5 Reasons to Love February
February may be the shortest month, but it certainly packs a punch when it comes to blowing off the cobwebs. Some say February is the border between winter and spring, so it’s the perfect time to come out of hibernation. Others are a bit more cynical, saying that February is the shortest month for a reason.
Whether you’re a hopeless romantic on Valentine’s Day, looking forward to Pancake Day or Chinese New Year, or you’ll just be glad to see the back of dry January, here are our top 5 reasons to love February.
1. Snowdrops
Snowdrops are already starting to show their heads in some parts of the UK, but here in Chapel Lawn they really start to emerge in early February. Last year we had more than ever in our garden and along the verges.
Planting "in the green"
Our 3rd February 2021 posts on Instagram and Facebook created quite a conversation. We had several comments about splitting up snowdrops and planting them “in the green”, an expression we hadn’t heard of before. A quick internet search revealed that this means planting when the snowdrop still has leaves. This makes it easy to divide and replant them for greater spread in subsequent years – a practice that seems to be quite common in these parts.
Best Place to See Snowdrops Near The School House B&B
Although we do have a fine display of snowdrops in Chapel Lawn each February the best place to see them near us is Stanton Lacy churchyard, about 25 minutes’ drive from The School House. It’s well worth a short diversion on the way into Ludlow.
2. The First Lambs
Being surrounded by beautiful countryside, one of our favourite times of the year is lambing season. In Chapel Lawn they start to appear in late February and there’s nothing more heart-warming than the sight and sound of a new-born lamb. Their comical leaps and bounds are the perfect way to lift the spirits as we leave behind the short days and long nights of winter.
3. Real Bread Week
Here at The School House, we bake our own bread for our guests’ breakfasts. We usually bake a 50/50 loaf using wholemeal and white flour, which our guests love, though we are always happy to bake a plain white loaf if preferred. It tastes particularly good toasted with our home-made Seville orange marmalade.
Try a New Bread Recipe
In the past we’ve experimented with an overnight Marmite loaf and we recently made a sundried tomato loaf for a soup lunch with friends, which was delicious. During Real Bread Week we like to try some different breakfast bread recipes.
4. Bishop’s Castle Arts Festival
We had a wander around Bishops’ Castle on New Year’s Day and it was buzzing. Pubs were open, people were out walking their dogs and the Christmas tree and town lights were twinkling. There’s so much to say about Bishop’s Castle that it’s worthy of a full blog post. The annual arts festival takes place at the end of February each year.
Workshops and More
As well as exhibitions and open studios in various venues throughout the town, the festival includes workshops on willow-weaving, stained glass, origami, poetry and cartoons. There’s also plenty of entertainment - previous years have included piano recitals, a Balkan Ceilidh and a rhythm band in the programme. It really is a great few days to spend time in this colourful little town.
5. Clear Blue Skies
It may be hard to believe, but some of the clearest blue skies can be seen in February. There may be a light dusting of snow here and there, but many of February’s days are filled with sunshine so it’s a great time to blow off the cobwebs and get out for a good walk.
Walks from the Door
The walk up to the top of Caer Caradoc, opposite The School House, is about 1.5 hours and on a clear day you’ll get some far-reaching views across Wales and towards the Stretton Hills. With a delicious breakfast to set you up and a cosy room to come back to after a walk from the door, you’ll be glad you chose a February visit to The School House B&B.
