Rode Hall snowdrops

Once in a dream Confidential floated south of the city and landed in sunshine on snow. But it wasn't cold. In fact there wasn't really any snow.

We'd hit Rode Hall and Gardens is all; where snowdrop flowers bestrew the ground like a velvet carpet of white: a balm to a city dweller's eyes.

Rode Hall is an odd one as well, almost unknown to Mancs who tend to go for Tatton, Lyme and Arley, yet it has a fabulous garden in which to lose yourself for an afternoon.

Especially at this time of year.

There are over fifty different varieties of snowdrop to be seen in Rode’s Humphrey Repton designed landscape. You can take these in, along with all the other natural beauty around, on a mile-long walk. This works up an appetite for lunch or tea.

This is handy, as there's a good tea-room on site, with snacks and dainty cakes which you can douse in cream to continue the white theme. You can also buy bulbs to take home.

Other delights include the parish church of All Saints joining in and getting all decorated up with snowdrops and other winter flowers, plus a Farmers Market with over fifty stall holders and entertainment on 6 February and 6 March 2010 from 9.30am – 1.30pm.

Rode Hall is just off junction 17 of the M6, south west of Congleton and north east of Kidsgrove.

Open: Saturday to Sunday 7th March 2010, daily except Mondays and Tuesdays noon to 4pm. Adults £4, old folks and children: £3.