Rob Jacobs is a little sheepish when I ask how many different snowdrops there are at Waterperry Gardens. His true passion for these tiny white flowers is something he downplays to colleagues.
“I deliberately forget how many we have,” he admits. “People think we’ve got about 60 to 70 but we’ve got more like 80 to 100.”
It’s a collection the horticultural manager’s been quietly expanding since the 1990s and one that the eight-acre garden near Oxford now makes full use of: what started as one ‘Snowdrop Weekend’ quickly became two and this year has been renamed ‘Snowdrop Season’ with guided tours that are popular with winter visitors.
“Businesswise it’s a good thing to do because it brings people in but personally I find it great fun,” he says with a smile.
Originally there were only six standards in the garden the common single and double snowdrop, ‘Atkinsii’, ‘Magnet’, ‘Hill Poe’ and ‘Viridipice’.
It was visitors to the garden and local ‘snowdrop teas’ that sparked Rob’s interest in snowdrops – and started him collecting.
“Every now and then you meet likeminded people, generous people and they just come along and help you build up a collection once you show an interest.
“Most of our collection’s been donated to us by really kind people.”
Today, it covers the full range of snowdrops from the big-flowered varieties, such as ‘Mighty Atom’ and ‘Bertram Anderson’, to the yellows, including ‘Primrose Warburg’ and ‘Wendy’s Gold’.
One of Rob’s favourites is the curious ‘Lady Elphinstone’, which can change appearance from season to season.
Denne historien er fra January 2020-utgaven av Cotswold Life.
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Denne historien er fra January 2020-utgaven av Cotswold Life.
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Gloucestershire After The War
Discovering the county’s Arts and Crafts memorials of the First World War
THE WILD SIDE OF Moreton-in-Marsh
The days are getting shorter but there’s plenty of reasons to be cheerful, says Sue Bradley, who discovers how a Cotswolds town is becoming more wildlife-friendly and pots up some bulbs for an insect-friendly spring display
Mr Ashbee would approve
In the true spirit of the Arts & Crafts Movement, creativity has kept the Chipping Campden community ticking over during lockdown
The Cotswolds at war
These might be peaceful hills and vales, but our contribution to the war effort was considerable
Trust in good, local food
‘I’ve been following The Country Food Trust’s activities with admiration since it was founded’
Why Cath is an open book
Cath Kidston has opened up almost every nook and cranny of her Cotswold idyll in a new book, A Place Called Home. Katie Jarvis spoke to Cath ahead of her appearance at this year’s Stroud Book Festival STROUD BOOK FESTIVAL – THIS YEAR FREE AND ONLINE: NOVEMBER 4-8
From the Cotswolds to the world
Most people know that the Cotswolds have featured in a fair few Hollywood movies and TV series.
The Wild Hunt
In search of the legendary King Herla in the Malvern Hills
Fighting spirit amid the flowers
Tracy Spiers visits Warwick, a beautiful town that is open for business and ready to welcome visitors
Final journey
Cheltenham author and volunteer on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR), Nicolas Wheatley, recounts the fascinating story of funeral trains
