Herts &amp; Beds

<p>Ahh, so glad you like the roundup, Clare, and yes, look out for wild flower meadows &#8211; my fave too! x</p>


<p>Lots of lovely places I didn’t know about &#8211; thank you for this would love a wild flower meadow one later in the year as well !</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://herts.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/01/annie-spratt-yjBl77nwb90-unsplash.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-68473" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/01/annie-spratt-yjBl77nwb90-unsplash.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/01/annie-spratt-yjBl77nwb90-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/01/annie-spratt-yjBl77nwb90-unsplash-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/01/annie-spratt-yjBl77nwb90-unsplash-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Imagine carpets of dewy snowdrops for as far as the eye can see. Lucky for us, Herts &amp; Beds have plenty of parks, gardens and woods where you can spot these botanical beauties. If you’ve thawed out enough to venture outside and see them, here are the best snowdrop hotspots in our ‘hood. If you know a secret spot that we haven&#8217;t mentioned, please let us know in the comments below.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moggerhanger-par-k-bedfordshire"><a href="https://www.greensandcountry.com/event/snowdrops-at-moggerhanger-park/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Moggerhanger Par</a><a href="https://www.moggerhangerpark.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">k</a>, Bedfordshire</h2>



<p>You can explore the Humphry Repton designed landcapes every day of the year (except Christmas day!) &#8211; all 33 acres of Grade II-listed parkland &#8211; but there&#8217;s a special <a href="https://www.greensandcountry.com/event/snowdrops-at-moggerhanger-park/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">snowdrop walk</a> happening on <strong>28 February</strong> (followed by coffee and cake at the Orchard café). The woodland walk takes about 20 minutes and starts just past the woodland playground &#8211; one way to encourage the kids tio join you! Entry and parking is free (although donations towards the ongoing restoration are appreciated) and dogs on leads are welcome, too. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heartwood-forest-near-st-albans"><a href="https://heartwood.woodlandtrust.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Heartwood Forest (opens in a new tab)">Heartwood Forest</a>, near St Albans</h2>



<p>This forest is a great option for all seasons, with excellent bluebells in the spring and a glorious wildflower meadow in the summer. From now though, you’ll be able to stroll through pretty sprinklings of snowdrops. Oh, and an added bonus is that Heartwood has <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://heartwood.woodlandtrust.org.uk/things-to-see-and-do/walking-at-heartwood-forest/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">easy-to-manage walks</a> for even the littlest of legs. Plus you&#8217;ll find three local pubs along the guided routes, in Sandridge, including <a href="http://www.greenmansandridge.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Green Man</a>, plus <a href="https://pottingshedcafe.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Potting Shed Café</a> at Carpenter&#8217;s Nursery is just minutes away for lovely food and local produce. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-king-s-arms-garden-ampthill-nbsp"><a href="https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/10493/kings_arms_garden">King’s Arms Garden</a>, Ampthill&nbsp;</h2>



<p>If you prefer your gardens, neat and petite, take yourself along to the community run <a href="https://www.ampthill-tc.gov.uk/amenities/kings-arm-garden" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">King’s Arm</a>s. Its compact but perfectly formed one-and-a-half acre woodland is blanketed with snowdrops, and is open on 18 February as part of the National Open Gardens Scheme. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://herts.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/01/Benington-Lordship-Richard-Gillin-Flickr.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-68476" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/01/Benington-Lordship-Richard-Gillin-Flickr.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/01/Benington-Lordship-Richard-Gillin-Flickr-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/01/Benington-Lordship-Richard-Gillin-Flickr-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/01/Benington-Lordship-Richard-Gillin-Flickr-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Benington Lordship. Photo: Richard Gillin, Flickr</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-benington-lordship-gardens-benington"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Benington Lordship Gardens (opens in a new tab)" href="http://beningtonlordship.co.uk/snowdrops/" target="_blank">Benington Lordship Gardens</a>, Benington</h2>



<p>It’s impossible to talk snowdrops without naming Benington. Often cited as one of the best snowdrop hotspots in the country, the gardens teem with 200 varieties of the winter buds. It&#8217;s open from 3 &#8211; 25 February with a special <a href="https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/34/benington-lordship" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NGS opening on 6 Feb</a> and a snowdrop sale on 3, 4 and 10 Feb so you can stock up your own patch with the pretty spring blooms. Cream teas and cake will be available, too. Lovely!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-walkern-hall-near-stevenage"><a aria-label="Walkern Hall (opens in a new tab)" href="https://ngs.org.uk/view-garden/29872" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Walkern Hall</a>, near Stevenage  </h2>



<p>This stunning house is in a medieval hunting park, with a veritable winter woodland oasis, where you’ll find snowdrops, aconites, and gardens landscaped to an Anglo-Dutch design. It&#8217;s open with the NGS on <a href="https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/29872/walkern-hall">3 and 4 Feb</a>, then again on 23 and 24 March, when it becomes a sunny sea of yellow daffodils and other spring blooms.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-bishop-of-st-abans-open-garden-st-albans"><a href="https://www.enjoystalbans.com/event/bishop-of-st-albans-open-garden-spring-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Bishop of St Abans’ Open Garden</a>, St Albans </h2>



<p>Get your inspiration from the Bishop&#8217;s own garden, which he&#8217;ll be opening to the public again this year every <strong>Sunday from 18 February – 10 March</strong>, £5 entry and dogs on leads welcome.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-swiss-garden-at-shuttleworth-biggleswade"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Swiss Garden at Shuttleworth (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.shuttleworth.org/explore/swiss-garden/" target="_blank">Swiss Garden at Shuttleworth</a>, Biggleswade</h2>



<p>This gorgeous Regency Victorian garden has plenty to see, including a grotto, fernery, ornate Indian kiosk, secret tunnels and, of course, the Swiss Cottage, making it super fun for littlies to explore too, while you take in the beautiful blooms. You&#8217;ll be guided around serpentine paths, over wrought iron bridges and via various stone carvings to some of the most beautiful views on the estate. Ten points if you spot the pair of strutting peacocks while you&#8217;re there, too! Book your ticket for a full day of family fun and you can also check out the vintage aircraft collection and kids&#8217; play area. Plus if you book in advance you can return for free within 30 days! There&#8217;s the Runway Café for refreshment as well as picnic areas if you bring your own snacks and a Thermos. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-and-finally">And finally&#8230; </h2>



<p>A barely over the border into Enfield is <a aria-label="Myddleton House Gardens (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.visitleevalley.org.uk/gardens-and-heritage/myddelton-house-gardens-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Myddleton House Gardens</a>, part of Lee Valley Regional Park and former home of botanist, E A Bowles. All eight acres of it are packed with rare and unusual plant species and curious artefacts like part of Old London Bridge, and there&#8217;s the Bowles Tea Room where you can grab a cuppa and a cake.</p>


The snowdrops are coming out! Here’s where to see them locally

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