Author: Griff Holliday

Cider presses are gearing up for action in this corner of Herefordshire, and Big Apple venues are standing by to welcome visitors to the Marcle Ridge on  Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th October. 

The apple harvest will be in full swing – no matter which way you turn in Much Marcle, apples are everywhere!  Not to mention pears – perry pears of course. 

Nine familiar Big Apple venues, including Woodredding, Lyne Down, Pope’s Perry, Hellens, Gregg’s Pit and Awnells Farm, alongside regular attractions at Westons Cider, are waiting to welcome visitors to enjoy the orchards, see, hear and smell cider being made and taste many different varieties of apples, local ciders, perries and apple juices.  And don’t miss apple teas at the Memorial Hall! 

This year’s highlights include:

• The ever popular ‘high-altitude’ tutored cider tastings on the Marcle Ridge
• Giving a hand to press perry pears from the ancient avenue at Hellens Manor
• Wheeling along with the Big Apple Bike Ride.
• The National Fruit Show Education Team making their first visit, tickling taste buds with an apple challenge at Hellens.
• Practical sessions on tool sharpening, the chance to buy refurbished garden tools and a talk from agronomist Matt Greep on apple pests and diseases – a ‘must’ for those who like to do things for themselves
• Bill Laws sharing some of the pomological secrets behind his forthcoming book about the Herefordshire Pomona.
• Tasty food offers and musical interludes including Uke Can’t Be Serious and Leominster Morris will be found in and around the orchards.

Full details of venues and special events, and advance booking where required, can be found at https://www.bigapple.org.uk/harvestime/

The Big Apple is delighted to be working alongside others this year to place apples right at the heart of Herefordshire under the umbrella of Hereford AppleFest.

Sustainable Ledbury has been involved in setting up a fruit gleaning project with Herefordshire Food Alliance.  The aim is to make use of fruit which is not harvested for various reasons.  There are two locations for the project, one Ledbury based and one Hereford based.  Details are as follows.

1st October – Ledbury picking day 11am – 3pm. Sites in and around Ledbury to be confirmed.

6th October – Hereford Picking day, Lower House Farm, Herefordshire Wildlife Trust reserve near Cock of Tupsley, HR1 1UT. 11am – 3pm

8th October – Ledbury preserving and community cooking day, preserving the harvest for Ledbury Food Bank at Pot and Page community hub, New Street 11am – 3pm

14th October – Hereford preserving and community cooking day at the Living Room, 10 Commercial Road, HR1 2BB 11am – 3pm

Lunch will be provided on each day.  Please bring your own mug for soup on the picking days as there won’t be kitchen facilities available! 

Transport to venues:

Transport will be provided from Ledbury to go to the picking locations away from the town.

Lower House Farm Orchard, Hereford is accessible by public transport with the 420, 469 and 476 from Hereford bus station stopping at the Cock of Tupsley pub, a 10 minute walk from the orchard. There is also a car park for those coming by car. The Hereford community bus may be available for those without transport and to bring the apples back to the Living Room in the afternoon.

The preserving and cooking days are in central town or city locations and they encourage the use of public transport where possible.  However there are large car parks nearby if coming by car.

Please contact Ruth Pullan 07951 399176 or ruthpullan@hotmail.co.uk to register as a volunteer. The organisers need to know numbers so they can make arrangements for refreshments on each day and to have enough equipment available.

If you have spare fruit, particularly near Ledbury, then this could be picked on the 1st October if a large quantity, or you can  bring smaller amounts to Pot and Page on the 8^th October.

These promise to be fun events which will also help the community. The produce from the Ledbury is destined to go to the Ledbury Food Bank. Thanks to a grant obtained by HFA, they have a new freezer.

If you know of anyone who might be interested, please share this information with them.

The Ledbury Celebration on Sunday 9th July celebrates the local food and drink of Herefordshire and its neighbouring counties with an added menu of music, poetry and our historic heritage.

This year’s event brings an outdoor market to historic St Katherine’s, Ledbury next to the 15th century Master’s House and 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 specialist this year include:

• Afghan Pizzas
• Great Bear Escapes
• Happy Dumpling
• Hilltop Farm
• Kitchen Flowers
• Kontext Koffee
• Little Bento Box
• Little Marcle Organic Produce
• Miniyaki’s Japanese Street Food
• Molton Bene Pizza
• Mr Gyros
• Myrtle’s Kitchen
• Orchard Grove Preserves
• Seb’s Cider
• Skittery’s Apple Juice
• Vincenta’s Empanadas
• Wykeham Gardens

And we hope more!

In addition you will find:

• Sustainable Ledbury – find out about avoiding food waste
• Our own stand – ask us about local food
• Our local Police Support Officer

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 – Young local poets take the stand. Encouraged by Ledbury Poetry’s Learning and Inspiration for Young People programme, they will challenge and delight.
• At 1.45pm – Emma Clowsley presents poems exclusively written for the Ledbury Celebration. Emma is based in Ledbury. Her debut pamphlet “Don’t forget your Toothbrush” has just been published.
• At 2.45pm – Chloê Jacquet Chloë is a multicultural, multifaceted, multi-slam winning poet based in Gloucestershire,  with a preference for straight talking and a penchant for rhymes and opinions

And

• Through the afternoon – Beth Calverley, will be present with her magical Poetry Machine. This is your chance to experience poetry, created in response to your thoughts, feelings, ideas, and discoveries. Book your slot with Beth!

And a feast of musical entertainment…

• At 12pm – Four Crying Out Loud – Ledbury’s own “fishermens” quartet (but far from the sea!) with shanties, sing-alongs and lively folk
• At 1pm – George Montague, described as a “charismatic and talented pianist and songwriter… daft, charming, original” Worth hearing!
• At 2pm – The Hey Yahs Trio with an acoustic set of harmony vocals and guitar covers – “music to lunch by“
• At 3pm – The Rohan five-piece will cover Traditional Folk, Blue Grass and contemporary in their unique way

And to end a special day…

• At 3.40pm – Ledbury Border Morris will close the event with their unique blend of border county traditional dances

And you can visit Ledbury’s heritage sites – the Church, The Heritage Centre and the Town itself, or 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/

Can you help us at this event?

We always need help to prepare the site for the event and to take things down when it ends. We also need help with stewarding during the event.  If you can help please ring Griff at 01531 633637 or email ledburycelebration@gmail.com.  You will be valued!

This event is organised by Ledbury Food Group in partnership with Ledbury Poetry and Ledbury Town Council.

Ledbury Poetry is supported by: