I referred to the "Snowdrop spinney" near Hitchin a few weeks ago [entry dated 19th. January]. I noted that the ruin of an ancient cottage once stood there. I speculated the Snowdrops may be a remnant of the cottage garden. They grow along the banks of the adjacent stream from that point onwards. The stream feeds into a marshy woodland about half a mile away which has carpets of Snowdrops as seen above. 

  I observed the Snowdrops in the spinney are Galanthus nivalis f. pleniflorous. This is the uncommon double flowered form of the Common Snowdrop, sometimes a feature of old gardens. I wondered if it's doubles downstream which would strengthen my theory that the spinney is the source of the colony. I went to the woodland and sure enough they are...