5 things you might not know about Snowdrops. Snowdrop Walk. Welcome to Sugnall, its walled garden and the snowdrop walks that surround it.

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1 Snowdrop Walk

2 GUIDED TOURS Snowdrop Walk Welcome to Sugnall, its walled garden and the snowdrop walks that surround it. A visit to the Sugnall snowdrop walk is always the first activity of each New Year and thank you for joining this year s walks. You are about to embark on a short walk amongst the snowdrop s but along the way will also be taking a walk through this amazing places history. Although your guide will be pointing out all the relevant historical buildings and points the following is a summary of what they will be explaining to you, along with some information on snowdrops and Sugnall s many other activities throughout the summer. Please take a moment to read the safety section below and enjoy your visit. We hope that you will come back and see us again in the summer. Andrew Wilson Proprietor 5 things you might not know about Snowdrops They are a welcome and well-known early sign of spring but, unless you re a keen galanthophile (snowdrop collector) or horticuluturalist, you might not know much about them. So, in order to remedy that, here are five fascinating snowdrop facts. FACT #1 Used as medicine Snowdrops and other plants from the Amaryllidaceae family have a naturally occurring substance in them called galantamine. This is sold as a medication for Alzheimer s disease under the name of Reminyl. Galantamine was first used, in eastern Europe in the 1950s to treat memory problems but it wasn t until 2010 that it became widely used in the UK when the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) authorised its use. FACT #2 A single bulb once sold for a recordbreaking 350 It s a dangerous business growing snowdrops. Bulbs are often stolen from growers, with many estates protecting their patches of the flowers. It seems odd on the face of it but it s easy to see why people go to such lengths to get hold of snowdrop bulbs. In 2011 a single bulb was sold on an internet auction site for 350, breaking the previous record of 265. FACT #3 They can be deadly Due to the bulb s likeness to its relative, the onion, it has often been mistakenly eaten, poisoning the unfortunate nibbler. It s a good defence against hungry deer grazing on the flowers or squirrels digging up the bulbs, but a nasty surprise for anyone confusing them for shallots. FACT #4 Not great pollinators Part of the reason bulbs are so valuable is that once you have one, it can and will multiply. As the flowers tend to grow at a time of year when there are few pollinating insects around, the plant has had to develop a different approach to furthering its species. Bulbs will split when dormant and begin to sprout new flowers. FACT #5 They re a natural thermometer Since the 1950s Kew Gardens have been monitoring the growth of snowdrops. In the mid-part of the 20th century they would generally appear in February, since the 1990 s they have been arriving increasingly quickly. These days they are sometimes found as early in the year as January, an indication of the UK s changing climate. Do s and don t s Do be careful where you walk, as the ground is uneven in places. Also try to avoid treading on too many snowdrops (not easy in places). Please don t climb on logpiles they can be unstable and we don t want any crushed hands or feet! Dogs are welcome if they are kept on leads. This will protect nesting birds and other wildlife. What to look for Strap-like, blue-green leaves Drooping white flowers Inner flower segments have a green patch towards the tip Only one flower per stem Anything else is a cultivated variety

3 1 Starting from the Tearoom we head across the walled garden central path passing the dipping pool that was used to water the garden (rubber hosepipes were only invented in the 1870s; this garden goes back to 1737!). Leave via the arched gateway. 2 3 Immediately after leaving the walled garden to the left are our bee hives. The bees feast on the apple and pear blossoms in the spring in the walled garden and gorge on the magnificent half-a-mile of lavender when it flowers from late June to September. We pass our composting area and join what used to be the driveway to the original Sugnall Hall, in a few moments you will be able to see the original gateway and we shall pass the remains of the Hall later. 4 Heading up the hill and slightly to the left we join the woodland path and encounter our first sight of snowdrops. In amongst them you will see tree stumps from trees that were planted back in the 1730s that were felled back in the 1960s. 5 As we turn back towards the walled garden, we see on our left the old gates that were the entrance to Sugnall Hall and also can clearly make out the driveway that runs all the way up to the Hall to this day, but which is no longer used. 6 7 To your left you will also (unless it is foggy!) enjoy the first glimpse of the view of Eccleshall across the Sugnall parkland. In these fields Eccleshall Show takes place each September. The trees in the near distance surround a set of fishing pools that drain into Cop Mere. As you walk along the driveway, notice to your right the curvature of the garden wall as it was constructed to follow the contour of the land and also gives the norther quarters perfect south-easterly aspect. It is a marvel of bricklaying especially when you learn it was completed in ECCLESHA B5 026 As you progress up the hill the building to the right with its lovely new deck is the Old Carpenters Shop recently restored as an office and multi-purpose room for everything from private parties to training courses. It is also our base for Glamping (glamourous camping) HOME FARM SITE OF TEMPLE 18 ERHEA CAR PARK At the intersection with the main woodland path, you will see another of the finnies straight ahead of you and as you turn left further on you will come across the largest of these in Broughton pool. 19 As you progress along these ancient paths that were dug back in the 18th century, to your left you will see a small quarry and then a flat topped hill. This was the former site of a Temple used as a viewing platform across the estate and woodland. There are plans to excavate this and restore it during the coming years. ST. CATHERINE S WELL FINNIES WOOD 16 As you bear right at the finnie you will see that a great deal of forestry work has been carried out in recent years with Sycamore trees especially, being coppiced for their wood around every 10 years. To the left is the first of the finnies or Trout pools of which there are a further four following the valley and flowing into Cop Mere. This during the Scouts time at Sugnall was a popular swimming pool on a hot day with an aqua-slide being constructed from polythene sheeting on the steep hillside! 16 To your left you will see St Catherine s Well, built to capture spring water in the 18th century. Its name is thought to be a corruption of Catholic Well as the owners were Catholic and legend has it that baptisms were performed there. The Old Hall can be traced back to the 1600s and only the kitchen wing remains. Used for many years by the Scouts it is Grade 1 listed and there are plans to redevelop it over the coming years. The main body of the Hall would have been to the left of the kitchen wing and the ventilation for its cellars can still be seen. 15 Having descended the ancient stairs to the bottom of the hill, to your right is St Catherine s Gate in the ancient wall. This whole area was created back in the 1730s around the time the walled garden was built, as an ornamental walk. As you follow the path past the WC s you are entering the garden of the old hall. Many of the trees were planted 200 years ago, as part of the garden, hence you will see Cedar and Monkey Puzzle amongst them. Notice also the magnificent view across the parkland that this enjoys. This would have been the view from the hall DS TEA ROOM POOL The lawns around the Old Carpenters Shop are filled with 4m bell tents during the summer for guests to stay over and enjoy the countryside in organised groups. There is also a magnificent view of the walled garden from the decked area. SNOWDROP WALK LOGG 21 Just at the tip of Broughton pool, by the waterfall you again have a choice: turn left and head back along the old path and back to the walled garden retracing your steps, or continue along the Permissive Access path alongside Broughton Pool and either onto Cop Mere or Walkmill for a much longer but very rewarding walk of around 4 miles. 9 9 WALLED GARDEN LL If you descend the steps, you will cross the cattle creep that is still used, and enter one of the Permissive Access paths that the estate has opened to the public to link with various public footpaths. At the end of the path you now have a choice; you can descend the steps and continue with the woodland walk or continue around the garden on the grass path that will return you to the Old Hall and perhaps back to the tearoom for an early cuppa! The garden path that curves around the hall is the original garden path, that was restored back in 2010 and snowdrops are descended from those planted back in Regency times. The gardens and trees have been much restored over recent years and the grassed area next to the Yew tree is used to house an acoustic stage at the annual Jazz & Blues festival.

4 What s On at Sugnall In addition to the tearoom and garden that are open to the public everyday (Walled Garden closed to the public on wedding days) the following events are taking place. Sat 22nd Apr & Sun 25th Jun Plant Hunters Fair The first of two visits to the walled garden by this wonderful array of plant experts. Admission is just 2 on-the-door. For more information visit the website 2nd SUNDAY OF THE MONTH Sugnall Monthly Market The market attracts a wide range of quality stallholders selling beautiful craft and gift items, delicious food products and much, much more. 10am-2pm. Free entry. Fri 28th Apr - Mon 1st May Sugnall Glamping Weekend Chance to glamourous camp over at Sugnall Walled Garden for a Bank Holiday weekend of activities in the big outdoors. For more details and to book see Sun 26th Feb Ride Staffs Cycle Meeting RideStaffs is a pop-up cycling club delivering cycling events throughout Staffordshire, with it s first event of 2017 starting and finishing at Sugnall Walled Garden. The ride just shy of 40 miles with spaces limited to 100. To find out more visit the website www. ridestaffs.co.uk Get in touch May 6th, 7th, 13th & 14th Bluebell Walk Over the first two weekends of May (6th & 7th and 13th & 14th) join one of our fascinating and historical walks around the Sugnall parkland whilst the bluebells are in full bloom. Groups and school parties also welcome during the week. More details and tickets available on the web-site. Sun 7th May Wedding Open Day Our Wedding Open Days provide the opportunity for you to visit our fantastic wedding venue, one of the most stylish rural venues to hold an English Country style wedding. You ll also get the chance to meet exhibitors and browse for ideas to make the perfect Wedding Day. For more details of any of the events at Sugnall Walled Garden please call or andrew@sugnallwalledgarden.co.uk You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.

5 Something for everyone SUGNALL MARKET GOOD FOOD STALLS ARTISAN GIFTS 10AM-2pm SUGNALL WALLED GARDEN NR ECCLESHALL, STAFFORDSHIRE ST21 6NF TO FIND OUT MORE... Call or HANDMADE ART & CRAFT SUGNALL PRODUCE twitter.com/sugnallgarden Free entry facebook.com/sugnall.walledgarden