One millionth snowdrop planted in Wallington

A carpet of snowdrops in the woodland at Wallington. The sun is shining on the flowers which are surrounded by tall trees.
Efforts to plant one million snowdrops started in 2016 [BBC]

A millionth snowdrop has been planted at a National Trust woodland, marking the end of a decade-long tradition.

Gardeners and volunteers have been planting 100,000 of the flowers at Wallington, near Morpeth in Northumberland, every year since 2016.

The final snowdrop was planted on Sunday.

Visitor experience officer Natalie Warren said that although the annual tradition had now ended, the snowdrops would continue to delight visitors for many years.

"It's been 10 years, but the snowdrops themselves will carry on," she said.

"It's lovely to see families coming back to see the ones that they've planted previously and we know that over the next five, 10, 20 years, they're just going to keep growing and naturalising into the woodlands."

Natalie Warren is smiling at the camera. She has medium-length straight brown hair and is wearing glasses, a black fleece and a lanyard.
Natalie Warren said people return to the park to see the snowdrops they have planted [BBC]

The National Trust said Wallington had now become a destination for snowdrop spotting, with displays including a few special varieties of the flower.

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These include the Northumbrian Sandersii group, which has sulphur-yellow markings instead of green, and the Flore Pleno with double the usual number of petals.

Head gardener Simon Thompson said planting the snowdrops had helped other wildlife.

"It's become quite a tradition to people but we can't keep going forever, because we do have a million snowdrops," Mr Thompson said.

"By us adding these around, it's just helping out making that flowering season longer for all the different insects involved.

"And they do look cool!"

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