Shaftesbury Snowdrops
c/o Councillor Tim Cook
The Town Hall
High Street
Shaftesbury
Dorset
SP7 8LY
Shaftesbury Snowdrops
Shaftesbury Snowdrops is a unique project to create a natural legacy from late Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
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.
The Shaftesbury Snowdrop Event – Saturday 18th February 2023
1) There will be children’s morning and afternoon lantern making workshops held at the Trinity Centre Bimport. Ticket only entry unless you only need to refurbish a lantern from last year in which case just turn up.
Times Morning: 10.30-13.00. Afternoon 13.30-16.00
Under 9s must be accompanied by adult. Limited numbers, free tickets from the TIC in person only.
2) At 11.00 in the Arts Centre there will be a fascinating talk by Gail Harland of the RHS. We are so lucky to have her this year. Free admission – donations at door welcome. Tickets from the TIC.
More on Gail below.
3) After the talk people are free to have lunch anywhere they wish in the town and walk among the snowdrops in the grounds of the Trinity Centre or visit the arts centre gallery for the Snowdrops in Arts exhibition
4) Snowdrop walks are available from the TIC (20p each). An easy guided Snowdrop walk with Rachel Diment 18th leaving from the Town Hall at 1pm.
5) In the afternoon Springhead at Fontmell Magna will be holding an open garden including a chance to see the Heritage Collection. Open 13.00-Dusk. Refreshments available. Free admission but donations welcome.
More below.
6) At 18.00 meet for a lantern procession from the Trinity Centre around the town and Park Walk led by Steps in Time accompanied by musicians. The procession leaves at 18.15 and Steps in time will be performing Snowdrops dances.
7) Traditional/Folk music session, under King Alfred’s Kitchen in the medieval cellar. After the Snowdrop Lantern Parade, approx. 7pm, join us to warm up and listen to some tunes, in the cellar bar with light refreshments from the tea rooms.
On Sunday 19th the National Trust’s Kingston Lacy gardens will be open 9.30-17.00 for more snowdrops
Further afield you can visit Tyneham Village and Upton Country Park for great displays.
This year we are delighted to have a talk by Gail Harland.
Saturday 18th February 11am – Free admission – donations at door welcome. Tickets from the TIC.
Gail was born in Aldridge in 1963 and grew up in Sutton Coldfield. She gained a BSc in Nutrition and Dietetics from The University of Wales. She started writing articles for the horticultural press in 1993 and was awarded The Royal Horticultural Society’s Diploma in Horticulture in 1999. She is a professional dietician, keen photographer, horticultural writer and author of a number of books including “The Tomato Book”, “Designing and Creating a Cottage Garden”, “The Weed Digest” and ”Photographing your Garden”. ”Peonies” was written for the specialist group of the Hardy Plant Society and more recently “Snowdrops”. Gail has had work published by a number of magazines including The Lady, Amateur Gardening, Country Smallholding and Parrots. In 2016 she published the widely read and acclaimed ‘Snowdrops’.
Gail’s talk is about the significance of snowdrops and explores how they have been used by non-gardeners as symbols of purity and of hope and consolation. She will look at the social and cultural impact of plants as well as their botanical and horticultural importance. There will be delightful, and sometimes humorous, stories of galanthophiles–the men and women who have collected, bred, described and enthused about snowdrops.
Whether you are a galanthophile or merely just like to look at flowers this talk will have something for everyone. Admission free – donations on the door welcome.
Celebrate the Coming of Spring at Springhead
Visit our first open gardens of the year. As well as having the chance to wander around the formal and informal lakeside gardens and enjoy the beautiful drifts of snowdrops, you will also be able to see some of the named snowdrop varieties held at Springhead.
The gardens will be open from Monday 6th until Sunday 12th February from 11am to 3pm.
In addition, the gardens will be open on Saturday 18th February from 1 pm until 4.30 pm as part of Shaftesbury’s annual snowdrop celebrations.
Light Refreshments will be available throughout the day on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th provided by, and in aid of, St Andrew’s Primary School, Fontmell Magna.
Entry to the gardens will be free but donations would be appreciated.
Dogs on leads are welcome and there is assisted wheelchair access.
For more information email info@springheadtrust.org.uk or call us on 01747 811853.
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.
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