Snowdrops at Hever Castle in Kent © Hever Castle & Gardens
Hever Castle & Gardens invites visitors to celebrate the start of spring with the return of its highly anticipated Snowdrop Walk, showcasing around 150,000 snowdrop bulbs across the estate, once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn.
Starting on 12 February 2025, this enchanting time of year offers nature lovers a chance to witness the stunning display of delicate white blooms.
In addition to enjoying the snowdrops’ visual beauty, visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the fascinating history of the Galanthus plant. Although snowdrops are often thought to have been brought to Britain by the Normans, they were first cultivated in England during Tudor times and officially recorded in 1598, under the reign of Anne Boleyn’s daughter, Queen Elizabeth I.
Snowdrops have long been associated with religious traditions, commonly grown in churchyards to coincide with Candlemas Day on 2nd February. They also possess medicinal properties, and they are used to alleviate headaches by rubbing the bulb on the temples. These delicate flowers herald the final days of winter and bring the promise of spring, which will arrive in March.
The Snowdrop Walk takes visitors on a self-guided tour through some of the estate’s most beautiful areas, including the Outer Moat, Winter Gardens, Sunday Walk, and Church Gill. Along the way, visitors will experience breathtaking views of frosted topiary, Early Sensation daffodils and a vibrant array of winter plants, including flame-coloured dogwoods, hellebores and heathers.
For the adventurous, a walk around the 38-acre lake is recommended. Visitors are encouraged to dress warmly and enjoy the season’s beauty on this scenic snowdrop trail.
Hever Castle’s Head Gardener, Neil Miller, shares his enthusiasm for the annual event:
“We have been planting and collecting different snowdrops at Hever for over a decade, and we now have some unusual cultivars in the Winter Garden, such as ‘Green Brush,’ ‘Colossus,’ and ‘Wendy’s Gold.’ Tens of thousands of the more common varieties are planted in drifts throughout the garden and woodland.”
At the Outer Moat, thousands of Galanthus nivalis bloom under the watchful eye of Hever’s resident swans, while on Sunday Walk, visitors will find a range of snowdrop varieties leading to Church Gill, where rare cultivars have been planted in a developing section of the garden.
Don’t miss this year’s Snowdrop Walk at Hever Castle, a serene and inspiring experience to welcome the new season.
