Celebrations of English apples, pears, cider and perry in the Herefordshire parishes of the Marcle Ridge
Aylton, Little Marcle, Much Marcle, Munsley, Pixley, Putley and Woolhope

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Special events

Sunday 6th May

9.30am

A Walk above Putley 7 miles, steep in places.  No dogs please - animals in some fields.  Return via Aylton where lunch available (separate charge). Donations welcome. Meet Putley Village Hall.

From 12.30pm

Cheese ploughman’s lunch in Grade II* cruck barn, with organic apple juice from the farm. £5 (£2 for hot dog). Nature trail available (£1) Proceeds to Aylton Church. At Court Farm, Aylton.

From 12.30pm

South Herefordshire Dowsers will be available over lunchtime to demonstrate the art of dowsing around Court Farm, Aylton.

From 2pm

Mr P's Bees - drop-in to the Dragon Orchards to find out what amateur beekeeper David Pealing has found out about keeping bees – but no-one ever thought to tell him!  At Dragon Orchard, Putley.

3.30pm

Dowsing at Dragon Orchard - A walk around Dragon Orchard with South Herefordshire Dowsers, who will be searching for underground features, leys and energy lines. Meet at Dragon Orchard, Putley.


Monday 7th May

10.30am

Natural history of orchards Guided walk to discover local wildlife with Bob Hall of Herefordshire Ornithological Club. No dogs please. Donations welcome. 1½ hours. Meet Putley Village Hall.

From 12 noon

Delicious lunches, proceeds to Village Hall. At Putley Village Hall.

From 12.30pm

Earthworks - musical interlude drawing on the folk traditions of the British Isles and further afield. At Putley Village Hall.

1.30pm

Guided walk through the orchards and fields of Putley.  £1.50 (children free). 1¼ hours. Meet at Putley Village Hall.

3pm

Leominster Morris will dance at Putley Village Hall .

Download a leaflet you can print out

Brochure

Weather Forecast

Blossomtime 6th and 7th May 2012 - our 24th year!

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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. 

This is the twenty-fourth year that our award winning parish communities have put together a collection of small rural events to enable you to share with us in our tradition of apple growing and cider making.

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The Main Event - Putley Village Hall, HR8 2QN
Sun 6th May: 2pm to 6pm and Mon 7th May: 12noon to 5pm

Cider TastingCider, perry and apple juice tasting

Each Blossomtime 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. Over 60 cider and perry makers have entered this year's competition.

On the Sunday and Monday the public will be able to taste the entries and judge for themselves.

Some of the winning entries may be available for purchase - see below. (We don't know who will win so we cannot be sure about this but you can be certain that a number of fine craft ciders and perries will be on sale!)

[Please note that, as the main hall is licensed for the sale of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises, unaccompanied children under the age of 16 cannot be admitted.]

 

Apple teas served in the village hall.

Cider and Perry Sales

Some of the cider, apple juice and perry makers will have stalls with their prize-winning products on sale in Putley Village Hall. We have confirmed bookings from Jus, Gregg's Pit, Oliver's Cider and Perry, Little Cider Press Co, Gwatkins Cider, Gillow's Cider, Avenue Cottage and Once Upon a Tree.

Other activities at Putley Village Hall

 

Borderlines Film FestivalBulmers

Borderlines and Bulmers

Celebrate Herefordshire's cidermaking past on film - climb aboard the extraordinary Vintage Moviebus for short screenings throughout the afternoon.

FREE Moviebus screenings every half hour.   Bookable only on the day at Putley Village Hall.  Tickets available from 1.30pm (Sunday) and 11.30am (Monday).  Owing to limited capacity on the bus, ticket distribution will initially be limited to TWO showings of your choice.

2.00pm

Of Cider and Apples (colour, early 1960s, 13 mins)
A look at the history of Bulmer's cider making and some of the colourful characters involved, with some lovely shots of the Herefordshire countryside.

King George V (colour, 1970, 12 mins)
The story of the famous steam engine that found a home in Hereford in the 1970s. A must for all enthusiasts of steam locomotives, with archive footage from the earliest days.

2.30pm

Herefordshire in the News (b/w, 1960 to 1973, 20 mins)
News stories on the ancient custom of wassailing the orchard, a Hereford doctor using a pony and trap to do his rounds, the Olde Tavern in Kington run by the 80 year old Jones sisters, and a young reporter kissing the steeple in Peterchurch - can you guess who he is?

3.00pm

Real Life on the Black Mountains (colour, 2007, 17 mins)
A unique record of the farming year and highlights of the annual summer shows with thrilling bareback rodeo competitions, based on archive cine footage shot from the 1950s onwards by Dorothy Howells, a housekeeper living on a remote farm in Craswall. The original footage is woven with interviews with Dorothy and farmers who remember the old ways.

3.30pm

Of Cider and Apples (colour, early 1960s, 13 mins)
A look at the history of Bulmer's cider making and some of the colourful characters involved, with some lovely shots of the Herefordshire countryside.

A Pocketful of Hops (colour, 2007, 10 mins) www.splash-tv.co.uk
Local film-maker Mike Jackson worked with Hancocks, one of the last remaining traditional hop growing families in Herefordshire to produce this fascinating documentary.

4.00pm

Jaywalking: God Speed the Plough (colour, 1975 27 mins)
Sue Jay travels to Ross-on-Wye as the town puts out its bunting to welcome competitors for the national ploughing competition. Plucky Sue has a go at handling a horse and plough under Horace Samuels' tutelage as the tight lipped competitors make their final preparations. A charming film featuring both tractor based and horse drawn ploughing.

4.30pm

Local Life (colour, 1970s, 19 mins)
A celebration of the role of the British pub made in the 1970s made by the Brewers Association. Go back in time to sideburns and flares, when the pub was at the heart of local community (none from Herefordshire, sorry!)

5.00pm

Alfred Watkins Films: 1908 - 1918 (10 mins)
Alfred Watkins, best known for his theories on ley lines, was also an early cinematographic pioneer inventing one of the earliest light meters. His films, undoubtedly the earliest made in Hereford, show the city in Edwardian times, with the May Fair and troops marching off to war.

5.30pm

Of Cider and Apples (colour, early 1960s, 13 mins)
A look at the history of Bulmer's cider making and some of the colourful characters involved, with some lovely shots of the Herefordshire countryside.

King George V (colour, 1970, 12 mins)
The story of the famous steam engine that found a home in Hereford in the 1970s. A must for all enthusiasts of steam locomotives, with archive footage from the earliest days.

Download full programme (PDF - both days)

12.00pm

Of Cider and Apples (colour, early 1960s, 13 mins)
A look at the history of Bulmer's cider making and some of the colourful characters involved, with some lovely shots of the Herefordshire countryside.

King George V (colour, 1970, 12 mins)
The story of the famous steam engine that found a home in Hereford in the 1970s. A must for all enthusiasts of steam locomotives, with archive footage from the earliest days.

12.30pm

Herefordshire in the News (b/w, 1960 to 1973, 20 mins)
News stories on the ancient custom of wassailing the orchard, a Hereford doctor using a pony and trap to do his rounds, the Olde Tavern in Kington run by the 80 year old Jones sisters, and a young reporter kissing the steeple in Peterchurch - can you guess who he is?

1.00pm

Real Life on the Black Mountains (colour, 2007, 17 mins)
A unique record of the farming year and highlights of the annual summer shows with thrilling bareback rodeo competitions, based on archive cine footage shot from the 1950s onwards by Dorothy Howells, a housekeeper living on a remote farm in Craswall. The original footage is woven with interviews with Dorothy and farmers who remember the old ways.

1.30pm

Spring on the Farm (b/w, 1941, 15 mins)
Made with named farmers in Ross-on-Wye, the film shows efforts to boost yields during wartime. Everyone lends a hand from Land Girls to local schoolchildren.

2.00pm

Of Cider and Apples (colour, early 1960s, 13 mins)
A look at the history of Bulmer's cider making and some of the colourful characters involved, with some lovely shots of the Herefordshire countryside.

Cattle at Hereford (b/w, 1974, 7 mins)
A newsreel item that looks at Hereford Cattle and the cattle market, as was, in full swing.

2.30pm

Jaywalking: God Speed the Plough (colour, 1975 27 mins)
Sue Jay travels to Ross-on-Wye as the town puts out its bunting to welcome competitors for the national ploughing competition. Plucky Sue has a go at handling a horse and plough under Horace Samuels' tutelage as the tight lipped competitors make their final preparations. A charming film featuring both tractor based and horse drawn ploughing.

3.00pm

Alfred Watkins Films: 1908 - 1918 (10 mins)
Alfred Watkins, best known for his theories on ley lines, was also an early cinematographic pioneer inventing one of the earliest light meters. His films, undoubtedly the earliest made in Hereford, show the city in Edwardian times, with the May Fair and troops marching off to war.

3.30pm

Local Life (colour, 1970s, 19 mins)
A celebration of the role of the British pub made in the 1970s made by the Brewers Association. Go back in time to sideburns and flares, when the pub was at the heart of local community (none from Herefordshire, sorry!)

4.00pm

Peter Brown Reports (b/w, 1960, 10 mins)
Peter Brown filmed these inserts for ATV's magazine programme Midland Montage over the dry summer of 1960. Hitting the headlines were controversy over maggot fishing for salmon on the Wye, a traditional wheelwright and gypsy caravan builder, a 14 year old Hereford cake baker, and the old favourite – wassailing for a good apple harvest.

A Pocketful of Hops (colour, 2007, 10 mins) www.splash-tv.co.uk
Local film-maker Mike Jackson worked with Hancocks, one of the last remaining traditional hop growing families in Herefordshire to produce this fascinating documentary.

4.30pm

Of Cider and Apples (colour, early 1960s, 13 mins)
A look at the history of Bulmer's cider making and some of the colourful characters involved, with some lovely shots of the Herefordshire countryside.

King George V (colour, 1970, 12 mins)
The story of the famous steam engine that found a home in Hereford in the 1970s. A must for all enthusiasts of steam locomotives, with archive footage from the earliest days.

Download full programme (PDF - both days)

 

Master Composters and a Master Gardener will be on hand both days with advice and information on how to grow your own veg and get the most out of your compost bins.

Tastings of locally reared pork sausages from Pork and Two Veg (both days) and Noggin Farm (Mon only).

Paul Hand of 'Bees and Trees' with fruity activities

Walks: Leaflets available for self-guided orchard walks

Round and About

Once Upon a Tree at Dragon Orchard (HR8 2RG) Cider, perry & apple juice tastings and sales.  Free live music and dance in the orchard 10am – 3pm

Roots at Little Verzons (HR8 2PZ) Coffee, light lunch, afternoon teas.  Special celebration of the fresh tastes of spring – growing and cooking your own fruit and veg.  Lunch bookings 01531 670816. 10am-4pm.

Trumpet Corner (HR8 2RA) Art studios and tearoom, 10am – 4 pm

Westons Cider, Much Marcle (HR8 2NQ)  Open all weekend. Guided mill tours* at 11am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm.  Cider sales, Self-guided Orchard Walk*, Tea Room, Courtyard Garden (*charge applies) 10am to 4pm.

Helen Campbell is a Botanical artist from Cheltenham,and specialises in painting cider apples and Perry pears. She has been commissioned by Westons to paint all varieties of fruit,which started last year. She is going to be Artist in Residence at Westons on the 6th & 7th May.  More at: www.helencampbellart.co.uk White space

Pubs

Nearest pub: Trumpet Inn - A4172/A438 crossroads.
Woolhope: Butchers Arms, Crown Inn
Much Marcle: Royal Oak, Scrumpy House, Slip Tavern, Walwyn Arms

The Crown Inn at Woolhope is also holding a Real Ale and Cider Festival over the weekend.

Local Farm Shops selling Local Cider, Perry & Apple Juice

Roots at Little Verzons, HR8 2PZ. Coffee shop, farm shop and plants.
Dragon Orchard, HR8 2RG, Cider, perry & apple juice tastings and sales.

Accommodation

Look on the Accommodation page for details of accommodation websites and local camping and caravan sites.

How to Find Us

Putley lies South of the A438 Ledbury to Hereford road. If you have Satellite Navigation, the post code of the village hall is HR8 2QN but see note below about SatNav.

The Google map accurately indicates the venue locations. (Use the control buttons top left to zoom in and move around).


View Larger Map

A key point is the Trumpet crossroads, where the A417, A4172 and A438 meet, with its garage, inn, art/craft centre and tea room. 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.

Transport Direct

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If you wish to come by public transport, Transport Direct can work out a route for you - just enter your details in the form on the right. Ledbury has a railway station served by London Midland and First Great Western.

Using SatNav?

Postcodes are provided for the main locations but please be aware that rural postcode areas can be quite large and you could be taken to a point some distance from the actual event - look out for the signs on the roadside.

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.

Local Information websites

Apple blossom close up

The Cider Route

Visit Ledbury

The Putley Website

Pixley and District Website

Much Marcle Website

 

 

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