Spring’s on the way! 1 millionth snowdrop planted by visitors at the National Trust’s Wallington estate, completing 10-year project
- Published:
- 03 March 2025
Every February half-term for the last nine years, visitors and families have helped to plant hundreds of thousands of snowdrops at the National Trust’s Wallington in Northumberland. On Sunday 2 March, visitors put on their gardening gloves one more time to help plant the final 100,000 snowdrops – bringing the total snowdrops planted to 1 million.
Many families and groups of friends have returned year on year to participate in this event, which has become a tradition for many. The impact of planting 100,000 snowdrops each year has made for a wonderful ‘wow’ moment in the woodlands and is an uplifting sign that spring is just around the corner, often a much-needed reminder after a Northumbrian winter.
Wallington is now a destination for snowdrop spotting, with the welcome bloom now carpeting the woodlands. The display includes some special varieties, including the Northumbrian Sandersii Group, which has sulphur-yellow markings instead of green, and the pretty ‘Flore Pleno’ with double the usual number of petals.
Simon Thompson, Wallington Head Gardener, said: “To spend the last 10 years planting snowdrops every year at Wallington has been a joy and a privilege. It’s been fascinating to slowly watch our spring landscape change and flourish year after year. It’s also fabulous to reflect on the thousands of visitors that have helped us plant this spring spectacle. It shows what we are capable of if we work together.”
As well as taking part in the planting, visitors were able to craft snowdrop crowns and join a celebratory snowdrop parade led by the Northumbrian Pipers.
Wallington's next spring highlight is already on the way: more than 100,000 purple crocuses are beginning to open in the Walled Garden. Gardeners will be running walks and talks while the crocuses are in bloom.