Snowdrop Garden

Jane's interest in snowdrops first started in 1992, when in college she first became aware of the yellow snowdrop Galanthus nivalis sandersii. It was during a trip to buy Hellebores in 2004 at a small
nursery in Devon that she stumbled across a pot of Galanthus nivalis sandersii, these and a subsequent trip to Rode Hall, where upon she acquired Galanthus 'White Swan' where the start of a collection that now extends to 180+ varieties. Jane considers herself to be an enthusiastic collector and continues to add to her collection every year. Jane however has become more selective, with any new cultivar really having to stand out to be included in the collection.

Until fairly recently, there was no history of snowdrops at Abbeywood, Lynda Rowlinson had planted some Snowdrops in the chapel garden and around the main gardens over 10 years ago, but not on masse. David and Jane decided after a visit to Colesbourne Park in 2004, that they would like to try and create their own version. It has been a long slow journey, but 2 areas of the surrounding woodland are starting to be planted up with
Snowdrops. The majority of the bulbs being put in the past 4 years. An area near the barn and opposite the house now contains groups off amongst others Galanthus 'S. Arnott', 'Cedric's Prolific','Ophelia' and Galanthus nivalis 'Flore Pleno'. Beds have been created where Galanthus elwesii bulbs have been planted individually to see the difference in each flower.

The woodland to the south of Jane's garden has also started to be planted with Galanthus nivalis. During 2011 in the region of 40,000 snowdrop bulbs have been planted at Abbeywood, by David and Jane. I hope you will come and visit us next February to see how we are progressing, and then follow our story over the coming years.