The National Trust is putting on an event to celebrate the launch of new orchards at a medieval manor house near Bromyard.

There will be music, stalls and more at Brockhampton on Saturday, May 21 between 10am and 5pm.

The event is free but normal admission charges - £9.50 for adults and £4.75 for children - still apply unless you have a National Trust pass.

The Brockhampton estate is home to about 65 acres of traditional orchards - the largest orchards cared for by the National Trust.

Brockhampton manor itself is surrounded by ‘Shropshire prune’ damson trees, which blossom in early April and produce fruit later in the summer.

Heritage varieties of apples grown at the site include the Worcester Pearmain and the Onibury Pippin.

Cherries, pears and the rare Medlar fruit are also grown at Brockhampton.

Two lost orchards have been reinstated thanks to a £140,000 award from Postcode Earth Trust, thanks to the People’s Postcode Lottery, Arts Council England and donations from a couple of National Trust supporters.

The first orchard, known as ‘reimagined orchard’, will tell different stories of how various fruit trees ended up in the UK.

Getting closer to nature

Project manager Ellie Jones has been working alongside Bristol-based artist Walter Jack and landscape architects Rathbourne to create an engaging and intriguing design for the project.

“Nowadays it is important for us to ensure we are taking care of our health and wellbeing,” said Ellie. “We hope this project will enable more people to feel included in our work and able to spend more time in the outdoors and closer to nature.”

The second orchard will be situated on tenanted farmland.

Brockhampton farmers James and Victoria Hawkins are keen to support the project as part of their ambition to diversify and create more nature friendly habitats.

The orchard will be planted with meadow grass and native wildflowers to encourage a diversity of pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

A total of three fields over 21 acres will be transformed over the three years, meaning fruit production will once again be at the very heart of Brockhampton.