The coming of the apple blossom will be celebrated at Bridport Community Orchard.

Music, dancing, refreshments and...sheep are promised as Mayfest comes to the orchard on Monday, May 2 from 12pm-3pm.

A spokesman said: "We will be celebrating the coming of the apple blossom at our Mayfest which will be the biggest community event in the St Mary’s Church Field Orchard, in Bridport, since the start of the pandemic.

"Alongside the traditional celebrations with our May Queen and Jack-in-the-Green, there will be refreshments, games, a range of music, dancing and other entertainment (and some lovely sheep to set the scene). The event will begin with the Town Crier gathering people in Bucky Doo Square to proceed to the orchard arriving at noon.

"Throughout the afternoon we have a busy programme for you to experience the traditions of early May and enjoy the orchard in blossom. Bring a picnic, we have hot and cold drinks and cakes for donations and Dorset Nectar cider for sale. "Please bring your ‘keep cups’ if you can, as we are wanting to minimise the use of plastic disposables. Join in the Maypole dancing, pet a sheep, make a garland, make a seed bomb, go on a treasure hunt, be entertained by the Mummers, the Wyld Morris dancers and see the magic of the Big Foolini!

"We will have storytelling and live music throughout the afternoon as well. Everyone is welcome."

The event is part of the Beltane festival, a Gaelic festival held halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice.

Beltane marks the beginning of summer and rituals are performed to protect farmers crops, cattle and people and to encourage growth.

Members of Bridport Community Orchard organise the annual Apple Day in October and Wassail in January.

As well as fruit trees, the St Mary's Church Field Orchard includes a number of community allotments, a meadow area that contains a wide variety of wild flowers, beehives, and a wildlife area with a pond. It is managed in partnership between Bridport Town Council and the Bridport Community Orchard Group (BCOG).

For more information visit bridportcommunityorchard.org.uk