MORE than 8,000 visitors to the ‘Gol- den Triangle’ daffodil festival helped raise nearly £10,000 for the upkeep of local churches and village halls.

The festival celebrating the Kempley, Oxenhall, Dymock and Much Marcle area’s beautiful wild daffodils saw visitors from as far afield as New Zealand, the Netherlands and Latvia strolling among the blooms.

Sunshine helped the turnout throughout March and early April, combining with the native daffs to put on a glorious display.

Spokesman Martin Brocklehurst said: “Run by volunteers, this event is made possible by the community support of dozens of people – wardening, hosting venues, supervising the car parks, making and serving food and leading walks.

“This year people flocked to the area, and for the first time we offered an integrated programme highlighting all the major events under way during March and early April in the villages of Kempley, Oxenhall, Dymock and Much Marcle.

“The celebrations in the Golden Triangle are bringing much needed income to these isolated villages, on the county boundary of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire.

“As visitor numbers grow, these spring events have become the prime focus for local businesses, and establish the profile for the year’s tourism potential.

“They open up new opportunities and later this year we will see our first EcoAgr-Tourism scheme opening on a local farm, offering accommodation in Kempley for visitors who would like to stay longer.”

The festival is based on the days when thousands visited the area from London to pick the flowers to take back and sell.

It began on March 1 with the launch of the Dymock Forest Centenary Glade, before visitors were able to see the woodlands, orchards and pastures ablaze with wild daffs on succesive weekends at Oxenhall, Awnells Farm, Kempley and Dymock.

“The first weekend at Oxenhall, the long distance walks, illustrating the fascinating local history, were full,” said Martin.

“The open day at the Countryside Restoration Trust near Much Marcle saw visitor numbers rise, where visitors were able to see how farming and wildlife can comfortably co-exist.

“Many have offered to come back later in the year and support the Trust in their work to map the breeding distribution of local dormice.

“The next weekend at Kempley was a roaring success as visitors poured into the area to enjoy three major walks each day and/or join the now famous Daff & Ride bus.

“This year a special walk was on offer to see the ancient woodland Centenary Glade undergoing renovation in Queens Wood in collaboration with the Forestry Commission.

“More than 50 people took the opportunity to join each of the guided walks, expertly led by volunteers from our communities. Many, more took advantage of the Daffodil Way maps sold, and self-directed across the wider Leadon Vale.

“Throughout the month Dymock hosted lunchtime music concerts, and teas and cakes were offered in the church,” he added.

“Sponsorship continued to grow with Three Choirs Vineyard, Weston’s Cider and John Shaw kitchens and bathrooms taking on major sponsorship roles.

“And many more local firms took advertising space in the programme or offered goods on sale or return. We would like to thank them all.”

The Friends of Dymock Poets also hosted a walk from Redmarley to the former home of late group stalwart Barbara Davis – an artist who numbered John Lennon among her college classmates – at the Garland Hut in Ryton, close to the M50.

Here a new panel ‘In Remembrance of Barbara’ displayed a new poem Map Reading by poet and broadcaster Professor Sean Street.

Owing to the popularity of the festival, next year will see a free online booking system for the major walks to manage visitor numbers more effectively and give visitors the best experience of the unique area of countryside

For more information about the Golden Triangle see www.daffs.org.uk