Snowdrop and spring flower gardens 2027

The National Garden Scheme kicks off its 100 years of opening great gardens for good causes in 2027 with some wonderful snowdrop and spring flower gardens in January, February and March. From the exquisite cottage garden collections of snowdrops at East Lambrook Manor in Somerset (opens 15 January) and Elworthy Cottage in Somerset (opens 30 January) to galanthophile heaven at Spring Platt in Kent (opens 29 January) and Higher Cherubeer in Devon (opens 5 February) – many accompanied by homemade refreshments and plant sales – there are plenty of reasons to wrap up warm and get out into a garden.

Enjoy a wonderful early wellbeing boost with the National Garden Scheme

Spending time in a garden after the dark days of winter has been proven to significantly improve wellbeing*. Visitors feel more relaxed, happy and excited in the gardens, and less stressed, sad and bored and, not surprisingly, the more time visitors spend in winter gardens, the higher their wellbeing.

With hundreds of gardens set to open from January to March 2027 the National Garden Scheme is well placed to offer that wonderful early wellbeing boost. Stunning snowdrop gardens and others bejewelled with spring flowers will open their gates offering galanthophiles, curious horticulturalists, plant hunters and those looking for garden inspiration the perfect opportunity to enjoy drifts of delicate snowdrops and delightful dolly mixtures colours of crocuses, iris, hellebores and more. With warming refreshments and the chance to buy plants these open days are the perfect start to the garden visiting season.

Commenting National Garden Scheme Chief Executive, Dr Richard Claxton says:

“Getting out into a garden or green space in the winter is a fabulous way to boost depleted energy levels. Not only does being outside help reduce stress levels and blood pressure but it’s also when your vitamin D is at its lowest making winter sunshine hugely beneficial. Whatever the weather, wrapping up warm and enjoying the first delicate signs of spring, and enjoying them with others, is a real tonic after the long dark days of winter.”

Private snowdrop garden favourites include:

Algars Mill, Gloucestershire Sunday 21 February
Bucklow Farm, Cheshire on Sunday 28 February
Copton Ash, Kent on Sunday 14 February and Sunday 28 March
The Dower House, Derbyshire on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 February
The Down House, Hampshire Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 February
Hedgehog Hall, Leicestershire on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 February
High Cherubeer, Devon on Friday 5, Saturday 20 February
Horkesley Hall, Essex visits by arrangement February-June
Hoveton House, Norfolk Sunday 14 February
Knowle Hill Farm, Kent on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 February
Little Ash Bungalow, Devon on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 11 February
Little Court, Hampshire Sunday 7, Sunday 14, Monday 15, Sunday 21 and Monday 22 February

NEW for 2027: Mistletoe Place, Dorset Sunday 7 and 14 February
This one third of an acre country garden has been developed over the last 20 years. It is home to an ever increasing collection of over 150 snowdrop varieties who flourish in a number of its garden rooms, including in the Japanese woodland, fernery and cottage garden. Snowdrop tours will be offered, as will small mirrors for those who like peer under the blooms, alongside snowdrops for sale!

The Old Rectory, Fawkham Visits by arrangement in Feb for groups of up to 20. Small numbers welcome but may be combined to make up a larger group
Pembury House, Sussex Every Thursday and Friday 4 to 26 February
Shieling, Surrey Sunday 21 Feb
Spring Platt, Kent on Friday 29, Saturday 30 January, and Wednesday 3, Thursday 4 February
Trench Hill, Gloucestershire Sunday 7, Sunday 14 February; Sunday 28, Monday 29 March
Westcroft, Wiltshire on Friday 1 January and every Thursday January 7 to March 11; plus Saturday 16, Saturday 30 and Sunday 21 Jan, and Saturday 6, Sunday 7 and Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 February

Public gardens with National Garden Scheme snowdrop days include:

Blakenham Woodland Garden, Suffolk on Sunday 14 Feb and Sunday 18 April
Benington Lordship, Hertfordshire which opens for the National Garden Scheme on Sunday 14 March
Gatton Park, Surrey on Sunday 14 Feb
Welford Park, Berkshire on Wednesday 3 Feb

All National Garden Scheme openings in 2027 go live in mid-December

*REPORT: The wellbeing benefits of visiting National Garden Scheme gardens in winter.
Author: Dr Emma White, Environmental Psychologist Final-Report-2024.pdf

To pre-order your Garden Visitors Handbook today and prepare to plan for a wonderful garden visiting year in 2027 click here