KEMPLEY
DAFFODIL WEEKEND
Dates for March 2010 are Saturday & Sunday 20th and 21st
Record Kempley Daffodil Weekend Report on the event
All records were broken at this year’s Kempley Daffodil weekend. The Chairman of this years event said "We owe a huge debt of gratitude to all the many villagers, friends, and helpers who made this year’s weekend such a success". The event raised funds which will secure important work in St Edward's church over the coming year. The money which is donated to the Fabric Fund for the church will go towards major electrical rewiring work along with more general maintenance in the year ahead for the church at the heart of our community.
The event attracted over a 1000 vehicles and about 2,500 people. The dry weather meant most people were able to park in the field near the village hall (provided courtesy of our local farmer) and join either the organized walks along the daffodil way or hop aboard the minibus tours of the daffodil fields and woodlands. It was a wonderful family occasion with something for old and young to enjoy. The historical displays in the church attracted a lot of attention - at times it was difficult to enter as people were enthusiastic to read about the history of the church and of the daffodil railway that for so many years carried visitors to our beautiful area from the cities of Birmingham and London. And at the end of every visit a chance to enjoy the delights of home cooking, teas and ice cream as visitors perused the stalls both in the church grounds and the village hall and joined in the raffle.
And the reason for the visitors - the beautiful display of wild daffodils - probably the best we have seen in many years as the weather ensured the display was at its peak on a bright sunny weekend. Everywhere people went the village looked spick and span following efforts the weekend before to remove any litter, erect signage and prepare planting areas for seedling daffodils to establish for future years. Thanks too for the Council who patched the roads ahead of the event.
Kempley Daffodil Weekend Committee.
Here are some pictures from 2009:
Daffodil Report 24th April 2009
The daffodils have gone for another year, but the woods are still looking good. The footpaths are still open and the churches are open, so come along and enjoy the countryside.
Visit our two churches:-
St. Edward’s Church Exhibition this year includes a projection of a 1960’s Railway Film “The Daffodil Line”- the Glos. Railway Society’s last railway journey along the line, plus maps, photos and stories of rural life, work, and the construction of St Edward’s, back when Dymock station was the hub of the economy. There will also be a model of Dymock railway station along with photographs of he station throughout the years.
St. Mary’s church will be open to view the ancient frescoes. Also see the churchyard and daffodils and the Yew Restoration Project.
Daffodil Weekend is organised by an ‘ad hoc’ working party of local volunteers on behalf of the St Edward’s Church PCC. All funds raised during the weekend are used for the benefit of the church, including the ‘Fabric Fund’. The Friends of Kempley Churches, the Kempley Village Hall Trust, the Second Wednesday Club and the Parish Council support the DW working party but none of these bodies has any moral, fiscal or legal responsibility for the event.
Updated 26/04/09
[Weekend]
The theme this year is:
50 Years Anniversary of the Daffodil Line
In and around the Village of Kempley.
Come and see the wild daffodils and spend the day in our lovely village.
Through to its closure to passengers in 1959, the GWR Daffodil Line from Gloucester through Newent, Four Oaks, Dymock and on to Ledbury brought tourists from across the Midlands to enjoy the spring spectacle of wild daffodils. Dymock station was a vital access point for this ‘Lent Lily’ cut-flower trade. The blooms were marketed across the 3 counties, and proved a valuable fundraising opportunity, supporting hospital charities in Birmingham and London. Villagers collected daffs in bunches of 50, and many thousands were despatched by rail to cathedral cities such as York for Mothering Sunday and Easter celebrations.
In more recent decades the thriving tradition of Daffodil Weekend Teas, with produce stalls, events and guided walks has been cause for the reunion of village families, neighbours and friends, coming back to the rural villages of the Leadon Vale. The Village Hall offers a warm welcome to modern day tourists, now arriving by car and cycle, for guided walks along hedgerow path, fields and woodland to witness the magnificent Spring display.
Kempley Daffodil Weekend is a fund raising event organised in the tiny Gloucestershire village of Kempley by a team of volunteers from the village. It began over twenty years ago by a local lady who saw the potential of the natural wild daffodils which grow in abundance in the woods surrounding the village. Every spring time the woods are carpeted in yellow with these tiny daffodils. The countryside is unspoiled and famous for links with poets such as John Masefield and Robert Frost.
The small wild daffodils grow freely in many fields and the surrounding woods and can be enjoyed on the circular 'Daffodil way' footpath covering approximately eight miles. The daffodils may be seen from the roads and the many footpaths between Newent and Dymock which pass through the village of Kempley.
The Village Hall will serve home made refreshments from 11.00a.m. until 5.00p.m
Home made produce, maps and DVDs for sale, plants stall and raffle
Organised guided walks through the woods to find as many daffodils as possible.
Several of the fields around the village are normally carpeted with daffodils and are designated areas of special interest
Daff’n’Ride Bus every 30 minutes
Linking village Car Park to St.Mary’s, Daffodil Way and Queens Wood Car Park. One-way or Return. Disabled/wheelchair facility. Tours around Golden Triangle & Daffodil hotspots of Dymock/ Newent.