ON July 8 school children and people with learning disabilities joined Lady Darnley to take part in arts activities and aerial dance before being treated to a performance by dance group, Everybody Dance.

Lady Darnley, Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Herefordshire, was greeted on the Breinton orchard by children from Barrs Court Primary dressed as orchard insects. She then mucked-in with children from Staunton-on-Wye Endowed, Blackmarston and Hampton Dene Primary Schools and several groups of people with learning and physical disabilities, as they tried their hands at stone carving, mask-making and land art with three local artists.

The children put on an incredible performance of aerial dance, which was followed by a jaw-dropping performance by Everybody Dance.

The weather was fine and the orchard looked beautiful with artwork hanging from the trees and posts. Around 170 people gathered on the orchard, which was kindly opened for the week of preparations and performance by the Walls of Breinton Manor Fruit Farm.

Dave Marshall, Bulmer Foundation and manager of Orchard Art project said “Orchard Art brings people of all abilities together in an orchard setting and encourages them to care for the planet by caring for each other. We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors, without whom it would not have been possible. Thanks to EF Bulmer Benevolent Fund, Comic Relief administered by Herefordshire Community Foundation and The Elmley Foundation.”

Lovely Bugs in the Orchard is being delivered in partnership by Orchard Art, The Three Counties Traditional Orchard Project, and Everybody Dance.