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 2022: artwork copyright Percy Lizzard; poster design Liz Martin
Shaftesbury Snowdrop Season 2022
Snowdrops are blooming and the town of Shaftesbury is welcoming visitors from far and wide to enjoy everything the High Point of Dorset has to offer.
Snowdrops planted as a tribute to her majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee are flourishing in the grounds of the Trinity Centre, which is just off the High Street. The grounds are fully accessible for all, even dogs on a lead are welcome. It’s the perfect place for a timely family photo in this Platinum Jubilee Year.
The Best In The West sale of rare and unusual snowdrops is on Saturday the 12th of February 2022. the Snowdrop sale is held in Shaftesbury Guildhall on the High Street, above our famous Gold Hill. The sale will open at 12 noon and closes by 4 pm. The entry fee is £5 payable either on the door or in advance from the Tourist Information Centre.
The Shaftesbury Arts Centre gallery on Bell Street (opposite the Tourist Information Centre) will have its display of Snowdrops in Art from friday the 4th of February until the end of the day on Saturday, the 19th of February. The Gallery is open from 10am until 4pm each day. This show is always worth visiting, there are wonderful exhibits every year, and you can help pick the public winner from the exhibition.
The winner in 2021 when the exhibition was held virtually was Gabrielle Bill. Her beautiful image is what you see here.
The Shaftesbury Heritage Collection of Snowdrops, formerly displayed in the grounds of Shaftesbury Abbey, is settled in its new home at the Springhead Trust in Fontmel Magna, which is about 6 miles south of Shaftesbury off the A350.
Information about the Snowdrops, walks and snowdrop souvenirs can be found at the Tourist Information Centre on Bell Street, Shaftesbury SP78AE.
Pam Cruickshank
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
For 2022![]()
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The ‘Best in the West’ snowdrop sale is on Saturday 12th February 2022 in the Shaftesbury Guildhall from 12 noon until 4pm. ![]()
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Snowdrops in Art at Shaftesbury Arts Centre on Bell Street 10am - 4pm![]()
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The snowdrops around the town will be flourishing for everyone to see.
Virtual Snowdrop Festival of Art 2021![]()
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As well as the beautiful snowdrops you can see around the town here at Shaftesbury Snowdrops HQ we are celebrating this year’s snowdrops with our own virtual Festival of Art.![]()
We are inviting local people both adults and children alike, to create a piece of snowdrop-related artwork, (it can be any kind of art) and send us a picture of it that we can display on our website gallery.![]()
The pieces will be exhibited in our virtual exhibition, and a panel of judges, including local artist Percy Lizzard who designed this year’s image and Jon Cory who masterminded the snowdrop jam jar lanterns for This is Alfred (we can’t wait to see your pictures of those) will choose a winning entry. ![]()
Once you have sent us an electronic version of your artwork, please place the original artwork in your window if possible, so that passersby can enjoy this year’s snowdrop season safely during the covid-19 restrictions.![]()
Your snowdrop art images along with your name and address should be emailed to gallery@shaftesburysnowdrops.org by 28/02/2021. ![]()
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When you are out shopping or for exercise do go past the Arts Centre Gallery where you’ll see some of the past years snowdrop artworks too. We hope the annual Shaftesbury Arts Centre ‘Snowdrops in Art Exhibition’ will be back in February 2022. If you’d like to enter next year please send an email to gallery@shaftesburyartscentre.org.uk![]()
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Good luck to everyone and enjoy this opportunity to be creative during the current lockdown!
Happy 2021 to all our friends and fellow galanthophiles. We are so lucky we can still get out and explore the snowdrops around Shaftesbury #thehighspotofdorset and in the places where we live. There’s no need to stay socially distanced from the snowdrops. Did you know that some smell of honey?![]()
Keep well.
We have 100s of snowdrops that need to be planted in our town. They will be ready in February 2021. If you or a community group would like some to plant please get in touch!
Best wishes to the organisers and artists for the reopening of the Gallery!![]()
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It’s June 1st and almost all the snowdrops in my garden have finished their growing for this year. If like me you’ve still got a few green leaves poking through it’s safe to cut these off now and not damage your bulbs for next year’s flowers. ![]()
I’ve lifted some bulbs this year to plant elsewhere over the coming months. These are stored in dry earth or sand in the cool of our shady garden shed. ![]()
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The Heritage Collection for Shaftesbury will need attention over the summer. Please email us on info@shaftesburysnowdrops.org if you can spare a couple of hours to help our one day.
From our archives, day 14: Easter Sunday. ![]()
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The end of abstinence from chocolate for many. We’ve never found a chocolate snowdrop but did indulge in a wild goose chase in Shaftesbury one February with a daily prize of a chocolate one for spotting all the snowdrops. We also hunted for a silver snowdrop made by local artisan silversmith Jes Holt. Lucky lady who won it. Jes makes earrings too. We hope to have some for sale next February. As you can see we’ve even had a snowdrop cake (we’ve had a few) made a by a talented local sugar-crafter. ![]()
Our snowdrops come in many guises through our local ‘Snowdrops in Art’ exhibition. Check back with us again to see some of the wonderful art that has grown from our legacy.
From our archives, day 13: Good Friday. ![]()
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In 2019 we commissioned some![]()
beautiful hand made and decorated pots from local potter Jonathan Garrett. Here are members of our volunteer team preparing snowdrops for public display. Have a happy and healthy Easter.