Snowdrops are often one of the first flowers that bloom in the early spring. They’re a sign that winter is nearly over and spring is on its way. Here’s my guide to Welford Park, in Berkshire – the best place to see snowdrops in February.
Where is Welford Park?
Welford Park is in Berkshire, in the South East of England. It’s near to the town of Newbury. You’ll need a car to get to Welford Park as public transport would be very limited. But Welford Park is just off the M4 motorway – only about a 5 minute drive from the motorway junction. It’s well signposted from the road as well. The convenience of the location, next to a motorway, definitely helps Welford Park be the best place to see snowdrops in February.
Why is Welford Park the best place to see snowdrops in February?
The woods in the grounds of Welford Park are just full of snowdrops. That’s why, for me, it’s the best place to see snowdrops in February.
As well as being easy to drive to, Welford Park is easy to walk around as well. The paths are well signposted, and it doesn’t take long at all to get to some of the most impressive parts of the grounds where the snowdrops are at their best. Welford Park is quite accessible for people with mobility issues or even people in wheelchairs or people with pushchairs, as the paths are well maintained. This means it’s a great half-day out for people of all ages. I spent about 1.5 hours at Welford Park, just taking it slowly and taking lots of photos.
Top snowdrop photo spots at Welford Park
As soon as you walk into Welford Park, you’ll start to see snowdrops on the sides of the path. I stopped to take some photos here, as I didn’t know what else I was going to find so wanted to make sure I took some good photos while I had the chance! I needn’t have worried though – there were so many more photo spots further down the paths.
There’s a small river that runs through the grounds of Welford Park. This means that you’ll be able to get some photos of the snowdrops on the edge of the river bank.
But for me, the highlight of my visit was the Beech woods. It’s only about a 10-15 minute walk from the entrance. And when you get there, the views of the snowdrops are just overwhelming.
There are wooden barriers to stop people walking amongst the snowdrops to protect them. This means that you can get amazing photos of the snowdrops without other people in the way.
The snowdrops often grow right up close to the barriers as well. This means you can also get beautiful close-up photos of the flowers, without needing to step over the barriers.
I spent about half an hour walking around the perimeter of the woods, just taking photos from different angles. I really had to drag myself away – it was just so beautiful!
Other things to do at Welford Park
As well as being the best place to see snowdrops in February, there are a few more things to do at Welford Park as well. The manor house is nice, and you can get a nice view of the outside of the manor house towards the end of your visit as you walk towards the exit. For people who enjoy the UK TV show ‘The Great British Bake Off’, this view might look familiar to you. This is where they film the show, in a marquee in the grounds here. So next time you watch the TV show, you’ll be able to spot where you were!
There are other spring flowers at Welford Park as well, including yellow crocuses and blossom starting to appear on some of the trees.
Welford Park has a tea tent next to the house, where you can stop for a cup of tea, cake or a light lunch. There’s also a small gift shop and toilets in this area.
Welford Park really is a beautiful place to visit, and for me it’s the best place to see snowdrops in February.
When is it convenient to view the snowdrops.