Welcome to the Orchard of England | 2025 | Award-winning documentary about apples in Herefordshire

Known historically as the Orchard of England, Herefordshire is apple country. Sat in the middle is the ancient market town of Leominster, full of apples, old customs and local wisdom. This award-winning documentary brings together a wide-ranging and eccentric cast of local people – farmers, Travellers, former apple-pickers, clergymen, wassailers, cider makers, fruit sellers – to explore the deep relationship between the people of this area and its historic crop. Part portrait of a fading way of life, part celebration of how a living culture continues to manifest itself, the film raises deep questions about human nature. Expect games, pies, dancing, petty crime, and varieties of apple beyond your most delirious dreams. Prepare to honour the apple. This film was made possible with the support of the UK's National Lottery Heritage Fund, Leominster Town Council and Leominster Cultural Consortium. It was made for Leominster Priory by Moving House Films. It is dedicated to the memory of Pat Robinson and Roberta Jancey. CONTRIBUTORS Alice Wheeler-Jones Felicity Norman Jenny Pipes Morris Gareth Pugh Russell Sutcliffe Neil Sutcliffe Barbara Jones Pat Robinson Raymond Treasure (Stockton Bury) Doreen Johnson Roberta And Michael Jancey Stephanie Dunn Hilary Kay Cudbill Jacqueline Cole Simon Hoskins Martin Harris (Butford Farm) Robert Robinson (Robinsons Cider) Paul Stephens (Newton Court) Gill Bullock (Newton Court) Mark Pugh Leominster Priory Bellringers Leominster Priory Choir Cider Sue Anna Joseph Agnes Joseph Ancy Alexkutty Claire Mee Trish Marsh Leominster Town Councillors Amanda Eastman Pete Blench Anthony Wallis Father Guy Cole Father Jonathan Roberts Mark Woodall Gillian Talbot Stacey Webb (About Face Theatre) Lauren Walne (About Face Theatre) Jade Millward (About Face Theatre) Richard Woodall (About Face Theatre) Tom Fleming (About Face Theatre) Jack Butler (About Face Theatre) Tim Dowse (About Face Theatre) Jess Mackenzie (Artistic Director, About Face Theatre) Cheryl Hewitt (Theatre Assistant, About Face Theatre) David Cooke (Parry’s Fruit & Veg) Mark Parry (Parry’s Fruit & Veg) Clive Lawson Parry (Parry’s Fruit & Veg) Pam Wright Malcolm Mason (Leominster Museum) Terry Collier (Leominster Museum) Charlotte Tuck-Vanderstraete (Apple Games) Martha Davies (Apple Games) Elin Chedgzoy (Apple Games) Hephzibah Cole (Apple Games) Jill Hanna (Apple Games) Leominster Priory Junior Choir (Alicia, Alice, Gethin, Sophie, Esmie, Eden, Rowan, Meg) Goats Youth Club (Jonathan, Tom, Lewis, Charlotte, Elin, Jean Dickson) Leominster Morris Joshua Dyer (Leominster Morris) Adam Glyn-Jones (Leominster Morris) Concept by Hilary Lyon Director Louis Norris Producers Hilary Lyon and Louis Norris Production designer Jonathan Ben-Shaul Editor Louis Norris Choreographer Jonathan Ben-Shaul Director of Photography Louis Norris Interviewer Hilary Lyon Assistant Director Jonathan Ben-Shaul Archive Researcher Louis Norris Special Thanks To Elisha Mason, Hereford Museum Of Cider Caitlin Hazell, Music Advisor Alison Hazell Ian Lyon Sophie Budden Wellington Parish History Society Leominster Morris The Crown Inn, Dilwyn The Grape Vaults, Leominster This film is part of Priory Futures, a project by Leominster Priory which has been made possible with the National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery Players.