Saturday 26th February turned out to be a glorious sunny day, ideal for our Oasis group visit to stroll through the snowdrops at Hindringham Hall gardens.
The gardens were open as part of the National Garden Scheme snowdrop festival with funds raised going to the local church.
At around 11:30 we all met at a temporary outside seating area just outside the tearoom which had been set up by volunteers selling homemade scones, cakes, sausage rolls and soup. We all made the best of the limited refreshments including some not so hot vegetable soup and everything washed down with teas and coffees.
Sitting outside in warming sunshine in the month of February was a rare treat, looking upwards the sky was a clear blue with just a red kite above us keeping an eye on things, later a bright yellow biplane flew overhead, a spectacle that seemed to perfectly fit the rustic countryside setting.
Once refreshed we set off following a map provided on entry, a map wasn’t needed to find our way around which was basically following the perimeter of the moat but it did give useful information on each area walked through. The walled vegetable garden was pretty much empty as expected this time of year, next were ginkgo trees and greenhouses before we came to the dell where the entire ground was filled with snowdrops. Visible from the dell were fishponds apparently dug out during medieval times, very picturesque but we decided to stay on firm ground and not get any closer. Further round was a large daffodil area, not long before these would be out in flower, a little bit further was a bog garden complete with a board walk, not too much of interest there right now but I guess spring time will bring out lots of life and small beasties. Next to the bog garden you could see a fast-flowing stream, seemed strange to come across water like this in Norfolk but according to the map it is the River Stiffkey. We eventually came to the main bridge across the moat leading to the Tudor Hall, an impressive building.
The Hall was not open to visitors today so all we could do was explore the rear of the building and locate the WC, very welcome after too much tea and a chilly breeze which had just blown up.
Once we’d seen enough it was back to the tearoom, inside the building this time sheltered from the chilly breeze, more teas, coffees and chat, a lovely way to round off a very enjoyable day out.☕️☕️☕️
Now to find another garden to visit in March, time for daffodils maybe🌞
Theresa x
oasis norfolk 