Ideal time for a walk at Blickling Hall

Take a walk around the garden at Blickling Hall this January with Stephen Hagon, Assistant Head Gardener and experience the lovely scented plants and shrubs of winter.

Take a walk around the garden at Blickling Hall this January with Stephen Hagon, Assistant Head Gardener and experience the lovely scented plants and shrubs of winter.

January is a wonderful time to stroll the miles of garden paths and see the shapes and structure of the fabulous topiary. Discover the early snowdrops, mahonias, hellebores, winter honeysuckle, primroses and daphnes and learn more about what the gardening team are up to during the winter season.

The gardening team at Blickling are extremely busy at this time of year, as Stephen explains; 'You can imagine just how much work we have to put in, to get the 50 acres of garden here looking as good as they do. We are currently mulching the herbaceous borders, collecting fallen leaves to make leaf mould, maintaining the lawns and finishing off our winter pruning'.

2009 will see a number of new projects get underway in the gardens at Blickling, including the completion of two new double borders and a new planting scheme in the Orangery Garden which is part of Blickling's 'Wilderness Project'. This project will see major replanting of parts of the estate that were devastated by the 1987 gales.

Stephen explains more about these projects as part of the walk; 'It's great to be able to tell our visitors about our plans and what we hope to achieve this year, visitors can then come back time and again and watch the garden transform during the year'.

So, come and experience nature's artistry in all its glory - A Winter's Trail takes place on Sunday 25 January at 11am and get tips and advice along the way. Finish your walk in the warmth of the restaurant with a soup lunch and pudding, which is included in the price. �14 per person, please book your place by calling 0844 800 4308. Don't forget your wellies!