What's happening in January:

In the gardens the first bulbs are beginning to flower. Snowdrops and aconites are slowly emerging. Clusters of pale green, bell-shaped flowers are on the Helleborus foetidus, a close relative of the Christmas rose.

What the gardeners are doing this month:

Depending on the weather, we will be raking leaves away from clumps of snowdrops, replanting any that have been lifted by the frost. Now is a good time to give tools a thorough cleaning, oiling metal surfaces to discourage rusting. We will be looking closely at fences, trellises and other wooded structures to put right any damage caused by high winds or heavy falls of snow.

Designer gardens

Come explore the 30 acre Thomas Mawson designed Arts and Crafts garden. With views over Windermere and towards the Langdale Pikes, this is a garden with a magnificent backdrop.

Depending on the season you can walk along the terraces to see dazzling displays of camellias, magnolias and rhododendrons filling the air with delicate fragrances.

Elsewhere there's the cherished Handkerchief Tree with its fluttering white flowers and the beautiful vivid crimson blooms of the Chilean Lantern Tree. Other features include:

• Herbaceous and mixed borders
• Old fashioned and shrub roses
• Wildflower meadow
• Kitchen garden with fruit, vegetables, herbs and cut flowers

We use environmentally friendly techniques including composting, recycling and the minimal use of pesticides, peat and water resources. The gardens are home to a wide variety of birds and wildlife and are open 365 days from dawn until 6pm.