Orchards have been celebrated with a year of events and activities in Hereford.
Hereford’s Year in the Orchard took place in 2011 to celebrate the city’s heritage.
The year was organised by Herefordshire Council to mark the fact that the county has been known for its fruit breeding, growing and use for over two centuries, and has often been described as The County of Orchards.
Orchards and estates that are normally closed to the public were opened up to give people an opportunity to find out more about the growing processes.
Other events throughout the year included poetry walks, orchard workshops, arts and crafts events, planting projects, exhibitions and much more.
During the year Herefordshire Council’s Countryside Service and Frank P Matthews’ Trees For Life provided over 200 local variety apple trees to be planted in local communities.
The year also marked 200 years since the publication of Herefordshire horticulturalist Andrew Knight’s book Pomona Herefordiensis. The book was the first to catalogue varieties of apples and pears in detail.
An exhibition was held at Hereford Museum and Art Gallery from the beginning of December to the end of January to celebrate the life and times of Andrew Knight.
Kate Andrew, Herefordshire Council’s principal heritage officer, said: “Other than time away at boarding school and university, Thomas Andrew Knight lived in Herefordshire for his entire life. The exhibition gave a flavour of how he would have lived in Georgian times and how the county looked 200 years ago.
“This continued the focus on Herefordshire Year of the Orchard.”