Rode Hall celebrates decade of Snowdrop walks (From Crewe Guardian)

Rode Hall celebrates decade of Snowdrop walks

3:30pm Friday 3rd February 2012 in News By Katie Durose

RODE HALL is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its popular Snowdrop walks, to launch the start of the new season.

The grounds of the Georgian country house, in Scholar Green, boasts one of the largest collections of snowdrops in the UK and is now open to visitors until March 11.

The estate has belonged to the Wilbraham family since 1669. The gates opened for the first time in 2002 attracting thousands of visitors each year, from photographers and gardening clubs, to green-fingered amateurs and families.

The snowdrops were first brought to Rode by Sibella Egerton from her home in Gresford on the Welsh Borders when she married Randle Wilbraham in 1833.

Since then the snowdrops have multiplied and every part of the garden is clothed in drifts of the original Galanthus nivalis, the well-loved common snowdrop, as well as 50 other varieties of the flower.

This year, a number of rare varieties will be on display in the gardens, including the giant Comet and the yellow Cheshire Snowdrop.

Sir Richard Baker Wilbraham, owner of Rode Hall, said: “The gardens have year-round beauty, but my favourite time of the year is from late January through to mid-March because of snowdrops that cheer the soul and promise that spring is on its way.”

Snowdrop walks are about a mile long and are open for visitors everyday, except Mondays, between noon and 4pm. anyone who visits will have the chance to enter into a prize draw to win a 10th anniversary hamper, which includes home-made produce and snowdrop bulbs.

Admission costs £4 for adults, £3 for senior citizens and £1 for children over the age of four.

RHS and HHA members enter for free.

Dogs on leads are welcome.