ONE OF the joys of late winter is a carpet of snowdrops suddenly appearing to humbly herald in brighter days to come.

And it is worth wrapping up and heading out to one of our stunning National Trust properties or open gardens to see this seasonal spectacle.

From now until early March displays of these harbingers of spring start to appear at Hampshire stately homes including Hinton Ampner and Mottisfort.

Over the border into Sussex, a walk around the glorious 700-acre grounds at Petworth House, with far reaching views of the South Downs, will reap rewards too.

You’ll find hundreds of delicate snowdrops beneath the trees on the East Lawn at Hinton Ampner, near Bramdean, which, even in the depths of winter is full of scent and colour.

Hinton’s previous owner, Ralph Dutton, designed this lawn around the tiny parish church in the grounds.

He knew that even in the colder months the church’s congregation would gather on the grass after the Sunday service, so he planted the border there with fragrant winter flowers.

There are daphnes, which have a zingy lime scent and tiny pink flowers.

There are pretty hellebores too, as well as the golden flowered Cornelian cherry, sweet box Sarcococcas, with its heady honey scent, and colourful crocuses.

Snowdrops appear along the banks of the Font stream of the ancient former priory of Mottisfont, where the warmer water creates its own microclimate.

Mottisfont, near Romsey, also contains the National Trust’s newest winter garden, exploring the potential of plants at their most beautiful and interesting when in hibernation.

Take in the floral highlights on a winter interest walk with head gardener Stephen Herrington at Nymans in West Sussex on February 18, 11am to noon. The cost is £5 (normal admission applies).

Said Stephen: “It’s always a joy when the first snowdrops break through the frozen ground.

“Along with aconites and primroses, they are the harbingers of spring. They are best seen in half-light and, of course, amid the winter snow. On mild, late winter days, they are beloved by honey bees.”

See snowdrops and early spring colour too at gardens open in this area for the National Gardens Scheme.

Bramdean House, Bramdean, is open to visitors on Sunday, February 14, 2-4pm, admission £5.

See carpets of bulbs, especially snowdrops, at the five-acre garden on chalk.

A large and unusual collection of plants and shrubs give all-round interest. There are teas, and plants for sale.

The two acres laid out in rooms overlooking Itchen Valley at Down House at Itchen Abbas are open on Sunday, February 21, noon to 4pm, admission £4.

Snowdrops, aconite and crocuses festoon the gardens, and there are also borders of coloured dogwood, willow stems and white birches. There are teas and plants for sale there too.

On February 21, 22 and 23, head for Little Court, Crawley, near Winchester, open from 2-5pm, admission £3, for a spring spectacular with thousands of bulbs including snowdrops.