Snowdrop season starts 31 January

From Sunday 31 January to Sunday 6 March the snowdrop season at Lytham Hall will be in full swing. No cars are allowed on these days, and the grounds are just for walkers to explore and enjoy the impressive displays of snowdrops. Previous years we’ve quite often let cars through in the early weeks of snowdrops, but with the dreadful weather we’ve had, our verges are incredibly muddy and we want to offer walkers the full extent of the driveway, without them having to step in the mud at every passing car. Therefore, please park in the car park off Ballam Road when the signs indicate so. Blue badge holders can drive up, of course.

Pick up a trail for the family from the gatehouse (included in the entry price), have a leisurely stroll and end your walk in the newly refurbished tea room, with something hot to warm you through. You can also purchase a snowdrop to plant at home from the Friends of Lytham Hall pop-up shop and visit the Hall to hear about the Clifton family and admire John Carr’s splendid architecture (tours at 1pm and 2.30pm, separate entry price).

Volunteer Megan is organising a special under-18 snowdrop photography and art competition. The deadline is 22 February to send digital images to lythamhallsnowdrops@gmail.com or art work to Lytham Hall, Ballam Road, Lytham FY8 4JX. Megan has been able to secure some wonderful prices from local businesses, so it’s worth trying.

Price for grounds entry is free for children this year and £3 for adults. Grounds are open from 10.00am until 4.30pm. We are also adding Saturday opening on 13, 20, 27 February and 5 March, from 11am until 4.30pm.

The income from our snowdrop fundraising season is instrumental for the survival of Lytham Hall, which relies on visitor spending and volunteer help as there is no regular funding from Town or County.

The snowdrops are yet again quite early, but with the very warm and wet winter so far, they aren’t as tall as they are usually, and seem to be a bit petite. For the latest state of play, we will endeavour to put a photo up on our Facebook page every Friday, to indicate the snowdrop display. We are planning special events during half-term week, please check our website for the latest information on both half-term and the snowdrop competition.