We navigated our way from Bottesford to Easton Walled Gardens (with the help of the trusty falling to bits atlas and some directions from the Gardens Website) without any problems. Apparently using satnav to get there is not a good idea as satnavs try and take you in off the A1 which is not possible!!
We saw several Red Kites on the journey including one perched in a tree- D still hasn't forgiven me for just slowing down rather than stopping as he failed to get a photo!
Much as I love seeing snowdrops in local churchyards and NT gardens I decided this year I would like to go somewhere new to see them en masse and I saw a small article in Sainsbury's magazine on Easton Walled Gardens and their snowdrop week. It appeared ideal as it was only 90 minutes from home (at this stage I had not factored in long stretches of roadworks on the M6 or getting lost!)
Easton Manor has been the home of the Cholmeley family since 1592 and the estate and gardens are still managed by the same family.
In 1951 Easton hall was demolished and some of the remains can be seen in parts of the garden. From this date attempts were made to keep the gardens going by supplying local markets with fruit, vegetables and flowers but gradually the gardens were abandoned and self sown trees, nettles, brambles and ivy took over.
Restoration by the family began in 2001 and since 2004 half a mile of hedging has been planted, 20,000+ bulbs and each year over 60 varieties of sweet pea are grown.
The garden contains a yew walk, meadows, woodland, orchard, vegetable beds, a pickery (a cut flower garden) and a cottage garden. There is an 80 metre mixed border and a white space garden (with symbols reflecting the universe). The Cholmeleys are particularly keen to create habitat for wildlife. On this visit we did not have time to go all round the gardens but just concentrated on the areas where snowdrops were growing. I think it would be well worth a visit in the summer to see the sweet peas and flowers.
As we had had no lunch we went to the tearoom early on. Unfortunately they had stopped serving lunches so had to make do with Coffee and Walnut cake!
The snowdrop displays in the woodland were wonderful.
The River Witham runs through the garden
We walked through another area of woodland with more snowdrops, a carpet of winter aconites, hellebores and the first daffodils of the year I had seen in flower.
There was a very good botanical art exhibition - I did treat myself to an etching of a bee and the sun - some of the paintings of bees were just superb.
I also treated myself to snowdrop and aconite plants, some sweet pea seeds and D bought me a rather lovely handcrafted badger.
We came home via Melton Mowbray and eventually the motorways - this time I didn't miss the M69!! although I did manage to go in the wrong direction along an A road for several miles at one point!!
It was a lovely day out and the church and gardens are highly recommended if you are within easy travelling distance or visiting the area.
*D Photos taken by my son with the Canon SX50HS bridge camera
Rest of photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330
