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Blossomtime in Putley – A Springtime Celebration
For an afternoon, a day or a full weekend – the Big Apple is a special opportunity to enjoy the spring countryside in the Herefordshire parishes on the Marcle Ridge. The local orchards are famous for their cider fruit and excellent eating apples and trees should be in full blossom over the weekend.
Grand Cider Tasting and Teas
Putley Village Hall, HR8 2QN
Sunday 3rd May: 2.00pm to 6.00pm and Monday 4th May: 12noon to 5.00pm
Cider, perry and apple juice tasting
£1.50 for 6 tokens on the door
Cider and perry tasting, under Jean Nowell's pictures
Jean Nowell’s pictures of local cider and perry makers
Common Bond – a collection of portraits of nearby cider- and perry-makers, seen through the eyes of their friend and mentor Jean Nowell
Apple teas will be served in the village hall
Leaflets available for self-guided orchard walks
Also Paul Hand of ‘Bees and Trees’ with fruity activities; Sarah Blenkinsop, Master Composter and Organic Gardener, with plant sales and advice on growing your own veg and compost making; Pork and Two Veg with tastings of locally reared pork sausages.
The cider and perry makers will have taken part in our annual Cider and Perry Trials, which takes place the same weekend. Some will have sales tables selling cider, perry and apple juices and other homemade products.
Special Events
9.30am A walk above Putley 7 miles, steep in places. No dogs please. Return via Aylton where lunch available (separate charge). Donations welcome. Meet Putley Village Hall
11am Orchard walk including sampling Jus’s award winning single variety apple juices – taste each one right by the tree that it came from. £2.50 (children free) (proceeds to Little Marcle Church). 1 hour. At Birchley, Aylton (HR8 2QH, GR657366)
From 12.30pm Cheese ploughman’s lunch in restored Grade II* cruck barn. £5 (£3 for hot dogs). Proceeds to Aylton Church and The Music Pool. Flower Festival in the Church next door and art workshops for budding artists in the Ox Byre. At Court Farm Aylton
From 2pm Apple teas will be served by Tarrington Brownies. At Putley Village Hall
From 2pm ‘Have-a-go’ with Ledbury Archers – all welcome (age 8 upwards; under 16s to be accompanied by a responsible adult). Instruction given. £2 for 6 arrows. New House Farm (near Putley Village Hall)
3pm Leominster Morris will dance at Putley Village Hall
4.15pm Mining Bees and Ten Commandments – an introduction to the management and wildlife of Putley Churchyard. Putley Wildlife Group. Meet at Putley Village Hall for short walk to Putley Church.
10.00am Natural history of orchards – guided walk to discover local wildlife with Herefordshire Ornithological Club. No dogs please. 1½ hours. Meet Putley Village Hall
11.30 am Guided walk (Part 1) through the orchards and fields of Putley. £1.50 (children free). (Parts 1 and 2 are different walks which can be done separately or joined together with a break for lunch) 1¼ hours. Meet Putley Village Hall
From 12 noon Delicious lunches, proceeds to Village Hall. At Putley Village Hall
From 1pm Fiddlers Two – musical interludes drawing on the folk traditions of the British Isles and further afield. At Putley Village Hall
1.30 pm Guided walk (Part 2 – see Part 1) through the orchards and fields of Putley. £1.50 (children free). 1¼ hours. Meet Putley Village Hall
From 2pm Apple teas will be served by Putley WI At Putley Village Hall
Other attractions
As well as the the Big Apple events you can come simply to enjoy this wonderful stretch of countryside. Fields, orchards and woodland create a living farming patchwork. You can enjoy a walk through the orchards around Putley, with or without a guide, then refresh yourselves with excellent homemade food. The slopes of the Marcle Ridge offer splendid views across to the Malvern Hills to the East and to the West, Woolhope is within the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
We will have leaflets available for self-guided walks.
Dogs
Dogs are generally welcome in the countryside. However, as Putley Village Hall has sales tables in we ask that only Guide Dogs enter the hall. If you are taking a walk you should note that many of the fields have farm animals in them so please take the usual precautions.
Around and about
Trumpet Corner (HR8 2RA) Tea room offering freshly baked cakes, light lunches and afternoon teas alongside a vibrant art studio showcasing the work of local artists and artisans (01531 670082).
10am – 4pm
The Nest, Little Verzons (HR8 2PZ) Casual café, local produce shop, picnic boxes for the orchard – plus Newent Plant Centre (01531 670816). 10.30am – 4pm
Westons Cider, Much Marcle (HR8 2NQ) Open all weekend. Guided mill tours (charge applies) at 11am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm. Cider sales, Tea room, Children’s Play Area. 10am – 4.30pm
Nearby pubs: Trumpet Inn
Woolhope: Butchers Arms, Crown Inn
Much Marcle: Royal Oak, Scrumpy House, Walwyn Arms
How to Find Us
Putley lies 1 mile South of the A438 Ledbury to Hereford road and about half a mile west of the A4172 Trumpet to Preston Cross road.
Local accommodation is listed on our accommodation page>>
