In mid February 2023 Twitter has already seen a couple of posts from people who have seen damson blossom appearing – in London, and in Limerick. These early sightings are increasingly common!
What does the year ahead hold for damsonistas?
Celebrate signs of Spring and fruit trees bursting into blossom with the hashtag #blossomwatch – the National Trust’s bid to create a new tradition emulating Hanami, Japan’s annual celebration of blossom, associated with the arrival of Spring.
Check out the damson orchards at the National Trust’s Brockhampton estate in Herefordshire; Lyveden New Bield in Northants; Dapdune Wharf, Guildford; and Attingham Park near Shrewsbury, for their blossoms in April and to pick the fruit from August to October.
Take a trip to Cumbria’s Lyth Valley where the orchards and hedgerows become snow white with damson blossom each April.
On Facebook, the Westmorland Damson Association promises that ‘we will go ahead in April 2023’ with its annual Damson Day Fair (date tbc).
The National Fruit Collection at Brogdale near Faversham is running a Plum Weekend on 12-13 August 10am-3pm.
This year sees the 25th Anniversary of the Pershore Plum Festival, which is usually held over the August Bank Holiday weekend (26-28 August 2023). The Festival incorporates National Plum Day (probably Saturday 26 August).
Hopefully, the Spotted Cow in Holbrook, Derbyshire will be hosting its Damson Sunday again this year, probably in September.
Here’s to you enjoying, growing, picking, cooking, eating, brewing, steeping, and drinking damsons in 2023 and beyond!
damsonplums 