First open garden of the year takes place in early February and promises to be a treat for garden lovers.

Springhead’s beautiful gardens lie at the foot of north Dorset’s spectacular downland and benefit from imposing views across the Blackmore Vale. Their renovation has been a labour of love, begun by the painter Harold Squire in 1926 and finally finished in 2017 by Rosalind Richards, whose parents Rolf and Marabel Gardiner extensively renovated the gardens after they bought the property in 1933.

Now a registered charity, the Springhead Trust works to look after the historic buildings on the estate and keep its gardens maintained. The charity’s mission is to encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to experience and value the rural environment, and to learn about the sustainable use of natural resources. It also works to conserve the buildings and gardens as a special place for education, enjoyment of the arts, music and rural culture.

As well as having the chance to wander around the formal and informal lakeside gardens and enjoy the beautiful drifts of snowdrops, visitors will also be able to see some of the named snowdrop varieties held at Springhead.
The gardens will be open from Monday to Sunday 6-12 February from 11am to 3pm. In addition, the gardens will be open on Saturday 18 February from 1-4.30pm as part of Shaftesbury’s annual snowdrop celebrations. These times are, of course, weather dependent.

Light refreshments will be available throughout the day on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 February provided by, and in aid of, St Andrew’s Primary School, Fontmell Magna.
Entry to the gardens will be free but donations would be appreciated. Dogs on leads are welcome and there is assisted wheelchair access.
For more information email info@springheadtrust.org.uk or call 01747 811853.