Vegetarian Restaurants and Cafés in the Lake District

Posted on October 4, 2021

Last Friday, 1 October, was World Vegetarian Day, a day showcasing the benefits of vegetarianism. It also gave rise to October being observed as Vegetarian Awareness Month.

There was a time when the likes of Mushroom risotto, stuffed peppers, nut roast or portobello mushroom burger were considered fancy vegetarian options. While we’re sure these can be extremely tasty, thankfully the world of vegetarian cuisine is now far more exciting.

Fortunately, we’re blessed with some of the finest places to eat in the UK, including some amazing vegetarian restaurants and cafés in the Lake District.

We’ll start close to our Windermere cottages, before heading north to Penrith and a couple of fantastic options for guests staying in our Ullswater cottages.

Zeffirellis, Ambleside

Mention vegetarian to anyone in Windermere and the chances are they will recommend Zeffirellis in Ambleside. Zeffirellis has been a firm favourite for over 40 years and is great for family, friends and couples alike. It also houses an award-winning cinema.

The menu offers Italian-themed pizza and pasta dishes, with daily specials freshly prepared by a team of passionate chefs. What’s more, there’s enviable wine list to match.

For the complete evening out, why not book a 2-course dinner with a reserved cinema seat?

Fellinis, Ambleside

Fellinis is a new, modern ‘Vegeterranean’ restaurant which caters for the most discerning vegetarian palette. The food is inspired by the warmth of Mediterranean, with a frequently changing menu to reflect the seasons and the availability of local ingredients.

After dinner, why not head upstairs for a unique cinema experience, where you can see the latest art house and niche film productions, as well as live satellite links to world class opera, ballet and theatre events.

Gandhi’s Café, Ambleside

Staying in Ambleside, Gandhi’s has gained a reputation for producing high quality, home cooked vegetarian and vegan food. From relaxed breakfasts to an afternoon pick-me-up, wholesome burgers to tasty pad-Thais, this quirky little café is packed with big flavours.

Chesters by the River

Chesters by the River at Skelwith Bridge is the perfect spot to stop for a bite to eat before, after or during a good walk. Situated on the banks of the River Brathay, the food is wonderfully crafted with plenty of choice. There is some parking, but as it’s ‘out of town’ you may need to plan ahead a little. One option is to park at Elterwater and follow the path alongside the River Brathay, past Skelwith Force, enjoy a good lunch followed by a leisurely walk back to the car.

Upfront Gallery Restaurant, Penrith

For our next stop we’re heading to Penrith, just a short drive from Glenridding and Patterdale. Perfect for our Ullswater guests.

There’s more to Upfront Gallery than just food. It’s a gallery, puppet theatre, music venue and restaurant located in beautifully converted 17^th century farm buildings near Penrith.

The licensed café serves a delicious range of vegetarian options throughout the day, beginning with breakfast. Pop in for a range of delicious meals, snacks, cakes, puddings and coffees.

The Yard Kitchen

Our final choice is also in Penrith. The Yard Kitchen is a popular café with a wide range of vegetarian and vegan choices.

The café is located in Brunswick Court, alongside an eclectic mix of specialist sellers, including a bookshop, a wine merchant and a grocers. In fact, the yard is now home to more than 20 independent dealers. So browse to your heart’s content and then enjoy some delicious vegetarian fayre.

That’s it. Our round up of our favourite vegetarian and vegan restaurants and cafés in the Lake District. If you happen to visit one of them, please do let us know what you think. And if you would like more information about dining in the Lake District, please get in touch.

Photo credit: Photo by Farhad Ibrahimzade on Unsplash

Summer on the Estate

Posted on August 8, 2021

Summer has definitely arrived in the Lake District and the Matson Ground Estate is in full swing. The holiday cottages are full of guests enjoying this beautiful part of the world and life on the farm is as busy as ever.

We’ve had great weather and made lots of silage, a store of winter feed for our cattle and sheep, while our colleagues have been conducting surveys on grasses, flowers and moths.

Grasses and Flowers Surveys

As part of our Countryside Stewardship agreement, we regularly survey the grasses and flowers. This provides us with vital information about the health of the fields and wetland areas. The scheme helps us to look after and improve the environment by, amongst others, conserving and restoring wildlife habitats, increasing grassland biodiversity and preserving historical features on the landscape.

One plant which we have in our wetland areas is this pretty, yellow Bog Asphodel, Latin name Ossifragum. Did you know that Ossifragum literally translates as bone-breaker? This unassuming plant acquired this violent name because it was believed that the livestock that grazed on it developed brittle bones. But don’t worry, there’s no truth in it. It was actually the calcium-poor pastures that caused the problem.

Moth Survey

Reedbeds and wetlands are important habitats for many species of moths throughout the British Isles. As July is a particularly good time for moth populations in these habitats, we were looking forward to the survey results. And with the weather on our side we were not disappointed!

Our surveyors trapped the moths in a lightbox overnight, catching 515 moths in total, spanning 100 different species. The best moth find of the night was the round-winged muslin, which was only the third recording for South Cumbria since 2000. However, the prettiest moth of the night was this lovely Elephant Hawk Moth.

We were thrilled with the findings. Moths are a fascinating yet often overlooked group of insects and an important part of the UK’s biodiversity, as they pollinate plants and provide food for birds, bats and other wildlife. However, since the late 1960s total moth numbers have declined by around a third. We hope our wetland projects, and many others nationally, will help the recovery of moth numbers.

Afternoon Tea in the Lake District

Posted on August 6, 2021

There’s something about afternoon tea in the Lake District. It just feels right. A quintessentially English tradition that goes hand in hand with the pace of life. Think three-tier cake stand, dainty sandwiches and pastries to die for. And those views. Is there a more perfect way to celebrate a special occasion or to simply indulge yourselves while you’re on holiday?

This year, Afternoon Tea Week runs from 9 – 16 August, so what better reason to share some of our favourite local spots to take afternoon tea?

Below are our top five places for afternoon tea in the Lake District. Four of them are either a walk or a short drive from our Windermere cottages, while the final choice – the Inn on the Lake – is perfect for guests in our Ullswater cottages. Please do remember to book in advance.

The Tea Room at Blackwell

The tea room at Blackwell Arts and Crafts House offers a range of delicious light lunches, cakes and tempting treats using the very best local ingredients. And if the sun is shining, the elegant outdoor terrace is the perfect spot to relax and soak up the breathtaking views of Lake Windermere and the Lakeland fells beyond.

Macdonald Old England Hotel

With Lake Windermere as its backdrop, the Macdonald Old England Hotel in Bowness is a more than suitable venue to enjoy a traditional afternoon tea. And whether it’s served in the lounge or on the terrace, the views are stunning.

Storrs Hall Hotel

The talented team of pastry chefs at Storrs Hall are passionate about creating an afternoon tea worthy of this great British tradition. And the results are fabulous. The afternoon tea itself is a thing of beauty. Delicious homemade cakes, pastries and freshly baked scones served alongside a selection of sandwiches and savouries. There’s even a Tiny Tots Tea for the younger family members.

If you want to make this an unforgettable experience, why not book our luxury motorboat, Tintin II, and arrive in style?

Lakeside Hotel

Our final choice is Lakeside Hotel, located right on the western shore of Lake Windermere, about half an hour in the car from Windermere (or a little longer aboard Tintin II). The delicious afternoon tea is served in the elegant conservatory, or outside on the terrace when the sun is shining. Both offer amazing views in a beautiful setting.

To be honest, we could have mentioned so many other fantastic places. Traditional afternoon tea is something we take very seriously in the Lake District, so wherever you go, you’ll find friendly service and a range of delicious treats.

Inn on the Lake, Ullswater

There’s a really relaxing atmosphere at the Inn on the Lake which makes it the perfect place to enjoy afternoon tea. During the winter months, the roaring log fire ensures warmth and cosiness, while in the summer months the large outside terrace and gardens offer a bright alternative. Inside or outside, the views of the lake are nothing short of spectacular.

Traditional afternoon tea is something we take very seriously in the Lake District, so to limit our choices to these five has proved quite tricky. What we can say is that wherever you go, you’ll find friendly service and a range of delicious treats.

Electric Bike Hire in the Lake District – Review

Posted on August 3, 2021

Our electric bike hire in the Lake District is proving very popular, but it’s always nice to get a glowing review. One guest was so impressed that she got in touch and very kindly sent us her feedback.

“Overall, I would highly recommend them. They open up opportunities to explore the local area that some people would not ordinarily get to explore due to fitness levels. I am a runner and a cyclist but I really enjoyed the extra help the electric bike gave on a day when I was tired after completing a Lakeland Trails race. Irrespective of fitness levels they are fun and very easy to use. I would recommend that guests hire one to explore the beauty of the lakes. A great day out and an adventure not to be missed.”

Explore the area on an electric bike

Currently, the bikes are available for hire by guests in our Windermere cottages, and as our guests says, a great way to explore the surrounding area. There are a number of quiet roads in the area, perfect for a day exploring without the car. We would highly recommend crossing Lake Windermere on the car ferry and exploring the western shore – it’s perfect for bikes and when the hills get a little bit too much, the electric motor will kick in to give you a much needed boost.

Our electric bikes are available to hire from one day right up to six days (if you really want to ditch the car). Prices start at £50 / bike. All bikes are supplied with locks, visi-vests, helmets and full familiarisation is given prior to hire.

Electric Bike Hire Prices

Prices for our electric bike hire in the Lake District are as follows:

One day hire – £50 / bike

Weekend hire – £70 / bike

Three-day hire – £105 / bike

Six-day hire – £210 / bike

For more information, please call 015394 45756 or 07944 378070.

Picnic Spots in the Lake District

Posted on July 1, 2021

Lake District Picnic Spots - Fell Foot Park

July is National Picnic Month, so what better reason to share our favourite picnic spots in the Lake District? Picnics are one of the UK’s favourite traditions and the Lake District provides some fantastic places to throw down the rug, tuck into some fabulous food and soak up the amazing scenery. Below are a few of our favourites.

Brant Fell – a Lake District picnic spot on your doorstep

If you don’t fancy venturing too far from your Matson Ground cottage in Windermere, Brant Fell is perfect. Lying at the heart of the estate, you can be at the summit in no time at all, enjoying stunning views of Lake Windermere and the Lakeland fells.

Orrest Head

Staying close to home, Orrest Head is short walk up from the centre of Windermere. But the climb is worth the effort. So pack up a picnic and head for the summit where you are rewarded with amazing views of England’s largest lake with the Langdale Pikes, Scafell Pike, Coniston Old Man and Morecambe Bay as a backdrop. This is the spot where Alfred Wainwright first fell in love with the Lake District and once you’re there, it’s easy to see why.

Fell Foot Park

Fell Foot Park, at the southern end of Lake Windermere, is less than half an hour in the car from our Windermere cottages and a fantastic spot to enjoy a picnic. No need for a long hike, or even a picnic rug. Facilities at Fell Foot Park include picnic benches, toilets and a café (just in case you didn’t pack enough food). There’s an adventure playground for the children and boats for hire if you fancy splashing about on the lake. Parking in the pay and display car park is free for National Trust members.

Glencoyne Bay, Ullswater

Guests staying in one of our Ullswater cottages are also spoilt for choice when it comes to picnic spots in the Lake District. Just a mile from Glenridding is Glencoyne Bay, made famous by William and Dorothy Wordsworth as it was the inspiration for one of the most famous poems in English literature – “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”. Obviously summer is not the time to admire daffodils, but the pebble beach is the perfect picnic spot, with views across the lake to Place Fell and down to Barton Fell.

Aira Force

Another must visit for our Ullswater guests is Aira Force. These spectacular falls, tucked away amongst ancient woodland, provide the perfect backdrop for a picnic. Arguably the most beautiful waterfalls in the Lake District, there’s plenty of space to enjoy a picnic, although the area directly by the waterfall gets very busy. However, you’ll easily find a more sheltered spot in extensive woodlands.

Buttermere – what a fantastic spot for a Lake District picnic

Finally, if you want to make a day of it, then a trip to Buttermere will not disappoint. The four-and-a-half-mile circular walk is easily accessible and will take about three hours to complete. However, factor in a little more time as the lake shore is dotted with little beaches you can make your own, so you can while away the time enjoying some al fresco dining. If you’re after some beautiful scenery and a bit of tranquility, Buttermere is the answer.

There are so many fantastic picnic spots in the Lake District, but we hope that we have given you a little inspiration. And it goes without saying, please always take you rubbish home with you, don’t light barbecues on the ground, and please, please don’t build bonfires.

Bon appétit!

The World of Beatrix Potter

Posted on June 30, 2021

If you have a young family then a trip to the World of Beatrix Potter is an absolute must. What’s more, it’s literally just down the road from our Windermere cottages.

The World of Beatrix Potter is a vibrant family attraction in the heart of Bowness-on-Windermere, a chance for visitors to explore the enchanting world created by Beatrix Potter. All twenty-three of her books are brought fabulously to life in a series of walk-through displays, where the sights, sounds and smells are recreated in stunning 3D.

The exhibition features the favourite characters from the book. Jemima Puddle-Duck can be found in a small, wooded glade, Jeremy Fisher making his way across the pond on a lily pad, and of course, Peter Rabbit and his siblings.

The Peter Rabbit Garden

Outside, the Peter Rabbit Garden is waiting to be explored. This is a small but perfectly formed show garden which brings to life Beatrix Potter’s illustrations. It captures all sorts of details from the stories, including the watering can in which Peter Rabbit hides from Mr McGregor, his blue jacket turned into a scarecrow and even the cos lettuces that Benjamin Bunny nibbled on.

Summer Events at the World of Beatrix Potter

This summer, events include the Peter Rabbit Summer Tea Party and a Celebration Afternoon Tea to mark the 30^th Anniversary of the exhibition. These will be held on a number of dates throughout the summer in the Laundrama, just across the road from the attraction. For more information about these special events, click here.

A visit to the World of Beatrix Potter is a great adventure for the whole family. It goes without saying that younger children will absolutely love it, but we’re pretty sure adults will be fascinated too.

At the end of the visit make sure you visit the world-famous gift shop so you can take home a memento of your stay in the Lake District. And why not pay a visit to the family friendly café? It’s open every day from 10am for delicious treats, freshly baked by the talented café team.

Our Guide to Lake District Markets

Posted on June 6, 2021

In an area renowned for its mountains and lakes, Lake District markets aren’t always the first thing that spring to mind. But the truth is we are well and truly spoiled when it comes to local markets. In fact, we think they’re the best in the country, but we are slightly biased.

From fresh vegetables to farm reared meats, homemade chutneys to artisanal breads, our markets are stocked with fantastic local produce from across the Lake District and Cumbria. If it hasn’t been grown or reared locally, it’s been baked or cooked locally.

This is a great opportunity for you to meet our wonderful producers. Talk to them and you’ll soon understand just how passionate they are about what they do. And you’ll get to sample some of the culinary delights the Lake District has to offer.

Cumberland Sausage, Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding, Herdwick Lamb, Grasmere Gingerbread and, of course, Kendal Mint Cake – to name but a few. All of these can be found in the array of farmers markets taking place across the Lake District National Park and wider county area.

There are also a number of craft markets which are not to be missed, the perfect place to find a keepsake from your Lake District break.

Below are a few of our favourite markets, all just a relatively short drive from Windermere.

Farmers Markets and Local Producers

Kendal Farmers Market is held between 9.00am and 3.00pm on the final Friday of every month in Market Place in the town centre. There is also a general market every Wednesday and Saturday in Market Place.

Milnthorpe Farmers Market takes place on the second Friday of each month in the village’s market square. There is a general market on the other Fridays.

Hawkshead Arts and Crafts Fair is located in the Market Hall and operates most weeks throughout the year. Lakeland Arts and Crafts is a collective of local artisan makers and craft workers offering a range of handcrafted items. Click here for the full list of 2021 dates.

Kirkby Lonsdale’s Thursday market attracts visitors and locals alike. There is a good range of stalls which offer everything from local produce to souvenirs, plants and jewellery.

Keswick may be a little further afield – about 40 minutes in the car – but a visit to the vibrant market is a great day out. It stands on Thursdays from February to December (and Saturdays all year round) in Market Square and has previously been voted ‘Best outdoor Market in the UK’. Keswick Farmers Market runs on the second Thursday of every month.

Orton and Sedbergh Markets

Other farmers markets worthy of mention are Orton and Sedbergh. Orton Farmers Market takes place on the second Saturday of every month, where over twenty-five local farmers, growers, producers and artisans come together to offer a variety of high-quality local produce and crafts.

Sedbergh Market is held on most Wednesdays throughout the year in Joss Lane car park just off Main Street. You can also visit the Artisan Markets which will run on 3 July, 31 July, 28 August and 18 September this year.

Please note that the information we’ve provided is as accurate as possible, but due to coronavirus restrictions please be aware that some markets may have been operating in a limited capacity.

The Punch Bowl at Home: New Food Delivery Service

Posted on April 30, 2021

The Punch Bowl at Home

We are thrilled to be able to offer our guests the brand-new premium home delivery service from the award-winning Punch Bowl in Crosthwaite.

The Punchbowl has developed a well-deserved reputation for its superb food, and now you can enjoy it in the comfort of your Matson Ground holiday cottage thanks to the new ‘The Punch Bowl at Home’ delivery service. What’s more, this is not just for lockdown, this is all year round.

Three-Course Weekly Set Menu

The Punch Bowl at Home will offer a three-course weekly set menu for two. These mouth-watering meals are available for delivery on Friday each week and can be kept refrigerated for up to twenty-four hours. Why not spoil yourself when you’re staying with us and enjoy some beautifully prepared, indulgent seasonal dishes?

Your dishes will be carefully created and prepared by our team of chefs at the Punch Bowl and then delivered directly to your door. All you need to do is pop them in the oven. They even include a step-by-step guide to help you to finish preparing your meal. It really couldn’t be easier.

We’ve got a sneaky feeling that our guests will be enjoying these delicious Punch Bowl dishes in the comfort of a Matson Ground Holiday Cottage long after lockdown ends.

On the Menu

The Punch Bowl in Crosthwaite offers a seasonally inspired, classic British and French menu with a focus on locally sourced Lake District ingredients wherever possible. The Punch Bowl farm at Mirk Howe provides some of the vegetables and of course Lake District lamb. Foraged ingredients found growing in the nearby countryside are also used. And for anything else, the Punch Bowl works with some of the region’s finest suppliers.

At the time of writing, the menu was:

Smoked Salmon, Dill and Lemon Paté

Honey Roast Confit Duck Leg in Cherry Sauce

Lyth Valley Damson and Frangipane Sponge

How It Works

If you’d like an indulgent evening in with one of the Punch Bowl at Home set menus, simply get in touch and we will arrange the delivery.

Price for a set menu for two is £65 with delivery charged at £6.50 per box.

Books for a Matson Ground Holiday

Posted on March 5, 2021

This week we celebrated World Book Day and it got us thinking about what books we would we pack for our Matson Ground holiday.

With literally millions of books to choose from, this would need some serious thinking. To make it a little easier, we decided to focus our search close to the Lake District. After all, it’s well-known for its wonderful literary heritage, boasting writing talent such as William Wordsworth, Beatrix Potter and Arthur Ransome.

But we’re not necessarily after poetry or children’s books. We’re looking for gripping page-turners. Something you can really lose yourself in.

Our final list features a number of excellent books. What’s more, each one is set in the Lake District and based on the reviews, they’re on our list.

Happy reading!

The Grave Tattoo by Val McDermid

It’s summer in the Lake District, and heavy rains have uncovered a tattooed body. Could it be linked to rumours that Fletcher Christian, mutinous first mate on the Bounty, did secretly return to England, where he was sheltered by Lakeland poet, William Wordsworth?

Local Wordsworth specialist, Jane Gresham, wants to find out. But as she follows each lead, death is hard on her heels. Jane soon finds herself at the heart of a 200-year-old mystery that still puts lives at risk.

Haweswater by Sarah Hall

Haweswater tells the tale of a centuries-old community that has survived into the 1930s largely unchanged, until Jack Liggett arrives from the city.

Liggett is a spokesperson for a Manchester waterworks company which has designs on a vast new reservoir. The valley in which the community has stood for hundreds of years will be evacuated, flooded, devastated.

This is a story of love, obsession and the destruction of a community.

Also by Sarah Hall, The Wolf Border.

The Windermere Witness by Rebecca Tope

Florist Persimmon ‘Simmy’ Brown has moved to the Lake District following a personal tragedy, content to lose herself in her work. But the peace is short-lived when, at the wedding of a millionaire’s daughter, the bride’s brother is found dead in the lake.

As the wedding florist, and one of the last people to speak to Mark Baxter alive, Simmy becomes embroiled in the relatives’ grief and anger.

When events take another sinister turn, Simmy finds herself at the very heart of a murder investigation.

Also by Rebecca Tope, The Ambleside Alibi and The Coniston Case.

The Woman from Browhead by Audrey Howard

If the psychological / crime genre isn’t your thing, how about a bit of historical romance? Set in the late 1840s and early 1850s, The Woman from Browhead tells the story of Annie Abbott, daughter and only child of a poverty-stricken Lake District farmer, who ran away with a theatre group at the age of fifteen.

Hearing that her parents have died, she returns to lay claim to the farm. But with an illegitimate child in tow, virtually no-one will speak to her, with the exception of a local landowner. But he is engaged to marry another woman.

Also by Audrey Howard, Annie’

All Quiet on the Orient Express by Magnus Mills

This is one we haven’t read yet but will be doing so very soon. By all accounts it’s hard to pigeon-hole in terms of genre; possibly a ‘tragi-comedy’. It’s been described as weird, funny, quirky. Perhaps it’s this ‘hard to define’ element which makes it all the more appealing.

As for the plot itself, it’s the end of the Summer in the Lake District, the sun is lower in the sky and the tourists have gone home. Our unnamed narrator decides to spend a few weeks in the Lake District, enjoying the quiet, before embarking on a motorcycle trip to India.

The book description reads: “But then the owner of the campsite asks him to paint a fence and he innocently obliges. Soon other odd jobs pile up until little by little he becomes ensnared in the ominous ‘out-of-season’.

Sounds intriguing.

We hope this list provides a little inspiration for you when it comes to books for a Matson Ground holiday. If you fancy buying something while you’re staying in the Lakes, why not pop into Fred’s Bookshop where you will find a diverse range of books.

Snowdrops on the Matson Ground Estate

Posted on February 7, 2021

Every year, as the cold, dark days of Winter begin to take their toll, we are buoyed by the arrival of snowdrops on the Matson Ground Estate. The sight of their tender, green shoots is a sign that Spring is finally on its way. No wonder the snowdrop has been labelled the ‘Flower of Hope’.

While we look forward to seeing their pearly, white heads, how much do we actually know about this pretty little flower which brightens up the Matson Ground Estate every February? Well, very little actually. So, we thought we’d look into it in a little more detail.

German Folklore

One of our favourite tales is one from ancient German folklore. Legend has it that when everything on earth was brand new, Snow needed a colour, so it asked the flowers. One by one they turned their backs on Snow, believing it to be cold and unpleasant.

The tiny snowdrops took pity on Snow and offered their colour, which Snow gratefully accepted. In return, Snow rewarded the snowdrop by letting it bloom first and making it impervious to the ice and bitter temperatures. Ever since, Snow and snowdrops have lived side by side as friends.

Actual Snowdrop Facts

The scientific name for the snowdrop is Galanthus Nivalis, which literally translates as ‘milk flower of the snow’.
Other names for the snowdrop are: Fair Maids of February, Candlemas Bells, White Ladies, Little Sister of the Snows, Snow Piercers and Dingle-dangle
Snowdrops were named after earrings and not drops of snow. In the 15^th, 16^th and 17^th centuries, women wore dangly, white drop-shaped earring known as ‘eardrops’.
Snowdrops produce Galantamine, which has been found to be effective in treating Alzheimer’s disease.
Snowdrops contain a natural anti-freeze which means that even if they collapse in freezing weather, they can recover once the temperature rises. In fact, they were harvested during the First World War to make anti-freeze for tanks.
Snowdrop enthusiasts are called Galanthophiles and they have been known to pay an awful lot of money for these sweet, little flowers. In fact, in 2015, a single Galanthus Plicatus (Golden Fleece) sold for a whopping £1390 on eBay. Nowadays, you can pick one up for about £200.
When temperatures reach 10°C, the outer petals open up, revealing the nectar inside, perfect for bumble bees who come out of hibernation when the temperature rises above 10°C!
There are over 2,500 varieties of snowdrop. They vary in height from 7cm to 30cm and are divided into approximately 20 species
Collecting snowdrop bulbs in the wild is illegal in many countries, so please don’t go digging any up.
On a sunny day, snowdrops are highly scented and give off a honey smell.

Finally, we’ll leave you with this. Hans Christian Anderson wrote a short story called ‘The Snowdrop’, which follows the fate of a snowdrop from a bulb striving towards the light to picked flower placed in a book of poetry. You can read it here.

We’ll certainly be enjoying the snowdrops on the Matson Ground Estate while they last and we hope that you have some pretty pockets of this fabulous little flower wherever you are. Spring is on its way.