About

With more than 350 different varieties of snowdrops as well as stunning landscaped gardens and an arboretum, Colesbourne Gardens are a little-known treat for garden lovers.

Home to one of the great Victorian plant hunters, Henry John Elwes travelled the world finding new cultivars and developed a particular love for the big snowdrop species – now named after him, Galanthus elwesii, which he discoverd in Turkey in 1874.

Your tour allows you to celebrate the first signs of spring with Henry John’s great-grandson, Sir Henry Elwes and Lady Elwe. This incredibly personal opportunity will take you into the arboretum of 300 unusual and interesting trees from around the world. It includes 15 UK champion trees and 35 Gloucestershire champions recorded by the Tree Register of the UK.

Described as ‘England’s greatest snowdrop garden’ by Country Life magazine, this intimate and personal experience ends with lunch or refreshments and the chance to hear more about this beautiful spring flower from the owners and expert plantsmen.

Price includes either homemade cake with tea/coffee or a light lunch in the nearby Colesbourne Inn.

Other snowdrop gardens in the area include Painswick Rococo Garden and Rodmarton Manor.

Snowdrops begin flowering in late January and are at their best in February and are they’re joined by other spring flowers, Helebore adn Crcucs for example.

 

Booking

Price: £45 per person including refreshments or lunch.

Duration: 1.5 - 2 hours. Shorter experiences are available, please contact for details.

Capacity: Minimum of 15 people and maximum of 50 people. Smaller groups can sometimes be amalgamated with others to reach economic numbers.

Opening: February.

Booking: Advance booking essential. To book please contact the trade contact below.

 

Facilities

Language: Guests will need an intermediate level of English to fully appreciate the experience.

Parking: Parking for 4 coaches and 500 cars.

Accessibility: Undulating terrain in private garden not very convenient for wheelchairs. Gentle inclines walking on grass or gravel.

Special requirements: Good shoes essential, allow boots and waterproof clothing in bad weather.

Weather: The timing of snowdrop tours in February can cause problems and alternative arrangements such as a short film (20 minutes) or a longer talk on snowdrops can be provided if snow is on the ground, provided that access for vehicles is still possible, if not then cancellation is the only option.

 

Trade contact