Chawton House is looking forward to an influx of flower-loving customers on February 18 as it hosts its second Snowdrop Spectacular from 10am to 3.30pm.

Chief executive Katie Childs said: “We cannot wait to welcome visitors to see our spectacular swathes of snowdrops throughout the gardens.

“After a long January, there is such joy in walking through drifts of these beautiful flowers on a crisp winter day.”

Accompanying the floral displays is Chawton House’s spring events programme.

Indoors the Treasures of Chawton House exhibition continues until May 6, telling stories from Knight and Austen family history and exploring early women’s writing with a range of precious objects.

After this Chawton in Stitches will showcase the work of an award-winning graduate of the Royal School of Needlework, Emily Barnett, whose project takes inspiration from the gardens and collection at Chawton House.

Half-term fun continues until Sunday from 10.30am to 3.30pm, with children’s trails every day and billiards room activities today (Thursday) and tomorrow. 

Head gardener Julia Weaver will lead a guided garden tour today from 10.30am to 11.30am, and on Wednesday a volunteer will lead a guided tour of the house from 10.30am to 11.45am.

Also on Wednesday two-course roast dinners will be available in the Old Kitchen Tea Room, from midday until 1.15pm or 1.30pm to 2.45pm.

Following the snowdrops, the gardens will move on to daffodils, bluebells and roses. Four years of work by the garden team, volunteers and Chawton Primary School pupils have seen the shrubbery, wilderness and borders restored, and 16,000 spring bulbs planted.

The spokesperson said: “At Chawton House, there is no bleak midwinter - from February the gardens are a joyous riot of blooms. We can’t wait to share it with our visitors.”