A small village churchyard bursting with snowdrops was the setting for a community event which brought people from across the community together for a day of nature, and conversation. The idea for the Snowdrop Extravaganza at Keinton Mandeville Church came from Revd Jane Durham. Inspired by the many snowdrops in the churchyard and similar gatherings in other parts of Somerset, Jane suggested putting on their own snowdrop event at the church.
So, the team set about creating an event based around the snowdrops. A snowdrop specialist was invited to give a talk, visitors were offered refreshments and lunch. For a small donation, they could also buy a clump of snowdrops to plant in their own garden.
Debbie von Bergen, Treasurer of Keinton Mandeville PCC and a member of the Eco Church team, said, “The highlight of the day was the expert talk given by Mickey Little, a well-regarded snowdrop specialist. He was fantastic—he not only gave a talk in the morning but spent the entire day with us and shared his knowledge. He had such an engaging way with people, even those who don’t know much about plants.
“People told us they really appreciated having something to do at this time of year when it’s often cold and quiet. With that in mind we made sure the church was warm, and they loved the idea of having soup—it meant a hot meal without having to cook for themselves.”
Beyond celebrating the beauty of snowdrops, the event also linked into the church’s eco initiatives. “It ticked so many boxes for us,” Debbie explained. “We weren’t just bringing people together—we were also encouraging them to engage with the churchyard and the work we’re doing to improve natural habitats.
“People asked questions about our hedgehog home, our woodpiles for invertebrates, and the wild narcissus we’ve planted. Some of the money raised will go towards planting more shrubs and small trees to create a better habitat for birds and pollinators.”
Importantly, the event created a welcoming space for those who might not usually visit the church. “We’re a small village, and not everyone comes to church regularly. This was a chance for people to take part in a different way. Some who don’t always feel comfortable at services came in, had a chat, and enjoyed the atmosphere. Jane, our vicar, was there all day, just talking with people. In that relaxed setting, people were asking her things they might not usually feel comfortable asking.”
The generosity of those who came to the event was an unexpected blessing. Debbie said, “We weren’t expecting to raise a huge amount—it wasn’t about that. But we ended up with more than £500 in donations, which for a small village like ours is amazing. We were over the moon.”