Six of the best snowdrop walks in Lancashire and Merseyside

Snowdrops are one of the most iconic signs of spring, peeking through frost and snow from January to March to reassure us that new life is on the way. But where are the best places to see them?

In some places, snowdrops crop up in delicate little groups, while in others, they burst forth in sweeping white carpets that are guaranteed to lift your soul.

Are snowdrops native to the UK?

Though you can find them in woods and parks across the UK, snowdrops aren’t native to our shores. It’s thought they were grown as an ornamental garden plant in 1597 and were first recorded in the wild in 1778. The snowdrop’s natural home is in mainland Europe.

Snowdrop folklore

Unusually, snowdrops are associated with both life and death. They symbolise hope and purity, but at the same time are tainted by superstition. It’s said that seeing a single snowdrop foretells impending death, and it should never be brought into the house.

Snowdrops have long been associated with the Christian festival of Candlemas and were often used to decorate churches during this celebration. This is where the snowdrop’s nickname, ‘Candlemas bells’, comes from. The plant is also known as the ‘snow-piercer’ owing to a special adaptation that helps it conquer the winter ground. Snowdrops have a sheath that protects their flower stem as it pushes up through the hard, frosty soil and snow.

The best snowdrop walks in Lancashire and Merseyside

A snowdrop walk is the perfect way to appreciate these delicate flowers. Here are six of the best places to see snowdrops in our region.

A snowdrop covered in dew peeking out of the leaf litter at Brockholes Nature Reserve — Pat Aitchison

Lytham Hall, Lytham

The grounds of Lytham Hall are a classic example of a historic snowdrop plantation, when these flowers were planted as ornamentals in expansive gardens. The Hall’s parkland transforms into a white blanket during February, when the annual snowdrop season is in full spring.

The wonderful sand dunes of Lytham St Anne’s are just a 15-minute drive away from Lytham Hall, so why not make a day of it and explore this fascinating coastal landscape while you are in the area?

Gorse Hill Nature Reserve, Ormskirk

Gorse Hill’s Cabin Wood is a great snowdrop spot and a lovely place for a walk at any time of year. In fact, the whole reserve is teeming with wildlife. The network of woodland, hedgerows, ponds, reedbeds and meadows are home to birds including yellowhammers, sedge warblers and sparrowhawks; butterflies including painted lady, small copper and large skipper; and moth species like the eyed hawkmoth, canary-shouldered thorn and burnished brass.

Pleasington Old Hall Wood, Blackburn

This narrow strip of mixed woodland may be small, but it certainly doesn’t lack in nature. Snowdrops can be seen in winter before making way for bluebells and a locally rare plant called touch-me-not balsam, which can be seen in just one other location in Lancashire. Nuthatches, garden warblers, willow warblers and thrushes are just a handful of the birds that can be seen.

A man walking past clusters of snowdrops growing in a woodland — Katrina Martin/2020VISION

Bank Hall, Bretherton

Impressive carpets of snowdrops brighten up walks through the woodland at Bank Hall. In fact, some people consider it to be one of the best snowdrop spots in the country.

Bank Hall is also just ten minutes away from our Mere Sands Wood nature reserve by car. Pop along after your snowdrop walk for a peaceful wander through a woodland brimming with birdlife. Don’t forget to pop into the lakeside hides – great crested grebes perform their courtship dance at this time of year.

Old names for snowdrops include snow piercer, February fairmaids, Candlemas bells and Eve’s tear

Croxteth Country Park, Liverpool

Beautiful swathes of snowdrops lie all around the 500 acres of parkland that make up Croxteth Country Park. And if that wasn't enough, as spring approaches they will soon be followed by thousands of bluebells and fragrant expanses of wild garlic.

Otterspool Woodland, Liverpool

Snowdrops aren’t the only draw in this 13-hectare woodland – visit well into spring and you’ll also be treated to daffodils and bluebells growing along the accessible trails. It is the perfect spot for a family stroll or even a leisurely bike ride.

Have you seen any snowdrops on your winter walks? We’d love to see them! Share your pictures with us on social media by clicking one of the icons below.