Over 100 gardens to celebrate the National Garden Scheme Snowdrop Festival in 2023

And a special snowdrop fundraiser with Emma Bridgewater

Fresh air and the beautiful, faithful first signs of spring epitomised by drifts of glorious snowdrops are a reminder of the changing seasons and the promise of what’s to come. What better way to shake off the winter and to celebrate the gardening visiting year ahead than with the National Garden Scheme’s 2023 Snowdrop Festival. These glorious harbingers of the wonderful life of gardens to come can be viewed in over 100 National Garden Scheme gardens throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland during January, February, and March.  

On a wintry day there is nothing better than visiting a garden gleaming with one of the earliest flowering plants of the year. Whether you enjoy carpets of naturalised white in woodlands* meticulously grown rare varieties of snowdrops** or gardens boasting a colourful mix of snowdrops, hellebores and other early spring flowers – there is something for galanthophiles and garden enthusiasts alike. 

George Plumptre, Chief Executive of the National Garden Scheme, says: 

“There is something uniquely hopeful about the first sight of snowdrops, often when winter is all around and for good reason are they called the first harbingers of Spring. Offering garden visitors the chance to enjoy them in a variety of settings makes such a special start to the year and gives people a real purpose to get outside. Snowdrops are the perfect antidote to the winter blues and spending an afternoon at one of our 100 Snowdrop Festival gardens is the perfect release at an often gloomy time of year.

“Many of our garden owners are enthusiastic or expert growers and galanthophiles can often discover a rare variety in a garden they may never otherwise find. What’s more many of the gardens sell a variety of snowdrops so you can take some of these tiny winter gems to enjoy in your own garden.” 

Snowdrop Festival Facts 

• 110 gardens are opening for the National Garden Scheme Snowdrop Festival in 2023.  
• Many of the gardens feature Galanthus, hellebores and other early spring flowers. 
• 44 of the snowdrop gardens are also open and open by arrangement for groups of 2 – 50. 
• **Among the gardens opening many are owned by snowdrop experts including:  Copton Ash, Kent; Higher Cerubeer, Devon; Knowle Hill Farm, Kent; Pembury House, East Sussex; and Spring Platt, Kent. 
• *Other stunning displays can be found at Welford Park, Berkshire; East Lambrook Manor Gardens, Somerset; Chawton House, Hampshire; Blakenham Woodland Garden, Suffolk; Gatton Park, Surrey; Horstead House, Norfolk; Walkern Hall, Hertfordshire. 
• Hedgehog Hall in Leicestershire opens for snowdrops. Visitors are constantly amazed by what they find. Most of the garden is terraced so one can get close and personal to the tiny flowers. 
• For romantics, two snowdrop gardens open on Valentine’s Day – Tuesday 14 February; Elworthy Cottage in Somerset and Lawsbrook in Dorset – by arrangement. 
• A list of all snowdrop gardens is available via www.ngs.org.uk/snowdrops/ from December 9th 
• The festival runs between 1st-28th February; however, a few gardens are open for snowdrops in late January and early March too. 
• Originally launched in 2016 to mark the Year of the English Garden, the National Garden Scheme has been championing the Snowdrop Festival ever since, creating a wonderful taster for the garden visiting year to come 
• The snowdrop gardens attract high visitor numbers. The uncomplicated visitor experience – often accompanied by a warming bowl of soup or hot drinks – fresh air and the beautiful, faithful first signs of spring are a reminder of the changing seasons and the promise of what’s to come 

To find your perfect snowdrop garden visit ngs.org.uk/snowdrops/  (live from December 9^th)  

+ SPECIAL SNOWDROP MUG FUNDRAISER WITH OUR PARTNERS EMMA BRIDGEWATER + We are delighted to be partnering again in 2023 with Emma Bridgewater – the flagship name in the world of ceramics.  Their English-made dinnerware, mugs and more, in a range of instantly recognisable designs, can be found in pride of place on kitchen shelves in the UK and further afield. As part of our partnership Emma Bridgewater are running a series of special promotions for the National Garden Scheme.  From its launch in January to end February, they will donate £5 for every ‘Snowdrops in the Woods’ 1/2 Pint Mug sold and £2 from every small ‘Snowdrops in the Woods’ mug sold in the new eau de nil colourway from their online shop – LAUNCHES MID-JANUARY – in support of our annual Snowdrop Festival. Y