WINTER can be a long haul for those who are keen to get out into their gardens.

While a reasonable level of maintenance and upkeep is required in preparation for the growing season to start, the opportunity to spend longer periods in the great outdoors diminishes during the colder months.

However, for those who fancy looking at, and appreciating, the fruits of other gardeners' labours, then The National Gardens Scheme provides the perfect places to do just that.

Here in Yorkshire, four gardens will be opening their gates to the public to showcase the flower synonymous with the first signs of spring.

The Snowdrop Festival is a celebration of the humble galanthus and here are the details of the gardens participating in the National Garden Scheme:

Austwick Hall, Town Head Lane, Settle, features extensive drifts of common single and double snowdrops along with more than 50 other varieties.

Visitors can also view sculptures along the trail as they make their way along woodland paths during the open garden event which takes place on Wednesday February 22 from noon until 4pm. For more information call 015242 51794 or visit austwickhall.co.uk.

Sutton Gardens, Sutton Lane, Masham, feature two contrasting styles of gardens including a circular colour wheel cottage garden. The garden opens from noon until 5pm on Sunday February 26. For more information visit themews-masham.com.

Bridge Farm House, Long Lane, Great Heck, Selby, features a two acre garden divided by hedges into separate areas planted with unusual and interesting plants.

The garden, which offers all year round interest, boasts rare snowdrops along with hellebores and winter shrubs. It opens from noon until 4.30pm on Sunday February 26 for the Snowdrop Festival and also on Sunday June 11. Visitors are also welcome by arrangement in February and June.

For more information email barbaraferrari@mypostoffice.co.uk

Drifts of double snowdrops along with hellebores and fern surround Devonshire Mill, a Grade II listed water mill in Canal Lane, Pocklington, York.

This two acre garden boasts a mill stream, orchards woodland as well as herbaceous borders a hen run and greenhouses.

The garden opens from 11am until 5pm on Sunday February 19. For more information visit devonshiremill.co.uk.

Founded in 1927, The National Garden Scheme has a close association with nursing after Liverpool merchant, William Rathbone, employed a nurse to care for his wife at home.

Following his wife's death, he kept the nurse on to help poor people in the neighbourhood and raised funds for recruitment, as well as the training and employment of nurses, to go into deprived areas of the city. This early idea of 'district nursing' idea soon spread throughout the UK.

Opening gardens to the public for a fee developed from an idea to raise money for a special fund set up in memory of Queen Alexandra to train and also support nurses who were retiring.

Initially individuals were asked to open their gardens for 'a shilling a head.' In the first year 609 gardens raised more than £8,000. By 1931 a network of volunteer County Organisers had been set up and more than 1,000 private gardens were open.

During the same year 'The Yellow Book' - a handbook of participating gardens was launched and christened due to its bright cover. It was renamed 'Gardens to Visit' in 2015.

Since its launch, the National Gardens Scheme has donated more than £45 million to its beneficiary charities, of which nearly £23 million has been donated within the last ten years. Its commitment to nursing and caring continues.

For more information about the gardens participating in this month's Snowdrop Festival, or to get involved, visit ngs.org.uk