The Big Apple Blossomtime

The Big Apple Blossomtime

This is an annual special springtime opportunity to enjoy the lovely countryside and orchards of the Marcle Ridge in Herefordshire, where local orchards are famous both for their cider fruit and their dessert and culinary fruit.  This is normally the peak of the blossom season so the trees can look spectacular.

This year Blossomtime has expanded again to four venues which will be open from 10am to 5pm on both days:

Putley Parish Hall (car parking, tickets, information, guided walks, refreshments),

Court Farm Barn (crafts, talks and a variety of rural activities),

Yew Tree Farm (perry orchard, perry tasting)

Dragon Orchard (cider and perry tasting, sales and daytime entertainment).

All venues are within easy walking distance of each other but there will also be a tractor and trailer service running between all venues between 10am and 5pm both days.  Space is limited so please give priority to those people for whom walking is difficult.


Events on Sunday 4th May

Time Event Venue Details
10:30am Pruning demonstration Dragon Orchard David Pealing will be demonstrating pruning techniques to restore old orchard apple trees.
10:30am Walk 1 Putley Parish Hall Easy walk “Nigel’s Pride”.
11:30am Steve Oram Talk Court Farm Barn Secretary of the UK Orchard Network & Orchard Biodiversity Officer, PTES
11:30am Walk 2 Putley Parish Hall Moderate walk  “Dorothy’s Delight”
1:30pm Walk 3 Putley Parish Hall Gentle stroll “William’s Walk”
2:00pm The Mushroms Dragon Orchard Familiar songs from the 60s, 70s and 80s.
2:30pm Anna Stankiewicz and Jonathan Keyte of Greengate Fruit Trees. Talk Court Farm Barn Regenerating Tradition.  Anna & Jonathan share the story behind their trailblazing horticultural start-up,
2:30pm Pruning demonstration Dragon Orchard David Pealing will be demonstrating pruning techniques to restore old orchard apple trees.
3:00pm The Remnants Dragon Orchard Putley-based band – come and support your local musicians!

Events on Monday 5th May

 

Time Event Venue Details
10:30am Walk 4 Putley Parish Hall Moderate walk  “Dorothy’s Delight”
11:30am Walk 5 Putley Parish Hall Gentle stroll “William’s Walk”
11:30am  Will Masefield, Severn Treescapes Project Manager Court Farm Barn The Dead Wood Society – traditional orchards and wood pasture within the Severn Treescapes Project
12:00pm Music – Vox Rox Choir Dragon Orchard Come and enjoy the music – join in if you want to
1:30pm Walk 6 Putley Parish Hall Easy walk “Nigel’s Pride”.
2:30pm Fruit Wine Tasting Court Farm Barn Charlie Smart leads a guided tasting session to discover which of our common garden fruits can make the best fruit wine.
2:30pm Morris dancers Dragon Orchard Leominster Morris and Pinsley Mill Morris
3:30pm Mice in a Matchbox Dragon Orchard They take songs, some familiar, some original, some old and some new, and apply their own lively arrangements
4:00pm Morris dancers Putley Parish Hall Leominster Morris and Pinsley Mill Morris
Big Apple Court Farm Barn