Chirk Castle covered in snow - snowdrops that is
A carpet of snow surrounds Chirk Castle as the wintry weather shows no signs of abating.
Sleet or snow showers mixed with bright sunny spells are set to last over the weekend and into next week as cold air blasts down from the Arctic.
But if you are brave enough to venture out – with temperatures climbing no higher than 4C or 39.2F and feeling much colder – snowdrops are already making an appearance and one of the biggest gardens in the region is celebrating them throughout February.
The National Trust at Chirk Castle is inviting visitors to chase away the winter blues with a walk around the castle's award-winning gardens, and see a carpet of delicate snowdrops in the Pleasure Ground Wood.
Visitors can take a break in the Woodsman's Hut and enjoy the fire.
The gardens cover 5.5 acres of manicured lawns, clipped yews, herbaceous borders, beautiful rose, shrub and rock gardens, and the wooded pleasure ground.
There is also the terrace overlooking the 18th century 'ha-ha' at the bottom of the garden, with stunning views over the Cheshire and Shropshire plains.
Chirk Castle has over 480 acres of estate parkland with wild ponies, sheep, veteran trees, and a beautifully preserved section of Offa's Dyke.
The estate is located within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has also been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest as an important habitat for rare invertebrates, bats, fungi, and wild flowers.
