25th February 2023

Kennet Valley Group - Welford Park Snowdrop Walks

Kennet Valley Group mid monthly for 25th February 2023 is another visit to Welford Park for those that missed it last year, it is renowned for beautiful displays of snowdrops.

Snowdrops are nearly always found in abbey ruins and graveyards and were planted by Norman monks as a symbol of purity and the cleansing of the earth after winter. Some of the greatest snowdrop displays in England were all originally monastic sites i.e. Walsingham Abbey, Hodsock Priory, Anglesey Abbey and Welford Park.

Welford Park think the snowdrops here were planted by the Norman monks to decorate their Church for the feast of Candlemas, and also for medicinal use. The monks harvested snowdrops and used to rub them on the temple of people suffering from "mal au tete". Close to the snowdrop woods they have also found wild aconitum, Petasites and Mistletoe all of which have strong healing properties, each year Welford Park make donations to West Berkshire charities.

The entrance fee is for Adults £12, Concessions £10 (students and over 65s), Pair of concessions £18 (only 1 ticket will be issued for the 2 people entering). Admission from 10:30, park gates open at 11:00, purchase tickets here https://www.welfordpark.co.uk/services-3 there are coffee, tea and cakes for sale if you don’t want to go on for a lunch.

We then are arranging a pub lunch at 13:30 at the Five Bells, Wickham, Baydon Road Wickham West Berkshire RG20 8HH, please go to http://fivebellswickham.co.uk/ to check out the menus.