The Big Apple

02/05/2026

Cider & Perry Trials 2026

Thank you to everyone who participated, our volunteers who made the event happen and a special mention to Bill Laws for presenting the prize cards.

The Results:

Novice Cider
🥇 Blobby Juice
🥈Pressed Our Luck a Little

Bottled Conditioned Perry
🥇 Alistair Smith
🥈 Geoff Newman
🥉Troggi

Bottled Conditioned Cider
🥇palmers_upland_cyder
🥈 Alistair Smith
🥉 Gregg's Pit Cider & Perry

Draught Sweet Perry
=🥇 Yarcle & Peter Donovon "Beyond the Pond"
🥉Geoff Newman

Draught Medium Perry
🥇 Gregg's Pit Cider & Perry
🥈 Alistair Smith
🥉 Ross-on-Wye Cider & Perry Co

Draught Dry Perry
🥇 Alistair Smith
🥈 Crispin Hack
🥉 99 PINES Perry

Draught Sweet Cider
=🥇 Martin Pagett & The Houghton Project
🥉 Peter Donovon ‘beyond the pond’

Draught Medium Cider
🥇 Robin Bornoff
🥈 Moseley Coder Circle
=🥉 The Houghton Project & Trinity Cider

Draught Dry Cider
🥇 Robin Bornoff
🥈 Trinity Cider
🥉Sam Everitt

Best Perry Maker - Alistair Smith

Best Cider Maker - Robbin Bornoff

01/05/2026

Blossomtime this weekend!

We are trilled to have the following entertainment over the two days:

Sunday 3rd
1.45pm Jasstones
3.00pm Slack-Ma-Girdle

Monday 4th
2.30pm Leominster Morris
3.15pm The Remnants

All at Dragon Orchard which is one of three venues part of our Blossomtime weekend.

29/04/2026

This Bank Holiday Weekend!
Blossomtime 2026 Schedule

28/04/2026

This Weekend! Sunday 3rd & Monday 4th May
Our Blossomtime Event in Aylton and Putley.
Cider, Perry, Walks, Talks, Tastings, and Demostrations.
One Event - Three Venues | 10am to 5pm

22/04/2026

Fosbury Walk on Monday 4th May at 9.30am starting at Putley Parish Hall as part of our Blossomtime Weekend.

More Information......
Fosbury Fruit Farm in Putley sits on the fertile south facing slopes of the Marcle Ridge, showcasing all that is best in English apple growing. 150 years ago, the innovative Putley Court Estate was at the forefront of the revival of Victorian fruit growing. Split up after the Great War, Fosbury was farmed by the Fortnam family until Stephen’s retirement after a lifetime of dedicated husbandry.

The farm is now owned by DPS, an international company supplying fruit from all over the world to most UK supermarkets. Once again, Fosbury Fruit Farm is moving towards the leading edge with its world class Organic Fruit Production.

Join Farm Manager Mike Thorn to hear how this modern business meets the challenges of supplying an ever-changing market, coping with an increasingly changing environment and growing apples as sustainably as possible.

One Event Three Venues | 10am to 5pm
3rd & 4th May 2026

20/04/2026

Blossomtime 2025

Interested in Pruning? Would like to learn more?
On Sunday 3rd May we have a Pruning Demo by David Pealing starting at 11am and 2.30pm at Dragon Orchard.

One event - three venues |10am - 5pm

19/04/2026

The whole team involved with Big Apple events at Hellens over many years will wish to mark Adam’s passing by acknowledging the privilege of the welcome shown to us at Hellens as a base for our annual Harvestime activities, alongside other familiar venues in and around Much Marcle. No sooner was work completed on the Great Barn, than we found ourselves invited to occupy the space for our weekend of apple displays. As more facilities became available, so we were welcomed to extend our offer. We never knew when Adam would put in an appearance - he would often wander in to take a look and say hello. The atmosphere created by Adam and his wonderful team was, and we are certain will continue to be, very special - not just to us but to the whole gamut of activities that have been privileged to find a
transient home each year at Hellens.

We are sad to announce that our chairman, Adam Munthe, passed away last week.
He was the heart and soul of Hellens and worked tirelessly to make it a welcoming home for our volunteers and partners, guests, visitors, and also for ourselves.
He was an inspiration to all who knew him and will be sorely missed in Much Marcle and further afield. We feel fortunate to have worked alongside him and are keen to honour his legacy and keep making Hellens the unique place it is.

18/04/2026

Cider & Perry competition!

You only have one week left to get your entries in.

Competition open to all cider and perry makers, novice or experienced, commercial and non-commercial.

Head to our website to enter.

Closing date 25th April at 5pm

11/01/2026

Great way to start the New Year with our Wassail kindly hosted at ! Thank you to for joining us.

Wassail!