Norwood Park, Southwell, and Church Farm, West Drayton open their snowdrop displays to the public for the National Garden Scheme

Spring is in the air and this weekend two open gardens will give visitors the chance to see snowdrops and spring flowers.

The gardens at Southwell and West Drayton are both open on Sunday through the National Garden Scheme, which raises money for nursing and health charities.

“After the long, dark winter months, the appearance of these beautiful early spring flowers really lifts the spirits and heralds the start of all the wonderful gardens to come,” says National Garden Scheme chief executive, George Plumptre.

“Year on year more and more people discover the joys of these late winter / early spring garden visits, many of which are accompanied by tea and cake or a warming bowl of soup. Our expert garden owners are also on hand to share their top tips of how to grow snowdrops with many selling a good selection of varieties too.”

The grounds of Norwood Park, on Halam Road, Southwell, is open from 11am to 4pm.

The grounds from medieval times when they were a series of deer parks. A new garden on the south front of the 18th Century house was created in 2021 to showcase plants for all seasons. To the west, a lime avenue lined with snowdrops and daffodils creates a spectacular scene and leads on to Mrs Delaney’s path, to the ornamental temple.

There is wheelchair access, it is dog friendly, and there will be plants and refreshments for sale.

Also on Sunday, Church Farm, on Church Lane, West Drayton, is open from 10.30am to 4pm.

It is a spring garden with woodland area carpeted with snowdrops, aconites, and cyclamen, which have seeded into the adjoining churchyard. Around 180 named snowdrops flourish in island beds, along with hellebores and daffodils.