Visitors drift along to snowdrop events (From Gazette Series)

Visitors drift along to snowdrop events

THE NATIONAL TRUST'S Newark Park at Ozleworth is celebrating its hugely successful snowdrops events. In three weekends this month an incredible 6,500 visitors have enjoyed the spectacle.

The 16th century hunting lodge, which has been open to the public for just two years, is going from strength to strength. In 2003 it broke the 10,000-visitor mark for the first time, and with the numbers in February it has now received 18,000 visitors in 2003-04.

Michael Claydon, tenant and visitor services manager, said: "We are hugely surprised and absolutely delighted by the interest visitors have shown in our snowdrops weekends this year. Our visitor numbers for these three weekends have tripled since last year and it just shows that Newark Park is most definitely on the map now."

Newark Park will be re-opening to the public in April and Mr Claydon is already looking forward to another successful year.

He said: "We hope that people who came to see the wonderful snowdrops will come back and see us when we reopen and enjoy Newark's lovely landscape garden, the Tudor House and the amazing views in all their glory."

For 2004 Newark Park will have a small display of a few items from Snowshill Manor's collection, including Japanese Samurai masks, truncheons and Wade's amazing keys collection, while the Manor at Snowshill is closed for re-servicing work.

Mr Claydon will also be introducing an object of the month from his personal collection in the house in 2004, including an 18th century ink well made from Sheffield Plate.

The first open day will be on Thursday, April 1 and not as stated last week. Open days will follow on succeeding Wednesdays and Thursdays during April and May and on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from June until the end of October.

Newark Park will also be open on Bank Holiday Mondays from April to October. Opening times will be 11am to 5pm.