Drifts of a favourite winter flower are set to spread in the coming years at a conservation site in Warwickshire, thanks to a generous donation which will fund hundreds of snowdrop bulbs.  

Gardeners at Baddesley Clinton, which is cared for by the National Trust, are starting to plant a snowdrop wood in the historic garden, near Solihull, this winter.  

With thanks to the Southeast Staffordshire National Trust Association, staff and volunteers are embarking on a 10-year project to create carpets of the native winter flower in the woodland area of the garden.     

Lucy Simpson, Senior Gardener at Baddesley Clinton said: “From the first glimpse of dainty white blooms emerging from the ground to magnificent drifts that carpet the landscape, snowdrops brighten the winter months and signal that spring days are on the horizon.” 

“Over the last eight years, my amazing team have cleared nettles and brambles from the woodland area in the garden and we’re now seeing the fruits of our labour, with pockets of native wildflowers blooming. The generous contribution from our local National Trust supporter group is invaluable as the snowdrops will not only enhance the beauty of the gardens but also have the potential to spread and multiply over the years, leaving a lasting impact for generations to come.”  

This year, visitors are encouraged to take a short stroll to Baddesley’s neighbouring church for a stunning display of these iconic winter flowers. See the snowdrops at their best throughout February. 

With more than 2,500 varieties of snowdrop, its Greek name ‘Galanthus’ translates to ‘milk flower’. These dainty but sturdy flowers are also incredibly clever as they contain a natural antifreeze.  

When temperatures reach 10ᵒC and above, the outer petals open-up revealing the nectar inside. When the temperature drops, the petals close. This is perfect for bumblebees, which come out of hibernation when the temperature rises above 10ᵒC and rely on these early flowers as a vital nectar source.