Many people will have heard of Welford Park because of its link as a venue to one of my favourite TV programmes, The Great British Bake Off. Privately owned Welford Park is only open to the public for a few short weeks each year while the snowdrops are in bloom, but how lucky we are that the owners open the gates to their grounds and share them with the rest of the world.
Last year a friend and I visited on what proved to be a very wet day indeed, but it didn’t dampen our spirits, nor those of the other visitors. (Unless there has been a particularly dry spell, I would recommend taking wellies or something similar to change into.)
There is a decent, hard-standing carpark (and a nice man to guide you to ensure everyone parks tidily). Then it is a short walk along a bark track to the booth where you pay your entrance fee and collect a map to guide you round. Dogs on leads are welcome too.
Naturally we started with coffee in the tea room – once the laundry. A lovely team made us very welcome and served us filter coffee and very good homemade cake. More substantial snacks and light lunches (baked spuds, soup, sandwiches and hot daily specials) are served too.
There is only a small handful of tables in the Old Laundry Tearoom, but a much larger offering in the marquee on the lawn where dogs are also welcome.
You can stroll at leisure around the grounds admiring the snowdrops, spending as much time as you wish, and there are occasional seats if you want to shelter or just sit and gaze at the snowy drifts. The first glimpse through the trees in the Snowdrop Woods where the snowdrops look like, well, snow, is absolutely breathtaking. And when you get closer, I defy you not to stand and stare and drink in the view!
Welford Park has an annual plant fair during snowdrop season– which last year happened to coincide with my visit, and I’ve been very pleased with my baby irises. In 2016 the plant fair is on Thursday 25 February, and stallholders make a donation to Macmillan Cancer Support, so a brilliant opportunity to get great plants and advice from the experts – and all in a good cause.
There is a small giftshop, which amongst other things sells Welford sausages from their own farm. (The husband was very pleased when I took some home and we both thoroughly recommend them.)
This year Welford Park is open to visitors Wednesday to Sunday 3 February to 6 March, 11am to 4pm (closed Mondays and Tuesdays). Do go. It’s wonderful.
More details at http://www.welfordpark.co.uk/
Photo: The Snowdrop Woods, Welford Park, Berkshire
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