Blossomtime - May 4th and 5th 2008
GRAND CIDER TASTING AND TEAS - Putley Village Hall, HR8 2QN (Map)
Each May The Big Apple runs a competition for the craft cider and perry makers of the region (and beyond) to compete for the title of Cider Maker of the Year and Perry Maker of the Year.
These trials were held on Saturday 3rd May and you can sample the winning products on Sunday and Monday. You may have to be quick as the winning entries may have all beendrunk!
This year we have a record number of entries and you will have a staggering 140+ different ciders and perries to sample!
Some of the makers have stalls where you can buy their prize-winning products.
Cider, perry and apple juice tasting
£1.50 for 6 tokens on door
Apple teas will be served in the village hall.
Paul Hand of ‘Bees and Trees’ will be present with a range of fruity activities.
Tools for Self Reliance
Range of hand tools for sale from "Tools for Self Reliance", a group supplying refurbished hand tools to developing countries and to many satisfied customers in Herefordshire!
The Manorial Barn at Court Farm, subject of a major refurbishment with grant aid from Natural England, will be open throughout the weekend. A video presentation on the repair of the Barn will be showing in Aylton Church, adjacent to the Barn.
Aylton Church will also host a local youngsters painting competition on the subject of springtime and apples.
The Church, Court Farm and Barn may be approached by public footpath from Putley Village Hall. (Map)
Special events
Sunday 4th May
9.30am. Marcle Ridge Walk. 7 miles to Sollers Hope. Steep in places. No dogs please. Donations welcome. Meet Ridge Car Park (GR631346).
11.30am to 1pm. Guided walk through the orchards and fields of Putley, leading to Aylton where lunch will be available (separate charge). Meet at Putley Village Hall (Map). Charge: £1.50 adult, children free.
From 12.30pm. Ploughman’s lunch, Court Farm, Aylton (Map) using local produce, including cheeses from Charles Martell and organic apple juice from the farm £5/£3 (adult/child). Proceeds to Aylton Church.
1.45pm A photographer’s walk around Putley. Booking essential as there are limited places. £10 - Please send a cheque to: Big Apple Association, Woodcroft, Putley, Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 2RD or use the form on our contact page if you wish to make a booking.
Photographer Nick Meers returns to his former home in Putley to lead a photographic walk around the orchards, and share his approach to landscape photography. During the course of a 2 hour (approx) stroll around the orchards, Nick will discuss various ways of seeing images in the landscape, and how best to capture the glory of the apple trees and blossoms. We'll be making pictures of both details and the bigger picture, so a bit of photography for everyone to join in. Bring walking boots, cameras (and a tripod if you have one).
Monday 5th May
10.30am to 12 noon. Guided walk through the orchards and fields of Putley. Meet at Putley Village Hall. Charge: £1.50 adult, children free.
11am A talk by Edward Thompson of Pixley Berries entitled: Climate change and CO2 emissions on a Pixley fruit farm.
The talk will take place at Dragon Orchard Farm, Putley, HR8 2RG (Grid ref: SO653381).
Pixley Berries is a major supplier of blackcurrant juice to the UK market.
Donations will be welcome and give to the for the Jacob Marsland Appeal: http://www.jacobmarslandappeal.org/Welcome.html.
From 12 noon. Delicious lunches will be available at Putley Village Hall. Proceeds to the Village Hall.
3pm Leominster Morris will dance at Putley Village Hall.
Further afield
Westons Cider, Much Marcle, HR8 2NQ
Open all weekend, 10am to 4pm.
Guided mill tours* at 11am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm. Cider and Gift Shop, Dray Rides* (please check availability ), Traditional and Rare Breeds Farm Park*, Self-guided Orchard Walk*, Bottle Museum Tea Room, Courtyard Garden.
(*charge applies)
Nearby pubs
Ashperton: Hopton Arms
Woolhope: Butchers Arms, Crown Inn
Much Marcle: Royal Oak, Scrumpy House, Slip Tavern, Walwyn Arms
Local Information:
Pixley and District Website
The Cider Route
Visit Ledbury
Much Marcle website
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. 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 - why not go for a self-guided walk through the orchards - details can be found on the Wildlife Trust website at
http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/hereford/downloads/Putley%20Loop%20Walk.pdf
How to Find Us
Putley lies South of the A417 Ledbury to Hereford road. If you have Satellite Navigation, the post code of the village hall is HR8 2QN and you can view a map here. A key point is the Trumpet crossroads, where the A417, A4172 and A438 meet, with its garage and inn. We are just 15 minutes from the M50 motorway, 2.5 hours from London and 1.25 hours from South Wales and the West Midlands. For details of accommodation in the area phone Ledbury Tourist Information Centre tel 01531 636147 or visit www.visitledbury.co.uk.