The Shepton Mallet Snowdrop Project, a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, is run entirely by volunteers. Each year we run a Snowdrop Festival in February, fund raise to buy snowdrop bulbs through Shepton Open Gardens in June and plant them across the town each autumn. James Allen, a remarkable C19th breeder of snowdrops who became known as the Snowdrop King, lived here and each year we celebrate his legacy.
The Festival also helps to support the regeneration of Shepton Mallet, raising the town’s profile and attracting visitors. We want local people and businesses to feel proud of the influences and people that shaped this historic town, in particular James Allen.
A fitting tribute
In 2022 we celebrated the raising of a new beautifully carved stone obelisk onto the family grave of James Allen, carved by a very talented stonemason. The original memorial had fallen into disrepair. His funeral in 1906 took place in a heavy snowstorm and several of the wreaths were ‘of the spring flowers in great variety to which he had devoted so much attention’. *
* Excerpt from the 1906 obituary in the local paper.
