FEBRUARY 2010

1-15 Monday to Monday
Scottish Snowdrop Festival with 51 gardens taking part – from majestic castles and classic country estates to woodland walks, walled gardens and urban retreats. Gardens include Dunrobin Castle Garden in the Highlands, Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh and Dryburgh Abbey in the Scottish Borders.
•Information: Visit www.visitscotland.com/whiteinvite for all participating gardens, open times and admission prices.

1 Monday
The North of England Rosecarpe Horticultural Society’s Historic Gardens of the North East talk by John Grundy at Gateshead Council Civic Centre, Regent Street, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear NE8 1HH. From 7pm. Admission 25p for members and a donation from non-members.
•Information: Call 0191 413 8026.

4 Thursday
Guided winter walk at Pensthorpe, Fakenham Road, Fakenham, Norfolk NR21 0LN with head gardener Imogen Checketts and warden Edward Bramham-Jones. Identify the season’s flora, fauna and visiting waterfowl. From 8.30am to 10.30am. Admission £3 plus normal admission fee of £10.50 adults, £7 children.
•Information: Call 01328 851465 or visit www.pensthorpe.com

6 and 7 Saturday and Sunday
Hellebore Open Days at Harvey Garden Plants Nursery, Great Green, Thurston, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP31 3SJ. From 9.30am to 4.30pm both days. Free entry.
•Information: Call 01359 233363.
Snowdrop Weekend at Waterperry Gardens, Waterperry, Oxford OX33 1JZ. Guided tours of the gardens at 11am and 2pm each day and advice on establishing native snowdrop species in your own garden. Open from 9am to 5pm. Admission £3.85.
•Information: Call 01844 339254.

6-28 Saturday to Sunday
Snowdrops at Benington Lordship Gardens, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG2 7BS. Run in conjunction with the RHS.  See the carpets of snowdrops around the remains of the Norman Castle and surrounding moat. Open noon to 4pm daily. Admission £4 adults (£4.50 on Sundays), £2 for under 16s, under 12s free. Free entry for RHS members from  6th to 12th.
•Information: Call 08701 261709 or visit www.beningtonlordship.co.uk

6 Saturday to Sunday March 7
Tropical Extravaganza at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB. See tropical foliage in the Princess of Wales Conservatory and tunnels dripping with orchids and bromeliads that lead to the glasshouse’s central pond with an island made up of orchids and tropical plants. Open from 9.30am to 5.30pm. Admission £13.
•Information: Call 0208 332 5655 or email info@kew.org

7 Sunday
Snowdrops: A wander and a talk at Mottisfont Abbey Garden, near Romsey, Hampshire SO51 0LP. Hear the stories behind the flower, and discover the techniques used by the gardeners to create spectacular displays. From 11.30am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 3.30pm. Admission £3.50
•Information: Call 01794 344020 to book.

9 Tuesday
The Secret of Keeping Healthy Flowering Orchids at Torberry Farm, South Harting, Petersfield, Hampshire GU31 5RG. Nursery manager Jim Durran with everything you ever wanted to know about looking after orchids. From 10.30am. Admission £10.
•Information: Call 01730 826900.
The Making of a Winter Garden at Dunham Massey, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 4SJ. Join the head gardener for a talk and slide show on the creation of Britain’s largest winter garden, followed by a tour and lunch. Starts at 10.30am. Admission £25, booking essential.
•Information: Call 0161 941 1025.

14 Sunday
The Romantic Garden at The Courts Garden, near Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire BA14 6RR. Stroll around this beautiful garden and enjoy the romantic poetry located at picturesque rest spots. From 11am to 5pm. Admission £6.
Information: Call 01225 782875.
Clematis Pruning at RHS Garden Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB. An overview of the pruning requirements and the correct pruning methods of early, mid and late-season clematis. From 10.30am to 12.30pm. Admission is £21.50 (£13 RHS members).
•Information: Call 0845 612253 to book.
Fyne Court’s Snowdrop Walk at Holnicote Estate, West Somerset, west of Minehead and within Exmoor National Park. Hear stories, beliefs and superstitions about this fascinating flower. Walk led by folklorist Brian Wright. From 2.30pm to 4.30pm. Admission £5 adults, £3 children.
•Information: Call 01643 862452 to book.
Valentine Tree Planting at Attingham Park, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 4TP. Show your loved one you care with a living gift that will grow year on year. From 10am to 4pm. Admission £3.80 plus £8 per tree.
Information: Call 01743 708162.  

  
15-19 Monday to Friday   
Gardening workshops for children at Wyevale Bicester Garden Centre, Bicester Avenue, Oxford Road, Bicester OX25 2NY. Informative sessions for children on how to grow vegetables and flowers, and the creepy crawlies that can be found in the garden. Workshops at 10am-11am, 11.30am to 12.30pm. Each session costs £4.50 per child.
•Information: Call 01869 242248 or visit www.bicestergardencentre.co.uk

16 and 17 Tuesday and Wednesday
RHS Plant and Design Show at RHS Horticultural Halls, Westminster, London SW1. Two days themed around urban gardening to inspire Londoners to green up their outside space, whether it’s a balcony or a small garden. It will feature a street of front gardens designed to show how an often neglected space can be redesigned to suit a range of lifestyles.  Open 11am to 7pm Tuesday and 10am to 5pm Wednesday. Admission £5 Tuesday and £3 Wednesday (RHS members free).
•Information: Call 0845 612 1253 or visit www.rhs.org.uk/londonshows

17 Wednesday
The Temptations of Using Archaeology in Historic Gardens at the RHS Halls and Conference Centre, Greycoat Street, London SW1P 2QD. Lecture starts at 6.30pm. Admission £12.50 for RHS members in advance and £15 for non-members and on the door.
•Information: Call 0207 608 2409 or visit www.gardenhistorysociety.org

20 and 21 Saturday and Sunday
Snowdrop Specials at Belton House, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG32 2LS. From noon to 4pm. Admission £3.50 adults, £2 child.
•Information: Call 01476 566116.
Seed Weekend at Waddesdon Plant Centre, Waddeson Manor, Waddeson, Near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP18 0JH. Plan your spring sowings and choose from a wide range of seeds. Swap your own varieties with other keen gardeners. From 10.30am to 4.30pm both days. Entry free (normal admission fees apply to Waddeson Manor).
•Information: Call 01296 653226 or visit www.waddesdon.org.uk

21 Sunday 
Snowdrop Day at Gable House, Hailsham Road, Redisham, Beccles, Suffolk NR34 8NE. From 11am to 4pm. Admission £3. Refreshments.
•Information: Call 01502 575298.

27 and 28 Saturday and Sunday
Hellebore Weekend at Broadview Gardens, Hadlow College, Tonbridge Road, Hadlow, Kent TN11 0AL. Open 9am to 5pm Saturday and 10am to 4pm Sunday. Entry free but it costs £3 to join tours at 11am or 2pm.
•Information: Call 01732 853211.

28 Sunday
Fanfare for Spring at Renishaw Hall, Renishaw, near Sheffield S21 3WB. Explore this fabulous garden and woodlands in early spring. Five specialist nurseries will be selling spring flowering plants including rare snowdrops. Open from 11am till 3pm. Admission is £3.50.
•Information: Call 01246 432310.

Liveforgardening.com has tried to ensure that all information is correct, but we recommend that you confirm details for any event before travelling.