"WE’RE back organising visits to Snowdrop Valley once again - we do it because it is so incredibly popular - thousands of people love to see the great carpets of flowers," says Rest And Be Thankful landlord Eric Norman, who chairs a committee at Wheddon Cross set up specifically to accommodate the annual snowdrop-rush on what is privately-owned land.

The remote valley has been out-of-bounds for the past two years because of Covid restrictions. "Because of the pandemic we will not be running the usual park-and-ride bus service," Eric said. "But thanks to Exmoor Farmers’ Market we have a car park and the walks are all signposted and marshalled - and there will be a special mobile refreshment unit to help keep walkers fuelled."

Wheddon Cross is believed to be the only village in the world that organises a special event each winter in honour of hosts of tiny wild flowers - in doing so it manages to swell its community coffers.

The massive display of the wintry white blooms - thought to have been introduced by Benedictine monks to this part of Britain 900 years ago - has been described as one of the annual wonders of the Westcountry.

However, it was only about 40 years ago that word got around about the unique delights of Snowdrop Valley and an ever-increasingly army of nature lovers started making the annual pilgrimage to see the flowers.

Eventually this caused problems - the location is linked to the rest of the world by a steep and tortuous narrow lane called Draper’s Way - and there are few parking spots near the mass-snowdrop display which occurs in North Hawkwell Wood.

"It was mayhem - visitors come from all over Somerset and Devon and from as far afield as Bristol," says one Wheddon Cross resident. "I remember the smell of burned out clutches and burning brakes - it was one big traffic jam."

Not good for the visitors - and certainly not good for the farmers and other residents who live and work in the valley. In recent years the highway authority has been forced to close the road during snowdrop time to everyone but a handful of local residents.

The road will be closed again this year from Tuesday, February 1, until Sunday, February 27, but for snowdrop fans parking (£2.50) is being provided at the Exmoor Farmer’s Market centre at Wheddon Cross - except on the market days on February 2, 7, 9 16 and 21.

Several public rights way lead directly down into the valley, but although there will be no park-and-ride bus service this year, those who cannot manage the walk can book a ride from one of the local Exmoor safari companies for a fee. See http://www.wheddoncross.org.uk/snowdropvalley.htm for more details.

"WE’RE back organising visits to Snowdrop Valley once again - we do it because it is so incredibly popular - thousands of people love to see the great carpets of flowers," says Rest And Be Thankful landlord Eric Norman, who chairs a committee at Wheddon Cross set up specifically to accommodate the annual snowdrop-rush on what is privately-owned land.

The remote valley has been out-of-bounds for the past two years because of Covid restrictions. "Because of the pandemic we will not be running the usual park-and-ride bus service," Eric said. "But thanks to Exmoor Farmers’ Market we have a car park and the walks are all signposted and marshalled - and there will be a special mobile refreshment unit to help keep walkers fuelled."

Wheddon Cross is believed to be the only village in the world that organises a special event each winter in honour of hosts of tiny wild flowers - in doing so it manages to swell its community coffers.

The massive display of the wintry white blooms - thought to have been introduced by Benedictine monks to this part of Britain 900 years ago - has been described as one of the annual wonders of the Westcountry.

However, it was only about 40 years ago that word got around about the unique delights of Snowdrop Valley and an ever-increasingly army of nature lovers started making the annual pilgrimage to see the flowers.

Eventually this caused problems - the location is linked to the rest of the world by a steep and tortuous narrow lane called Draper’s Way - and there are few parking spots near the mass-snowdrop display which occurs in North Hawkwell Wood.

"It was mayhem - visitors come from all over Somerset and Devon and from as far afield as Bristol," says one Wheddon Cross resident. "I remember the smell of burned out clutches and burning brakes - it was one big traffic jam."

Not good for the visitors - and certainly not good for the farmers and other residents who live and work in the valley. In recent years the highway authority has been forced to close the road during snowdrop time to everyone but a handful of local residents.

The road will be closed again this year from Tuesday, February 1, until Sunday, February 27, but for snowdrop fans parking (£2.50) is being provided at the Exmoor Farmer’s Market centre at Wheddon Cross - except on the market days on February 2, 7, 9 16 and 21.

Several public rights way lead directly down into the valley, but although there will be no park-and-ride bus service this year, those who cannot manage the walk can book a ride from one of the local Exmoor safari companies for a fee. See http://www.wheddoncross.org.uk/snowdropvalley.htm for more details.

MARTIN HESP