Planning is ramping up now for the 2027 Shepton Snwodrop Festival next year – the core dates are Friday 19 and Saturday 20 February 2027.
More exciting details of the Festival programme will be coming very soon. In the meantime, the two annual competitions – Poetry and Photography – have just been launched.
Trees and the Landscape: For Photography this year we’re thrilled to welcome new judge, Charlie Waite, widely acknowledged as one of the world’s greatest landscape photographers. Photographers have long been drawn to the majesty of trees and their landscape. Now we’re inviting photographers, young and old, to capture their essence and their beauty, standing alone, in the most exuberant or in the starkest of urban landscapes. Here are a few thoughts from Charlie about the theme and what he’ll be looking for:
‘Trees are among the most eloquent subjects in the landscape. They speak quietly of endurance, change and the passage of time, yet they are never separate from the world around them. Whether standing alone or as part of a woodland, they shape the landscape just as surely as light, weather and season.
‘Look beyond simply photographing a tree. Consider its relationship with its surroundings and with the light that reveals its character. Ask yourself what drew you to a particular tree, and what it is saying within the landscape. It may be strength or fragility, solitude or companionship, permanence or renewal. It might be the intricate detail of bark, the elegance of a single branch, or the way mist, rain or early morning light transforms an ordinary scene into something memorable.
Water is Life: Wendy Pratt, an author and poet living on the coast in North Yorkshire, returns once again as judge. Her latest poetry collection, Blackbird Singing at Dusk, and her nature-landscape memoir, The Ghost Lake, were both published in 2024. Wendy is currently working on her first novel.
The theme for the 2027 Poetry Competition – Water is Life – has never been more relevant with the extreme weather patterns we have seen over the course of the summer.
Wendy Pratt shares her thoughts on the theme and what she will be looking for as judge:
‘Think not only of the necessity of water for survival, but how you, personally, interact with water. How does it feel to immerse your body in wild water? How does it feel to place your arm-band clad children in the swimming pool for the first time? What does it feel like to float on a river, or wade through a bog or cup frog spawn in your hands?
‘What are your fears for the future. We’ve just passed through one of the worst droughts ever recorded in Britain; what did you notice about the world without water? What does a future of melting glaciers and extreme weather mean to you? The environmental crisis can feel like an abstract concept, so tell me about the details, show me your perspective, how you are being affected. … And don’t forget, the reason why the planet is so important is because it is our home, it is beautiful, it is extraordinary so don’t be afraid to express joy.
Entry details: Both competitions are now open; closing for Poetry is Sunday 3 January 2027 and for Photography, Sunday 10 January.
As well as adults, we would like to see budding young poets and photographers enter in two of the three categories – 11 & under, and 12-17. The prize for the winning poem from 18 and over entries is £300. There are prizes of £50 and £100 respectively for the younger age groups.
For full details, and information about how to enter, visit the Festival website: https://www.sheptonsnowdrops.org.uk/competitions/