Shepton Snowdrops

About

The Shepton Snowdrop Festival is held each February in the historic Somerset market town of Shepton Mallet, to celebrate the snowdrop. The town has a special claim to this early spring flower. James Allen, one of the earliest breeders of snowdrops from the wild and christened the Snowdrop King by his C19th peers, was born and lived his entire life here. Over the years, the Shepton Snowdrops project has planted hundreds of thousands of snowdrops around the town; each February they emerge on verges, roundabouts, community spaces and in Collett Park to create a perfect spectacle. The annual Festival celebrates the snowdrop and its heritage connections. There are walks, talks, workshops, specialist snowdrops and spring plants for sale, a selection of Somerset's finest artists and makers, poetry and photography competition displays and presentations, links with partner gardens Yeo Valley Organic Garden; The Bishop's Palace, Wells; Downside Abbey and much more.

At a glance

• Typical visit: about 3 hours