New exhibition highlights magic of Somerset

Falling Apples, Bill Bradshaw

The Hereford Cider Museum is to host a new photographic exhibition - IAMCIDER - from Friday 21st August.  

The exhibition, the work of Somerset photographer Bill Bradshaw, captures the essence of the county’s long and illustrious cider heritage. 

Bill has spent the last five years combining his passion for cider with his work as a photographer.

'My explorative adventures into cider are a labour of love, resulting in a personal and colourful journey around Somerset’s magical cider country,' said Bill.

He has been photographing cider since the autumn of 2004 when artist Kate Lynch approached him about documenting the 'Apple Villages'; a heritage project that has been engaging over 120 school children in five apple-growing parishes on the Somerset Levels & Moors, led by Kate and author of 'Ciderland', James Crowden.

The aim was to encourage the children not only to write original and lively poetry, but also to draw and illustrate their very personal observations of orchards, apples and Cider making. Inspired by the work of Common Ground, it was hoped this project will act as a catalyst for similar initiatives. The end of this project became the starting point for IAMCIDER.

'I remember kneeling in the orchard on that first day behind the school in Kingsbury Episcopi and being astonished by the quality of the light, the smell of the apples, the sense of history and the ways the kids were reacting to it all, it was marvellous,' said Bill. 

'I was really excited - that day really inspired me. It was like a new world opened up to me and I fell in love with it.'

The exhibition is a personal collection of images captured 'strictly off duty'. From annual wassails and apple days, devout mummers, to the faces (and hands) of cidermakers, IAMCIDER is contemporary and passionate, as it explores Somerset’s legendary cider heritage, its unmistakable landscape, its people,places and traditions.

The Cider Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, closed Sundays and Mondays (except bank holiday weekends). For further details please contact 01432 354207

For more on Bill Bradshaw see www.billbradshaw.co.uk. August 7, 2009

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