The first snowdrops appear here in Somerset around the end of January and they are a sign to herald in the end of Winter. Many of the Best Places to see snowdrops in Somerset are not far from us here in Glastonbury. Here is a list of the Best places to find snowdrops in Somerset.
These little white flowers appear in gardens all over the country but Somerset can possibly be called the home of the Snowdrop. It was not far from us here in Glastonbury, in the market town of Shepton Mallet that the first cultivated Snowdrop varieties were bred.
An amateur horticulturist from Shepton Mallet named James Allen was the first person to breed new varieties from wild snowdrops. In the late 19th century it became fashionable to breed snowdrops and James Allen became one of Britain’s top snowdrop hybridisers. He grew all the species and varieties then known and was probably the first person to deliberately cross them and raise hybrids from seed.
James Allen became known as ‘snowdrop’ king. Shepton Mallet are rekindling James Allen’s enthusiasm and passion for snowdrops in the town. The Royal Horticultural Society of Shepton has adopted the flower as its emblem and are encouraging the planting of snowdrops, in gardens, schools, parks and other public places in and around the town.
Now there is a Snowdrop Festival in the town of Shepton Mallet
In 2022 the Annual Snowdrop festival will be held on the 19th and 20th of February. For details of the events over the weekend visit the Snowdrop Festival Website.
If you can’t make it along for the Snowdrop festival there are plenty of other places to see the stunning Snowdrop displays here in Somerset. Here is a list of the best places to spot Snowdrops in Somerset:
- Snowdrop Valley is a privately owned remote valley in a hidden part of Exmoor close to Wheddon Cross. The owners open up the land to the public from February 1st until Sunday 24th February. For more information and directions here is their snowdrop valley leaflet .
- Glastonbury Abbey
The 45 acres of Glastonbury Abbey is covered with a carpet of snowdrops every January and February. The Abbey is open 7 days a week. - The walk around the moat of Bishops Palace and Gardens is one of my favourite walks in the winter. The grounds and the moat walk are covered with a blanket of snowdrops. There are hosting snowdrop weekends throughout February. For more information here is the page on it all Snowdrop Weekends at Bishops Palace.
- If you carry on from the Palace up into Tor Hill Woods afterwards you may be in for an extra surprise when the woods come alive with wild garlic in February. Or if you want to go on a further adventure on the hunt for Wild Garlic you can head to the Quantock Hills. Here is one of my favourite walks in the Quantocks
- One of England’s best-loved privately owned gardens, East Lambrook Manor Gardens will be open from Tuesday to Sunday during February for visitors to marvel at the specialist collection of snowdrops.
- National Trust-owned Prior Park in Bath is open on weekends throughout the winter so that visitors can enjoy the snowdrops around the landscaped gardens. For more information visit and opening hours visit the Prior Park Website
- Forde Abbey and Gardens in Chard are open throughout February for visitors to visit the 30 acres of award-winning gardens. The grounds are carpeted in a spectacular display of snowdrops and crocuses.
- Hestercombe Gardens is just outside Taunton and in February the grounds are covered with snowdrops. Set in fifty acres it is a unique combination of three centuries of garden design. The most famous of the garden designers was Gertrude Jekyll, one of the most influential women in horticulture at the turn of the 20th century. She designed over 400 gardens around the world with Hestercombe being one of her most important ones. Gertrude Jekyll was also a famous writer, photographer, artist and craftswoman. The gardens are open every day except Christmas Day and they are dog-friendly. The cafe in the old stables serves very nice food. There is a restaurant and art gallery inside Hestercombe House.