Shaftesbury Snowdrops

Snowdrops at Holy Trinity Church - Shaftesbury, Dorset, UK. ID JB_1032H

Snowdrops at Holy Trinity Church – Shaftesbury, Dorset, UK. ID JB_1032H

Today I went on an adventure over the border out of Somerset into the neighbouring county of Dorset.

Shaftesbury Snowdrops

Shaftesbury Snowdrops is a fanastic project to create a legacy from the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee back 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.

Trinity Church

If you do any walk around the town to see the snowdrops then you most not miss the churchyard of Trinity Church.

Snowdrops at Holy Trinity Church - Shaftesbury, Dorset, UK. ID JB_0971

Snowdrops at Holy Trinity Church – Shaftesbury, Dorset, UK. ID JB_0971

I had made a few visits but missed out each time with dull grey weather.  Today my luck changed, I arrived early in the morning to capture the flowers in the golden early morning light of winter.

Snowdrops at Holy Trinity Church - Shaftesbury, Dorset, UK. ID JB_0994

Snowdrops at Holy Trinity Church – Shaftesbury, Dorset, UK. ID JB_0994

Doing my research I had seen a few pictures of a chest tomb surrounded by snowdrops.  So it was a mandatory subject for today.  The morning light cut through between the yew trees to illuminate the tomb.

Snowdrops at Holy Trinity Church - Shaftesbury, Dorset, UK. ID JB_0997

Snowdrops at Holy Trinity Church – Shaftesbury, Dorset, UK. ID JB_0997

Snowdrops

Snowdrops bring a spark of life to the town.  In doing so they mark the beginning of the end of winter.  The small brave pearls emerge into a very cold world.  Frost, snow and freezing weather do their worst but snowdrops still manage to return each year.

Snowdrops - Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset, UK. ID JB_1182

Snowdrops – Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset, UK. ID JB_1182

Most snowdrops in England have not spread naturally but were planted.  Sometimes this was centuries ago and so they have spread out along valleys and field edges.  Most were planted in churchyards where they were linked with death.  In Shaftesbury they have planted an amazing 200,000 bulbs since 2012.

I do not want to believe in the myths associating them with death.  Instead, I enjoy the life of these delicate little pearls.

Snowdrops - Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset, UK. ID JB_1148

Snowdrops – Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset, UK. ID JB_1148

Snowdrop Walks

The Shaftesbury Snowdrops website also provides a set of walks featuring snowdrops.  These take you along the Pine Walk with wide open views across the countryside.

Church of St James from Pine Walk - Shaftesbury, Dorset, UK. ID JB_1072

Church of St James from Pine Walk – Shaftesbury, Dorset, UK. ID JB_1072

As well as Stoney Path, a steep path lined with snowdrops.

Snowdrops on Stoney Path - Shaftesbury, Dorset, UK. ID JB_1083H

Snowdrops on Stoney Path – Shaftesbury, Dorset, UK. ID JB_1083H

More Information

  • https://shaftesburysnowdrops.org/

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