig, divide, plant, repeat!’” said Scott. “It’s hard work but wonderfully rewarding. We all get stuck in, knowing we are making next year’s snowdrop flurries all the more special.
“Everyone loves the cheery sight of the brave and beautiful little flower which heralds new beginnings.
“Our drifts firmly place the gardens at Wentworth Woodhouse in any discerning gardener’s diary as a must-do visit and light the fuse for the kaleidoscope of colour arriving in the next few months – from swathes of daffodils to our showy rhododendron and camellia collections.”
Wentworth Woodhouse gardens are open every Wednesday to Sunday, 10.00am to 4.00pm and on Tuesdays 15th and 22nd February (Government COVID-19 guidelines permitting) and there’s an outdoor catering wagon serving hot and cold snacks and drinks in the gardens.
Book tickets online at www.wentworthwoodhouse.org.uk (£6.00 for adults and £3.30 for children, under fives free. Family tickets: 1 adult, 2 children £11.00; 2 adults, 2 children £12.00).
Garden tickets up for grabs with Worksop Life!
We’ve teamed up with Wentworth Woodhouse to give away two pairs of garden admission tickets to our readers.
To be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets, click here.