Address
Shaftesbury Snowdrops
c/o Councillor Tim Cook
The Town Hall
High Street
Shaftesbury
Dorset
SP7 8LY
Shaftesbury Snowdrops
Come and enjoy hundreds of thousands of snowdrops planted in and around the historic hilltop town of Shaftesbury, Dorset. The snowdrops bloom from late January to mid-March and include examples of rare and unusual Galanthus species and cultivars.
Shaftesbury’s snowdrop season is one of the biggest events of its type in the country and the town’s free snowdrop walks, including wheelchair and pushchair accessible routes, can be enjoyed by all, including dogs. Activities on offer during the season include an open snowdrop art exhibition at Shaftesbury Arts Centre, snowdrop-themed craft classes and visits to local landmarks.
Shaftesbury Snowdrops on BBC Countryfile
23 February 2020
We are very excited to confirm that BBC Countryfile came to Shaftesbury to film the activities of the Snowdrop Season, including some of the artisans and organisations who work with us. A huge thank you to the BBC and to all the volunteers who made the filming possible over two very busy days. Enjoy the programme https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000fs1q.
Come and visit us during Snowdrop Season 2021.
For more pictures see our Gallery
We are creating a 21st Century Legacy for the local community and our visitors to enjoy
“Just as the flowers provide pleasure and the promise of spring to come, the Season creates a sense of excitement and brings townspeople and visitors together in enjoying everything Shaftesbury has to offer.”
Founder, Pam Cruickshank
Timelapse photography is thanks to and copyright of Neil Bromhall
Background image is thanks to and copyright of Jane Shepherd
Facebook Latest
Curious about the dragon who appeared on @BBCCountryfile?
Shaftesbury has a long history and part of that history is the legend of ‘Galanthus’ Shaftesbury’s snowdrop dragon.
Grown from a single sparkling bulb amongst snowdrops, Galanthus grew up in the time of Alfred the Great and his family in Shaftesbury. For centuries Galanthus brought good fortune to the town and then at the time of the dissolution he fled and hid in the tunnels under the hill; the town’s people now chant for him to reappear each Snowdrop Season:
‘Galanthus, Galanthus, in your tunnels deep,
Galanthus, Galanthus, wake now from your sleep!’
The full story is retold each year at the Snowdrop lantern parade. This year’s parade had been postponed because of the bad weather.
Check in with us to find out the new date soon.
Many thanks to Peter Wells for this lovely photo of everyone at the end of our walk.
The sun came out after all. ☀️
Thank you to everyone who braved the showery start to join our snowdrop walk this afternoon.
Special thanks to our kind hosts at St James' for providing tea and biscuits. ☕🍪
We hope you all enjoyed it.
Shaftesbury Snowdrops on BBC Countryfile 23rd February 2020.
We are happy to confirm that @BBCCountryfile came to Shaftesbury to film some of the activities that make the #snowdropseason possible including some of the artisans and organisations who work with us. A huge thank you to the BBC and to all the volunteers who made the filming possible over two very busy days. Do tune in to Countryfile on Sunday 23rd at 18:10 and come and visit us during Snowdrop season!
#thehighpointofdorset
Our thanks to Shaftesbury Home Grown for nurturing the snowdrops for planting and to Stepsintime Dance Side for the picture!
Shaftesbury's snowdrops stand defiant after Ciara and Dennis!
We may be looking a bit bedraggled in places but we're hanging in there.
We are so sorry but, once again, Mother Nature has decided to throw her worst weather at us for the weekend. 🌧️🌧️🌧️🌪️🌪️
We feel that we have no choice and must cancel the walk scheduled for Sunday.
We are very sorry but the weather forecast for Sunday 9th is terrible so, for safety reasons, we must cancel the first snowdrop walk.
The walk on the 16th is still going ahead as planned