As Chairman of Ledbury Town Council, I am pleased to inform you of an exciting update on our community engagement plans for the coming months.

In previous years, The Mayor’s focus has been on fundraising for one or two named charities. However, this year, I have decided to take a different approach. Instead of selecting specific charities to support through fundraising activities, we will be shining a spotlight on a wide variety of local organisations that are vital to our community. Our goal is to help these groups raise awareness of their own work, promote their upcoming events, and to use my role as Chairman to contribute to their efforts in giving back to Ledbury.

June – Strong Community

Keeping in line with the theme of our well-known and loved Community Day, June’s spotlight will be on the strength of our community as a whole and specifically upon the work of The Community Hub, Community Action Ledbury and the Talk Community initiatives we have ongoing within the town. We look forward to supporting their endeavours and celebrating their role in fostering community spirit.

July – Theatre, Literature and Music

Recognising this is the month for our now Internationally acclaimed annual Poetry Festival, with its associated Celebration Day and follow-on Ledbury Fringe music events, July will be dedicated to the cultural heartbeat of our town. In addition to the events mentioned we will also be highlighting the activities of the Market Theatre and recognising the rich artistic talent in our community. We are looking forward to showcasing their success.

August – Families and Young People

During the school holidays our August focus will be on groups and activities engaging families and young people. Groups such as LEAF (Locally Encouraging all to Flourish) and the Youth Drop-In, the Children’s Centre and holiday clubs and activities. Particular attention will be given to supporting learning through play and youth engagement initiatives, emphasising the importance of providing activities for our young residents.

September – Our Place – Past, Present and Future

This September, in conjunction with Heritage Open Days, England’s largest festival of history and culture, we will be shining a spotlight on the rich heritage and vibrant community spirit of Ledbury. It’s a time to celebrate what makes our town unique: it’s fascinating past, its dynamic present, and the exciting possibilities for the future.
As well as supporting Ledbury’s own Heritage Open Days event, we’ll be showcasing the work of local organisations including the Civic Society, the local CPRE group, Friends of the Master’s House, Ledbury Places, Ledbury in Bloom, U3A Gardeners, the Allotment Association, Ledbury Naturalists, Sustainable Ledbury, and Ledbury Community Solar.

October – Traditions

October brings with it one of Ledbury’s most cherished traditions: the Mop Fair. With roots going back to a charter granted in 1138 and a Royal Charter in 1584, this historic event is a highlight of our town’s cultural calendar. Alongside the Mop Fair, we’ll be honouring other seasonal and community traditions from Harvest celebrations to the enduring work of local craft and hobby groups keeping the spirit of Ledbury alive through the generations.

November & December – Taking Care of Ourselves & Others

As the days grow shorter and the weather turns colder, our focus shifts to wellbeing and community support. During November and December, we’ll highlight the importance of taking care of our physical and mental health while also looking out for one another. Special attention will be given to the vital work of Ledbury Food Bank, Talk Community, Ledbury Warm Spaces, and the Ledbury Community Hub. Together, we’ll foster a season of warmth, kindness, and connection.

Throughout this period, I am offering my personal support to promote any fundraising initiatives or special events these organisations may have. Whether it’s helping to raise awareness, offering my name to encourage participation, or donating raffle prizes, I am committed to assisting in ways that the organisations find most helpful and would appreciate feedback in this regard.

Together, we can strengthen the fabric of our community by supporting those who give back and enrich our town. I encourage everyone to get involved, whether through volunteering, attending events, or simply spreading the word about the wonderful work being done.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to Ledbury.

Councillor Elizabeth Harvey
Chairman, Ledbury Town Council 2025/26

History

In the summer of 2019, a few friends had a conversation about what could be done in Ledbury to work towards more sustainable living – and what was meant by that. This resulted in an open meeting in the Brewery Inn – a lively meeting of ideas and discussion. The challenge was how to turn this energy into some practical action. A few key areas of activity were identified and Sustainable Ledbury was formed.

The main areas of interest were and are waste reduction in general, transport, and looking after the  open spaces in and around Ledbury. There was a lot of interest in setting up a Repair Café in Ledbury and this has proved very successful.

Waste reduction is a huge subject and at the same time Sustainable Ledbury looked at increasing knowledge/raising awareness. We invited the Waste Team Manager at Herefordshire Council to give a talk on the changing laws on waste management; arranged a visit to the Envirosort facility at Norton, nr Worcester to see what happens to our recycled waste; and started up a project group to look at how we could reduce the use of ‘single use’ plastic in Ledbury.

On the Transport side Sustainable Ledbury has made contact with the Malvern Hills Car Club to get Ledbury included in their scheme. With regard to open spaces, we started to look at the Town Trail.

Then in early 2020 the pandemic hit and everything went on hold. Through 2021 and now 2022 we have been ‘re-launching’ our activities as and when we are allowed, and are now a growing community.

Plastic Free Ledbury 2025

This project has two elements which aims to support both the traders and the residents of Ledbury and the surrounding villages.

We want to raise awareness of how we can all reduce the use of plastics in our daily lives and also how plastics effects both traders and residents.

We started by asking Traders if they would consider moving away from their current packaging to a more sustainable packing. Some of them already had started to make the switch, but quite often as an independent trader, buying small volumes of sustainable packaging was cost prohibitive. There was support for the creation of a “hub” where traders could draw down the packaging, they required that had been purchased in bulk, so reducing their costs. 

Our conversations identified that many traders were already using sustainable packaging, but a greater problem was disposing of their trade waste in a sustainable way. Prior to the pandemic lockdowns, Sustainable Ledbury had met with Ledbury Traders Association about seeking to use alternative recycle waste removal options. This work was suspended during lockdown and has taken some time to be restarted, particularly, in light of the new National Waste Strategy which is being implemented by all councils including Herefordshire Council.

The above research highlighted that residents didn’t know what things were and weren’t recyclable and that labelling was confusion. The project team came up with the idea of holding a “Gardener’s Question Time” style event bringing together the public, traders large and small, those in the plastic business and the councils. Again, lockdown meant that this could not happen, and the team are now considering an event in 2025

Anybody wishing to get involved in the project should email sustainableledbury@gmail.com

Sustainable Ledbury: About Sustainable Ledbury

Our members are a diverse group of people who all share a common purpose of growing their own food. However they all have different ideas of what their allotment should be.

Some plots are ‘perfect’ and weed free, others a little more wild. Some members swear by the no-dig principle; some work to the old tradition of double digging. Some grow organically; some still need a little help from chemicals. Many members have built raised beds, erected greenhouses and of course the essential shed in an assortment of styles.

It is this diversity that brings vibrancy to our association.

The Association promotes sustainable growing and encourages the members to use environmentally responsible growing methods .

There is no mains water supply to the site but that is not usually a problem. The association can obtain 1000 litre water tanks at a competitive price and most plots and some of the communal areas are set up with water harvesting providing ample water throughout the season.

• The soil is our most important resource. The association sources supplies of soil conditioners such as green waste, recycled coir compost, manure and wood chips and this is available to members at extremely competitive prices.

A newsletter is e-mailed to members about four times a year with lots of useful information, keeping members informed about what’s been happening behind the scenes, growing and recipe tips.

The Association and the Natural Environment

Visit our site and you will be amazed at the wildlife that you will see. Our wildlife officer works tirelessly with some help from our members to maintain the public ares of the site, with wildlife the priority. The hedges and trees are teeming with birds, the hedgerows and grass areas are abundant with flowers which encourage pollinating insects so essential for our crops.

There are two ponds on the site which attract frogs, toads newts as well as many aquatic insects.

Some areas are set aside as wild areas.

Volunteering with the Friends

There are currently fourteen full members of the Friends who help to organise the heritage programme and delivery throughout the year. Anyone who would like to offer particular skills to help our programme is welcome to make contact and explore any opportunities that may be available.  Please email chair@themastershouseledbury.org 

There are public tours of The Master’s House held on the first Wednesday of each month from March to October with two tours during the months of July and August – for details of the next date, please see What’s On.

The Friends of the Master’s House welcome requests for private tours for groups of 10 – 20 people on Wednesdays, 10.00am – 3.00pm (evening tours can sometimes be arranged). Tours usually last about 1½ hours. Please see our contact details on the Visit Us page to enquire about a booking or leave your contact details in the library to be passed onto us. All such visits are free but the Friends ask for a donation which goes directly towards funding future events in the building.

Please check if you need to book – you will be asked for your ticket at the event.

Tickets can now only be obtained from Ledbury Books & Maps, 20 High St. 01531 633226.

Please Note that where tickets are required, these will be available from 1st of the month preceding the event. Tours are free but still require a ticket. (We also provide a tear-off strip on each ticket for you to leave contact details in case of event cancellation but we will not, of course, keep these beyond the event date unless otherwise instructed).

https://themastershouseledbury...

Hiring event and exhibition space in The Master’s House

If you would like to hire one of the event and exhibition spaces in The Master’s House for an event of your own, telephone 01432 383499 or email ledburylibrary@herefordshire.gov.uk 

Come rain or shine we have fun digging in the garden, watering, growing, mark making, exploring in a safe and friendly space. All of what we do is based on learning through play and having fun, letting children follow their interests in a safe way. The Friends can provide waterproofs and wellies for those days when the weather is not so lovely and on those hot sunny days, the few we do have, we have sails and parasol for shade.

During the school summer holidays the Friends will be running four ‘Fun in the Forest’ session, Wednesday 23^rd and Friday 25^th July and Wednesday 27 and Friday 29 August, 2.00 – 4.00 pm . Older siblings of under-fives are welcome to attend the activities. The sessions will include den building, mud kitchen, art and craft, tools, cooking on an open fire, stories and songs etc. Becky Davis
who runs these sessions is a trained Forest School Lead. The sessions are being funded by the Town
Council.

The Friends have a Facebook page which is updated weekly with our activities and other related information. Sessions are free of charge but a voluntary contribution of £1.50 per family is very welcome for the regular weekly sessions.

Parents have said ‘I love how warm and welcoming everyone is there’s always plenty of activities to do ……’ I attended one of the summer Fun in the Forest sessions with my 5 year old and 2 year old and it was great. The rope swings in the trees, den building and the mud kitchen were firm favourites thank you’

FLCC Flier 1 Final

Flier for Fun in the Forest Summer 2025

Whether you're a keen grower, a crafty cook, a budding photographer or a curious child wanting to try something new—there’s a class for everyone.

This is a fantastic opportunity for families to create, grow, and learn together, while being part of a joyful community celebration.

Get involved. Grow something. Make something. Show something.
Come and be part of Ledbury’s horticultural history!

To enter the competition, you must obtain a show schedule that includes the 93 classes from either James at Ledbury Hardware store in the Homend or from Mark at Newent Plant Centre at the Nest.

Application forms are attached to the schedule and they need to be returned to James at the Ledbury Hardware store. Good luck! 

Work started on 30th March 1999, commencing with demolition of the much loved but decrepit ‘tin shed’ that had been our home for over 40 years.  That evening, a fire was started in the remains of old shell in ‘suspicious circumstances’, but it did not prove to be a set-back.  It was a sad end to the old building, but it could have been our old poltergeist refusing to be upstaged and insisting on going out in style!  The steelwork was put up in mid-May and the keys to The Market Theatre were handed to our then Patron, the late Richard Briers, on 10th November 1999.  From then until the opening, LADS members worked 25 hours a day fitting it out and decorating it in time to open for our first show – Cinderella, by John Sperinck.

The theatre building won Ledbury’s annual Design Awards competition (see article from 5th May 2000 in the Hereford Times) for the best contribution to the town’s built environment during 1999.

A substantial grant from the Malvern Millions was committed to the project, and LADS raised a further considerable sum by its own efforts.  Generous support has been given by local people, businesses and trusts, all of which has enabled us to achieve our goal.  Please help LADS to continue to provide for Ledbury a considerable asset that will enrich the lives of everyone.

Community Day is a brilliant example of what makes Ledbury such a special place, it offers a unique opportunity for networking and collaboration – a chance for local people and organisations to come together and celebrate what unites us.

The Council’s involvement reflects the Chairman’s theme for the year, “Big Up the Community” – a campaign to recognise and celebrate the people and initiatives that contribute to Ledbury’s vibrant local life.

Ledbury Town Council extends its thanks to all organisers, volunteers, and participants for their contributions to making the event such a success. Plans are already in motion to build on this momentum and continue growing the event in future years.

Follow this link to find out more about Ledbury Community Day:  Eleventh Ledbury Community Day

Ledbury Community Day Post Event Report

Connecting people to services, groups, information and events in Herefordshire

The Ledbury Walk and Talk is an inclusive, weekly walk which takes place on Wednesdays at the Ledbury Rugby Club, from 10.30am. The walk is run by community volunteers who have all received walk leader training through the Ramblers wellbeing walks framework. It is an accessible walk for all with the option to walk the flat, paved car park area or venture on to the field, with walkers walking as far as they feel able. The walk is really inclusive and welcoming, with lots of friendly faces and chatter, and it finished with the opportunity for a tea or coffee in the Rugby club following.

More information can also be found here - Ramblers Wellbeing Walks Herefordshire