The Gardens of Easton Lodge in Little Easton will be open to the public in February for visitors to come and see the snowdrops.

Two open days will be held on Sunday, February 12 and Sunday, February 19, and the gardens will also be open on Thursday, February 16 and Thursday, February 23.

The snowdrops at Easton Lodge multiply from year to year, and are all over the gardens - in the treehouse, the glade and the walled kitchen garden.

They are the first signs of spring, and visitors can also see other early flowers including hellebores, mahonia and - if the deer do not eat them first - iris reticulata.

In sunny weather visitors can see wildlife including bees, tits, blackcaps and treecreepers. 

Dunmow Broadcast: The Gardens of Easton Lodge in Little Easton are holding snowdrop open days in FebruaryThe Gardens of Easton Lodge in Little Easton are holding snowdrop open days in February (Image: The Gardens of Easton Lodge)

Snowdrops will be available for sale, along with snowdrop merchandise, and children can enjoy the treehouse, elephant statue and fun trail. Dogs on leads are welcome.

On the Sunday open days there will be a range of stalls, including a plant stall, local beekeepers and wood turner, and the Woodland Trust.

The trust's volunteers will provide soup, locally-sourced bacon, cheese or hummus rolls, homemade cakes and hot or cold drinks.

The gardens will be open from 11am to 4pm, with last entry at 3pm. 

Adult tickets are £5.50 plus booking fee, with free entry for children under 16. Unsold tickets will be available on the gate for £6.50.

For the Thursday open days, the gardens will be open from 11am to 3pm, with last entry at 2pm.

On Thursdays visitors cannot visit the neighbouring garden of Warwick House, but there will still be plenty of snowdrops to see as well as hot and cold drinks and homemade cakes.

Tickets for adults cost £4.50, with free entry for children under 16 and unsold tickets available on the gate for £5.

To buy tickets in advance visit www.eastonlodge.co.uk or go through trybooking.com.

The open days are weather permitting. In the event that the trust has to cancel an open day, advance tickets will be refunded and the cancellation will be posted on the trust's website and social media.