ORGANISERS of the Kempley Daffodil Weekend have been left counting the cost after heavy snow led to the cancellation of last Sunday's event, following a successful Saturday, which attracted visitors from as far afield as London, Bristol, Warwickshire and Birmingham.
On the Saturday, because of the freezing temperatures, minibus rides to take visitors out to the daffodil fields proved to be particularly popular; but four organised walks to the see the daffodils also filled up, with 14 people on each of the walks, despite snow flurries.
But it was a different matter on the Sunday, when organisers woke to see up to four inches of snow lying in the Kempley area and decided to cancel that day's event, for health and safety reasons.
Numerous notices for the cancellation went out on local radio stations; but a few visitors still arrived at the village hall, one from as far afield as Birmingham, and they were given maps if they wished to find their own way to the daffodils.
Event spokesman, Martin Brocklehurst said this only the second time since the Kempley Daffodil Weekend started in 1975 that any of the daffodil weekend events had been cancelled.
The other time was during the national Foot and Mouth crisis, of 2001, and that was not down to the weather.
He said: "Last Sunday's cancellation was quite exceptional; but you have to take the weather into account. It was so cold on the Sunday, it would have been silly to go ahead.
"Saturday went ahead reasonably, although numbers were down on previous years. Lots of people had a good time.
"We won't have made a loss, but figures will be down."
Last year, the Kempley Daffodil Weekend raised more than £3000 for the village hall and St Edward's church. This year, Mr Brocklehurst estimated the figure could be down to £1000.
But all is not lost for daffodil lovers. The Kempley Daffodil Weekend was one of three linked events this spring, with the next one set to take place at Awnells Farm event on March 23, followed by the Oxenhall Daffodil Weekend on March 24 and March 25.
Further details at: http://thedaffodilsociety.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/2018-Final-Kempley-Oxenhall-Daffodil-Weekend-Programme_A5-12pp.pdf
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