Wimpole Estate: Survey shows historic daffodil collection

Over a four-year period, 77 varieties of daffodils have been recorded, covering 20 acres of garden.

Daffodils were the favourite flower of Wimpole's last private owner, Elsie Bambridge, who was the daughter of author Rudyard Kipling.

The Bridal Crown daffodil at Wimpole Estate (Image: National Trust Images/Justin Minns)

Elsie planted several varieties of daffodil herself in the gardens, and requested cut flowers be displayed at Wimpole Hall during spring - a tradition which National Trust staff and volunteers continue today.

Tom Fradd, head gardener at Wimpole Estate, said: "The daffodil survey, which started in 2019 and restarted after the coronavirus pandemic, was part of a research project that would give us a more complete picture of the varieties grown here at Wimpole, which has one of the largest collections of this spring bulb in the National Trust.

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"Several varieties have been discovered during the course of the survey, some with rare status, some we were unaware existed and others with a fascinating backstory."

The Narcissus Barrii Conspicuous (Image: Phil Sandell)

One of the newly documented flowers is the 'Narcissus Barrii Conspicuous', which is believed to have been planted in the early 1900s.

National Trust experts described the flower as "very rare, special and historic".

Other rare discoveries include a single specimen of 'Narcissus Princeps', first registered in 1830, while the oldest recorded daffodil was 'Narcissus Telamonius Plenus' - first cultivated in the 1700s in London.

The Narcissus Telamonius Plenus is the oldest recorded daffodil at Wimpole Estate (Image: Phil Sandell)

The survey began in March 2019 and was completed in July 2022 by volunteer Phil Sandell.

Phil said: "Trying to record each variety of narcissus and daffodil at Wimpole turned out to be a mammoth undertaking but I hope the results are worthwhile.

"Visitors to Wimpole now have an opportunity not only to delight in our splendid display of spring blooms but to discover what they are looking at and its significance in the history of Wimpole’s gardens."

Volunteer Phil Sandell conducts the daffodil survey at Wimpole (Image: Mike Selby)

Visitors can enjoy daffodils across the estate between March and May, with the peak of the spring blooms in April, when most of the varieties will emerge.

The gardens are open daily from 9.30am to 4.30pm.

Narcissus Princeps, a rare daffodil found at the Wimpole Estate (Image: Phil Sandell)