Blossom Day will kick off Clyde and Avon valley festival

The festival runs through the Clyde and Avon Valley from Saturday, May 6, to Sunday, May 14.

Events include walks, talks, exclusive tours, children’s activities, a songwriting workshop, musical performances, an orchard open day, photography walks, Blossom Day and a landscape and heritage conference.

The valley, an area of great landscape value, is renowned for its beauty, ancient gorge woodlands, crumbling castles, riverside settlements, and orchards, and events take place the length of it.

The festival is organised by Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership in collaboration with local attractions, organisations and community groups.

These include South Lanarkshire’s countryside rangers, Scottish Badgers, Clyde River Foundation, Clyde Valley Orchards Co-operative, Dalserf Church, Falls of Clyde Heritage Group, Get Walking Lanarkshire, Glasgow’s Ice Cream Architecture, Lanark and District Archaeology Society, Lanarkshire Songwriters, Scottish Natural Heritage and Scottish Wildlife Trust.

The festival kicks off with fun for all the family at the annual Blossom Day at Overton Farm, on Saturday, May 6, from 9am to 1pm.

Visitors will be able to shop for fresh, local produce and crafts at a farmers’ market and craft fair and enjoy a school art competition.

“Blossom Day is the perfect way to start the festival. It signals the arrival of the Clyde Valley blossoms, which is when many people agree that the Clyde and Avon Valley looks its best,” said partnership programme manager Donna Marshall.

“The blossom is also a reminder of the estate owners, monks and fruit growers who have cared for orchards throughout history.”

The festival is now in its third year.

“It’s great to see the festival growing from strength to strength,” said Sarah O’Sullivan, a communications officer for the partnership.

“From nine events in 2015 to 16 events in 2016 and 37 in 2017, the festival is testament to the growing energy and enthusiasm in this special part of Scotland to celebrate what makes it unique.

“The landscape and heritage conference, showcasing community heritage projects on Saturday, May 13, and the Fruits of their Labours songwriting workshops and concert on Sunday, May 14, are a wonderful way to conclude the festival.”

The festival ties in with Scotland’s year of history, heritage and archaeology, offering chances for the public to get under the skin of all of these aspects in the Clyde and Avon Valley.

Participants are also invited to enter a photo competition which will run for the duration of the festival.

Among the events aare Kirkfieldbank’s community open day from noon to 3pm, and a guided walk from New Lanark on the origins and significance of the Clyde, both on Sunday, May 7; a guided walk through Corehouse Estate and Corra Castle, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, and a talk on aviation archaeology by Lanark and District Archaeology Society, from 7.30pm to 9pm, both on May 8; and an Apple Day primary schools concert at Kirkfieldbank Hall at 1.30pm on Wednesday, May 10.

The full programme for the festival is:

Saturday 6 May

Blossom Day, Overton Farm, Carluke, 9am – 1pm. No booking required

Salmon Homecoming Celebration - Smithycroft, 11am – 1pm. No booking required

Dalserf Church Open Day, Dalserf, 12 noon – 4pm. No booking required

Botanical Wander on the Monkey Road, Larkhall, 2 – 4pm. Book at [email protected] / 01355 276 885

Sunday 7 May

Make Your Way Photography Walk, Glassford, 10:30am – 12:30pm. Book at [email protected]

Hamilton Mausoleum Tour, Hamilton, 12 noon – 1pm. Book at [email protected] / 01698 452382. Please note there is a £3.50 charge for adults and £2 for concessions

Kirkfieldbank Community Open Day, Kirkfieldbank, 12 noon – 3pm. No booking required

Make Your Way Photography Walk, Stonehouse, 2 - 4pm. Book at [email protected]

The Origins and Significance of the Clyde Guided Walk, New Lanark, 2 – 5pm. Book at [email protected] / 01555 662 034

Monday 8 May

Roots, Routes and Walking Boots: #MakeYourWay, Larkhall, 6 - 7:30pm. Book at [email protected]

Corehouse Estate and Corra Castle Guided Walk, Lanark, 6:30 – 8:30pm. Book at [email protected]

Aviation Archaeology in Clydesdale, Lanark and District Archaeology Society, Lanark, 7:30 – 9pm. No booking required. Please note this event is £3 for non-members

Tuesday 9 May

Get Walking Lanarkshire: Chatelherault Health Walk, 10:30 – 11:30am. Book at [email protected] / 01698 402 077

Get Walking Lanarkshire: Greenhead Moss Health Walk, Wishaw, 10:30 – 11:30am. Book at [email protected] / 01698 402 077

Roots, Routes and Walking Boots: #MakeYourWay, Lanark, 6 - 7:30pm. Book at [email protected]

Wednesday 10 May

Apple Day Primary Schools Concert, Kirkfieldbank Village Hall, 1:30 – 2:30pm. No booking required

Get Walking Lanarkshire: Stonehouse Health Walk, Stonehouse, 10:30 – 11:30am. Book at [email protected] / 01698 402 077

Make Your Way Photography Walk, Larkhall, 6 – 10pm. Book at [email protected]

Historical Mills Guided Walk, The Falls of Clyde, New Lanark, 6:30 – 8:30pm. Book at [email protected]

Castles, Craigs and Creatures Guided Walk, Cartland Craigs, Lanark, 7:30 – 9:30. Book at 01698 421 668

The Lost Kingdom of Cadzow Guided Walk, Chatelherault Country Park, 7 – 9:30pm. Book at [email protected]

Thursday 11 May

Roots, Routes and Walking Boots: #MakeYourWay, Carluke, 7:30 – 9:30pm. Book at [email protected]

Cleghorn Glen Dusk Wildlife Walk, Lanark, 8 – 10pm. Book at 01698 421 668

Friday 12 May

Get Walking Lanarkshire: Hamilton Health Walk, 10:30 – 11:30am. Book at [email protected] / 01698 402 077

Cadzow Uncovered – Site Clearance, Chatelherault Country Park, 11am – 3pm. Book at [email protected]

Family Badger Watch, The Falls of Clyde, New Lanark, 6:30 – 9:30pm. Book at [email protected]

Saturday 13 May

Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape and Heritage Conference, New Lanark World Heritage Site, 10am – 6pm. Book at www.cavlp.eventbrite.co.uk

Nature Ninjas Spotting Workshop, Chatelherault Country Park, 10am – 12:30pm. Book at [email protected] / 07565 813 401

Beasties at Braidwood Bug Hunt, Braidwood Pond, 10:30am – 12 noon. Book at [email protected]

Salmon Homecoming Celebration - Millheugh, 11am – 1pm. No booking required

Dalserf Church Saturday Teas, 12 noon – 4pm. No booking required

Our Hidden Jewel in Dazell Estate Guided Walk, Motherwell, 1:30 – 3:30pm. Book at 01698 402 090

Sunday 14 May

Make Your Way Photography Walk, Lanark, 10:30am – 12:30pm. Book at [email protected]

Roots, Routes and Walking Boots: #MakeYourWay, Stonehouse, 11am - 1pm. Book at [email protected]

Songwriting Worshop, Crossford Inn, 1 – 5pm. Book at [email protected] / 01698 359 326 / 07889 727 254

Make Your Way Photography Walk, Carluke, 2 - 4pm. Book at [email protected]

Roots, Routes and Walking Boots: #MakeYourWay, Glassford, 3 - 5pm. Book at [email protected]

Fruits of Their Labours Lanarkshire Songwriters Concert, Venue TBC

Find out more at www.clydeandavonvalley.org/festival and view the video from last year’s Festival on the link below.