Author: David Hewitt

Our delayed AGM for 2020/21 will be held on Monday 18th October at the Market House, High Street, Ledbury at 5.30pm.

You are very welcome to attend.

We will be electing our serving committee for the business year 2021/22.

The committee will be tasked with taking forward the activities of the group with due regard to continuing circumstances, guidance and restrictions.

After a successful year in 2019 with an excellent Ledbury Celebration event in July and very popular evening Farmers Food Market running in St Katherine’s and the Barn (see photo above), we had hoped to continue with similar activities supporting our local food economy through 2020.

Instead our major activity has been to provide a Food Information Page on our website. This provides a listing what local producers and retailers are doing in terms of local deliveries, call and collect, food takeaways, outdoor eating etc. to help people – and businesses – to get through the pandemic safely.

Thanks to all of you who have continued to support local producers, local retailers and local hospitality businesses through this time. It is encouraging to see how well these businesses have coped and survived, and that we are now welcoming new businesses on the local food scene.

Use this link to access the Agenda for this meeting.

Use this link to access the 20/21 Income and Expenditure Account.

The Big Apple Harvestime Event – is taking place on Saturday and Sunday 9^th and 10^th October around Much Marcle.

Full details of the programme have now been released and are available at https://www.bigapple.org.uk/.

It’s a great event for savouring all that’s apple and enjoying the wonderful countryside below Marcle Ridge.

Do go!

Photo Exhibition Reminder – We are mounting a small exhibition feature life at three local farms as part of Ledbury Market House’s participation in this year’s national Heritage Open Days. It’s open on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.

Cameron and Swan Café Closure – Louise and her team have been providing great local food at Cameron and Swan for more than 8 years, appreciated by locals and visitors alike.  They have been regular participants in our annual Ledbury Big Breakfast event. 

Sadly Louise has had to close the café for health reasons.  A new business will be moving into the premises.  Our thanks go to Louise and her team for feeding Ledbury so well.

Picture: Louise with Big Breakfast potato rostis

A shop in a bus – If you live in the Newent area you will be interested in the Blue Bus venture that just started.  The bus, operated by Market To Your Door, tours local villages stocked with a large range of local produce on its itinerary. All markets run from 10am until 12noon and each hosting venue will be offering refreshments of their choice.

The monthly itinerary is:

• 1st Friday: Upleadon Village Hall
• 1st Saturday: Harts Barn, Longhope
• 2nd Friday: Good News Centre
• 2nd Saturday: Oxenhall village hall
• 3rd Friday: Pauntley Village Hall
• 3rd Saturday: Kempley village (Layby near village hall)
• 4th Friday: Good news centre
• 4th Saturday: Rudford village hall

Find out more on Facebook at @markettoyourdoor

The apples are ripening on the trees, the presses are standing by, and the time is fast approaching for the Big Apple to welcome visitors to the Herefordshire parishes of the Marcle Ridge continuing a thirty year tradition.

Sadly last year’s event was cancelled, but this year the organisers of the Big Apple have come up with a plan that will see all the usual venues in and around Much Marcle involved on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th October.

“Within 24 hours of asking them, all nine venues had expressed their enthusiasm to go ahead”, said spokesman Jackie Denman. “When we cancelled last year, we had lots of messages of support telling us that we had made the right decision, but also telling us that we would be much missed. So now we’re busy behind the scenes working on our programme, which will go online on www.bigapple.org.uk on Monday 13th September. We can’t wait to get back!”

So put the 9th and 10th October in your diary – for your annual opportunity to enjoy the orchards, to see, hear and smell cider being made and to taste many different varieties of apples, local ciders, perries and apple juices, all of which has become an established part of the calendar for many people.

Familiar Big Apple venues will include Gregg’s Pit, Awnells Farm, Woodredding, Lyne Down, Pope’s Perry and Hellens, alongside regular attractions at Westons Cider.

We look forward to visiting this wonderful celebration of local produce!