Contrary Life

Contrary Life is a website covering quirky events across the UK.

  • Home
  • About
  • Events by region
    • North East
    • North West
    • Yorkshire
    • East Midlands
    • West Midlands
    • East
    • London
    • South East
    • South West
    • Scotland
    • Northern Ireland
    • Wales
Home > Food & Drink > Welcome Spring with a trip to Cumbria’s Damson Day

Welcome Spring with a trip to Cumbria’s Damson Day

By Caroline King - April 10, 2019Posted in : Fair, Food & Drink, Walks

Every year in Cumbria, a celebration takes place to herald the arrival of spring and the damson blossom.

Damson Day - Lyth Valley - Cumbria - www.tireedawson.co.uk
The snow white flowers of Damson blossom (Photo: www.tireedawson.co.uk)

Damson Day Country Fair takes place in the Lyth Valley with local crafts and produce, live entertainment, displays, demonstrations, blossom walks, real ale and hot food on offer to visitors.

The Westmorland damson, thought to be a type of Shropshire prune, is a member of the plum family and slightly smaller than other damsons. Traditionally, the damsons have grown in and around the Lyth and Winster valleys in the South Lakeland area, since the early 1700s. The fruit was sold by the cartload in the nearby town of Kendal, as well as being used by jam factories in Lancashire and as a dye for the textile industry.

The Westmorland Damson Association began in 1996 to help save the orchards, and the first Damson Day was held a year later in 1997. The damsons are used for a variety of products, from jams, jellies and chutneys, to wine and gin.

This year’s Damson Day Country Fair will take place on Saturday 13th April at Low Farm. As well as the food and entertainment there will be a Damson Day competition with categories for the best damson jam, liqueur or gin, wine and brownie.

During spring the damson trees are in blossom with their pretty white flowers on show, so what better time to celebrate this unique fruit?

When: 13th April 2019
Where: Low Farm, Lyth Valley, Cumbria LA8 8DJ
£: Admission costs £6 for adults, £3 for children and £15 for a family

More info: www.damsonday.co.uk

Related Posts

  • Vintage bus rides and artisan food in Cumbria
  • Festival goes marmalade mad in Cumbria

Tagged With: Cumbria, Family events, North West

Curiosity of the Week

Normanton Church, a waterside wonder
Normanton Church by Karen Cann

Welcome to a new year, and a new Curiosity of the Week! Our first curiosity of 2021 is a sunken church. It’s also one of the UK’s finest hidden gem tourist attractions…

Top Story

Drama from a toilet cubicle
Overflow, Bush Theatre steaming show

This month, UK audiences can enjoy a streamed performance of Overflow, a heart-wrenching show played out in a club toilet…

What are you looking for today?

  • Alternative Sport
  • Art
  • Cabaret and Circus
  • Cinema
  • Classes, Workshops & Talks
  • Club Night
  • Comedy
  • Dance
  • Exhibitions and Installations
  • Fairs and Markets
  • Festival
  • Food & Drink
  • Heritage and History
  • Interview
  • Literature
  • Museum
  • Music
  • Nature and Outdoors
  • Review
  • Science and Technology
  • Theatre
  • Walks and Tours

Sign up to our Newsletter

Copyright © 2021 · Contrary Life