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.
Click on image above for a full copy of the flyer.
Our Four Venues
Putley Parish Hall
Court Farm Barn
Yew Tree Farm
Dragon Orchard
Table of events happening at Blossomtime
For more details please visit the relevant venue pages.
Events on Sunday 4th May
| Time | Event | Venue | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Day | Skittles | Yew Tree Farm | Weather permitting we will be holding a traditional English grass skittles competition in the paddock. |
| 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 | The Wild Side of Orchards | Court Farm Barn | Steve Oram. Secretary, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Day | Skittles | Yew Tree Farm | Weather permitting we will be holding a traditional English grass skittles competition in the paddock. |
| 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 |
Images from Blossomtime 2024
Round and about over the weekend
The Nest, Little Verzons (HR8 2PZ) Relaxed family friendly café, local deli and much more (01531 670816) – plus next door Newent Plant Centre (01531 670121). 9am – 5pm (10am – 4pm Sun). ///earpiece.celebrate.waters
Westons Cider Mill, Much Marcle (HR8 2NQ). Guided mill tours (charge applies) at 11am, 12.30pm, 2pm, 3.30pm. Cider Shop, Tea room, Children’s Play Area. 9am – 5pm (10am-5pm Sun) ///carver.kiosk.tummy
Nearby pubs
Trumpet Crossroads
Trumpet Inn ///porch.aimed.unhappily. 12noon to 4pm Sunday and Monday
Woolhope
Butchers Arms (daytime only Sun) ///employers.scooped.october
Crown Inn ///edits.kind.carbonate
Much Marcle
Royal Oak ///baker.debut.lifters,
Walwyn Arms ///tweed.majoring.sliders,
Scrumpy House Restaurant ///carver.kiosk.tummy,
Payments
While card readers have become much more common, we are still unable to take card payments at some locations. Cash is always acceptable. The nearest 24 hour ATMs are in Ledbury (Tesco and the Co-op).
Locations
For each location there is a What3Words link (prefixed ///). Click on this to show you the entrance to the location from the public road.
Dogs
Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome in most places. Sometimes a walk may be designated as a wildlife walk, in which case no dogs please as these disturb the wildlife. Also, no dogs (except assistance dogs) will be allowed in Putley Parish Hall.
Accommodation
Please see our accommodation page for links to local accommodation and visitor sites.
