He added: There was no snow on the ground of any consequence and things are ahead of themselves.”
Hole Park is renowned for its display of bluebells and in 2027 will be celebrating 100 years of welcoming the public to enjoy the extensive gardens.
With records stretching back decades, the gardening team normally predict their bluebells will flower from early April, sometimes peaking as late as the first few days of May.
However, the flowers are already showing a shimmer of blue and have reached ‘level two’ on the estate’s four-tier bluebell barometer.
“This is nature at its best and this is the first of nature’s big displays,” said Barham.
“There are some places with snowdrops but they are not widespread, bluebells are a widescale native plant. They are a harbinger of spring and a warm times to come.”
Bluebells are not the only flower in bloom at the 200-acre parkland. Magnolias, camelias and fruit trees are blossoming, while tulips, primroses and fritillaries are opening too.
Then, within weeks, Hole Park’s wisterias will come into bloom closely followed by colourful displays of azaleas and rhododendrons.
“I just think it’s a brilliant marker that summer is here along with the change of the clocks and cuckoos,” says Barham.
