It’s Harvestime – this weekend

It’s Harvestime this weekend in and around Much Marcle – a celebration of English apples, pears, cider, perry and orchards in the Herefordshire parishes of the Marcle Ridge brought to you by The Big Apple Association.

Red apples

This colourful event invites you to experience the world of apples and pears in many ways.

You can…

  • savour the smells of Autumn as apples and pears are pressed to make cider
  • marvel at the displays of apples and pears (many now rare)
  • walk heritage orchards
  • taste sample fruits of many kinds
  • buy unusual varieties to take home as well as very local cider, perry and apple juice.
  • celebrate the sights and smells of the countryside
  • visit Westons cider works for a tour (booking recommended)
  • and much, much more

You can enjoy this on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th October.

The event takes place at a number of venues in and around Much Marcle centred on Hellens mansion.   Please think about parking at Hellens or Westons and then walk, or use the tractor and trailer to get to the other venues or come by Daffodil Line bus. 

Full details of what’s on, where and when and arrangements for the day can be found at https://bigapple.org.uk/harvestime/.

An update from Ledbury Food Group…

Thanks to everyone who contributed in any way to the Ledbury Celebration on the last day of Ledbury Poetry Festival on Sunday 6th July.

Ledbury Celebration 2025

Despite occasional showers, we enjoyed a happy day in unusually temperate temperatures for early July featuring poetry, music, dance, heritage and, of course local food and drink.  Attendance was better than last year – so thanks to all who came to the event – it all contributes for a good show.

The partner organisers – the Ledbury Food Group, Ledbury Poetry and Ledbury Town Council – are taking stock of this year’s event to see what could be done better next time.  If you have any thoughts, please let us know at ask@ledburyfoodgroup.org.

Events like this can only take place with the support of a group of volunteers willing to help with setting up the event, stewarding and dismantling.  If you would like to help us in future or just know more about what may be involved, please contact us at ask@ledburyfoodgroup.org.  This year a team from the Town council did a splendid job getting and keeping the show on the road – but we need more help!

The next Ledbury Celebration is set provisionally for the last day of the 2026 Ledbury Poetry Festival – Sunday 28th June.  This all depends on finding funding to cover the cost of this free to all event.  This year this was possible with the costs being met by the event’s three partners.

We are looking at other food related events – including an event to consider the impact of food production on the natural environment including our rivers and what may be the best practice.  A date for your diary is the next Ledbury Big Breakfast which will take place on the weekend of 6th, 7th and 8th February 2026.

Do you want us to continue to bring you details of local food related events?

If not let us know by email to at ask@ledburyfoodgroup.org.

Ledbury Celebration – 6th July – full programme now available

The Ledbury Celebration on Sunday 6th July celebrates the local food and drink of Herefordshire and its neighbouring counties with an added menu of music, poetry, dance and our historic heritage.

Celebration 2025

This year’s event again brings an outdoor market and street food to historic St Katherine’s, Ledbury next to the 15th century Master’s House, just off the High Street. The event runs from 11am to 4pm with entertainment from midday.

Local produce will be on sale either to eat and drink “on the go” or to take home to savour in slower time.

Producers and street-food specialists this year include:

  • Asib’s Afghan Food – exotic bakery (sweet and savoury)
  • Bakes by Holly – assorted cakes
  • Case for Cooking – sauces and spices for your cooking
  • Continuum Conceits – desirable chocolate
  • Filic’s rustic Bakes – cakes including vegan
  • Karboi’s Ghee – organic grass-fed ghee
  • Kitchen Flowers – versatile food products from flowers
  • Little Marcle Organic Produce – fresh organic veg boxes
  • Monkland Cheese – cheese from Herefordshire
  • New Market House Café – Laszlo’s Goulash and Gelato Ice-cream
  • Orchard Grove Preserves – local jams and chutneys
  • Pudding Pot Company – fresh fruit crumbles
  • Spice up the Valleys -Caribbean style street food
  • Seb’s Cider – a traditional taste of Herefordshire
  • Street food Collective – stuffed pita and traditional pizzas
  • The Taste of Ukraine – Ukrainian style bakes
  • Weekdays and Weekends – street food wraps
  • Wykeham Gardens – plants for your garden

Local Crafts joining us:

  • Caroline Bousfield – stone-ware pottery made in Ledbury
  • Lottie Penfold – exquisite hand-made stained glass

Specially for children:

  • Kid’s Kitchen – introducing children to cooking
  • Laughing Betsy – interactive creative art with a poetic twist for children of all ages

And also…

  • Sustainable Ledbury – find out about living more sustainably
  • Ledbury Food Group – our own stand – ask us about local food. Buy a raffle ticket or two to help Ledbury Food Bank.
  • Ledbury Refugee Support – “discover who we help”

Buy some food, find a seat and enjoy a special afternoon of entertainment

 Ledbury Poetry has lined up special “al fresco” poetic performances during the event featuring:

  • At 12.45pm – Lily Redwood – a powerful and playful performer – “scorchingly honest and human”.
  • At 1.45pm – Aaron Corbett – “passionate in his love for words, how they sound and the images they make – Azthetic Poetry.”
  • At 2.45pm – Mohan Mohammed – “will tell of finding and creating beauty in the world and how joyful freedom feels, alongside anger and grief”.

We remember Ledbury’s Poet Laureate, John Masefield…

  • The Masefield Matters National Lottery funded project to create a permanent memorial to John Masefield in Ledbury is providing us with readings of his most popular poems in Masefield Moments at 12pm and 3pm

And a feast of musical entertainment…

  • At 12.05pm – Four Crying Out Loud – Since being formed in a desert of public anticipation, they have become Ledbury’s favourite Boy Band.
  • At 1.05pm – The Footprints Jazz Band – bring easy listening to the lunch hour playing smooth and melodic music and songs with blues influences as well as jazz style.
  • At 2pm – The Hey Yahs will perform a mix of contemporary and classic covers to suit all tastes for you to sing and dance along with or just sit back and enjoy.

And to end a special day…

  • At 3.05pm – 2Faced Dance Company – bring a dynamic end to the entertainment with music and movement. You may be invited to join in!

And you can visit Ledbury’s heritage sites – the Church, The Heritage Centre, the Painted Room and the Town itself. 

Why not book in for a session of poetry at Ledbury Poetry Festival on the last day of the festival? Programme at https://ledburypoetry.org.uk/home/whats-on/

Celebration sponsors

This event is organised by Ledbury Food Group, Ledbury Poetry and Ledbury Town Council.

With financial help from Ledbury Town Council

also supported by

Fringe 2025

Ledbury Celebration 2025 – “This is the last day of magic”

You are invited to Ledbury’s very friendly and local food and drink festival with added poetry and music taking place again in the historic setting of St Katherine’s, Ledbury by the 15th century Master’s House on Sunday 6th July – the last day of the Ledbury Poetry Festival.

This vibrant event has become a highlight for both residents and visitors alike, offering a delightful array of attractions.

Ledbury Celebration

You will discover:

  • A small but special outdoor food and drink market featuring the best of local produce and street-food for you to enjoy at the event, while enjoying the entertainment, or take home to enjoy later.
  • Attention-seeking “al fresco” poetic entertainment provided by Ledbury Poetry and featuring Lily Redwood, Aaron Corbett and Mohan Mohammed
  • A magical miscellany of musical entertainment featuring local musicians Four Crying Out Loud, The Footprints Jazz Band and the Hey Yahs Acoustic Trio, plus a dance performance by local dance company 2Faced Dance as part of their Towns Alive season.
  • Masefield Moments celebrating Ledbury’s Poet Laureate.
  • And more, including for youngsters Kid’s Kitchen and other interactive activity.

This popular FREE event is organised by a partnership of Ledbury Food Group, Ledbury Poetry and Ledbury Town Council, who are all aiming to delight you at this festival within a festival.

The Ledbury Celebration takes place on Sunday 6th July between 11.00am to 4.00pm in St Katherine’s Car Park and Square, just off Ledbury High Street – entertainment from 12 noon.

The full programme is will be available on this website later in June.
Parking at public car parks in Ledbury is free on Sundays

With thanks to our partners:

Partners: Ledbury Poetry, Ledbury Town Council and Ledbury Fringe

Notice of our Annual General Meeting (10 June)

We are holding our AGM on Tuesday 10th June at 5.30pm at the Market House, High Street. Ledbury (upstairs).

You will be most welcome to join us for this important event.  It’s an opportunity to find out who we are and meet the new committee for the year 2025/26.

We are always open to new ideas to support our aims of encouraging local food and drink production and retail.

In the past year the activities of the Group have focused on our two key events The Ledbury Big Breakfast and The Ledbury Celebration, together with talk events held jointly with Sustainable Ledbury on issues affecting food production and supply assisted by the Herefordshire Food Alliance.

Like many groups our ability to do more is limited by our resources – contact us if you have an interest in or idea for how we publicise our wonderful local food and the threats to and opportunities for sustainable food production.

Agenda for the Annual General Meeting of Ledbury Food Group:

Time and Location: 5.30pm at the Market House, High Street, Ledbury (upstairs)

(Nearest off street parking – St Katherine’s Car Park)

  1. Apologies
  2. Report from the Secretary
  3. Report from the Treasurer
  4. Approval of Accounts for the period to 31st March 2025
  5. Election of a Committee for the year 2025 to 2026
  6. Election of Officials for the year 2025 to 2026 – Chair, Secretary, Treasurer
  7. Any other business

Please advise me –

  1. If you wish to stand for a committee member or official of Ledbury Food Group. Please note that Committee Members and Officials must be members of the Food Group 
  2. If you have Any Other Business that you wish to raise at this meeting

Griff Holliday, Secretary – 01531 633637  

griffholliday@btinternet.com

27th May 2025

The Secretary’s Report and the Treasurer’s Report will be circulated prior to the meeting.

Keeping our Watercourses clean…talk on 15th May

Essential to good food production is a reliable supply of good quality, unpolluted water. Sadly, this is not always the case for a multiplicity reasons.

Sustainable Ledbury invite you to a talk to find out more about the problems of and solutions for keeping watercourses clean.

Footbridge over The Leadon

A representative of local water company Severn Trent Water will give a talk “Managing our Watercourses” on Thursday 15th May at 6.30 p.m. in the Burgage Hall, Church Lane, Ledbury.

Severn Trent Water are responsible for drainage and wastewater in the Ledbury area.

Come along to find out more, ask your questions or join in the discussion.

Entry will be free with donations requested to cover the cost of the hire of the hall.

Nearest Car Park – St Katherine’s Car Park, access off Bye Street. Public car parks are free after 6pm in Ledbury

The Big Apple invites you to Blossomtime – 4th & 5th May

This popular celebration of our apple growing heritage takes place this year in Putley and Aylton on 4th and 5th May.  Both days there is much going on from 10am to 5pm including:

  • guided walks through the orchards
  • tastings and sales of local perries and ciders
  • local arts and crafts
  • demonstrations and talks
  • pollinator display
  • collaborative art installation

Big Apple Blossomtime 2025

You can find what’s happening and when at the Big Apple website –www.bigapple.org.uk.

Do come and enjoy the flowering of Spring!  Get your entry pass to all this at Putley Parish Hall (Adults £5. Accompanied Children Free)

And how to get to Blossomtime…

Big Apple Blossomtime Map