Orchard growing areas will soon be ablaze with colour - the soft pink tones of apple blossom and the snowy white of pear, plum, damson and blackthorn (sloe).

Why not take advantage of the spring holidays and sunny weather to explore the quiet roads and footpaths of the Vale of Evesham or the Somerset Levels and enjoy the glorious sight of traditional orchards in their prime.

Wychavon District Council has produced a delightful and informative Blossom Trail Booklet - Vale of Evesham – Celebrating 25 years! - www.blossom-trail.org.uk .

This delightful pamphlet which is beautifully illustrated with tempting photos details a variety of ways in which you can enjoy the beauty of the Vale in bloom. You can journey through old apple orchards on the Evesham Vale Light Railway go on a selection of 3, 4 ½ , and 6 mile walks, cycle trails of up to 40 miles or explore the Vale on local coach service tours.

The region has a host of events taking place throughout the spring and gives information about places of interest to visit. So before gardening tasks become too onerous, take a break and enjoy the fruits of someone else's hard labour.

For more information contact Angela Tidmarsh on T: 01386565373 (24hrs) to request the booklet.

You can also view and download the booklet as a pdf: www.worcestershires-heritage-garden.org

To explore the cider orchards of Somerset , you can look at the Somerset Cider Map on http://www.somerset.gov.uk/oldtourism/cidermap/home.htm . This site gives information about cider & juice producers, many of whom have farm shops; some are certainly visitor “venues” with museums /orchard walks etc.

However, if you want to enjoy the beauty of Somerset 's orchards in a more leisurely way on foot, you can follow some of the 50 mile River Parrett Trail running from Chedington in Dorset to Bridgwater Bay in the Bristol Channel .

Part of the trail tracks through the Somerset Levels where you can visit the Burrow Hill Cider and Somerset Cider Brandy Company and enjoy a tasting of cider and brandy at their farm shop: www.ciderbrandy.co.uk .

You could also call in at John Leach's Muchelney Pottery which produces traditional cider jugs amongst its other lovely wares www.johnleachpottery.co.uk .

If you would prefer to cycle the quiet lanes of the Levels, bicycles can be hired from the River Parrett Centre at Westover, Langport - T: 01458 250 350.

To view the River Parrett Trail, download a free introductory guide or to order a guidebook, see www.somerset.gov.uk/somerset/ete/rpt .

For a more luxurious short guided walking holiday see www.foottrails.co.uk . As part of their menu of activities, Foot Trails is offering full board weekends – Golden Somerset – in May, September and October.