apple day

October 21st is officially Apple Day and although many events have already taken place there is still lots to get your teeth stuck into this weekend. And plenty to get the juices flowing!

Make your own cider

At the Cider Museum in Hereford, visitors on Sat and Sun can roll up to make their very own cider. Learn about the history of cider making, how the apples were milled and pressed and the resulting juice fermented to produce cider. 

Enjoy some beautiful orchards

Home to the UK's largest collection of fruit trees, Brogdale Trust in Kent is hosting an Apple Festival this weekend with lots to do for all the family. Visitors can wander in the orchards, taste different varieties, buy Kentish crafts and watch cookery demos.

View an A to Z of apples and squash

At Luton Hoo walled garden in Bedfordshire there will be stallholders, an exciting array of alphabetical produce (?!), storytelling, apple printing and pumpkin decorating.  

Play Apple Games

Take your children along to Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire on Sunday and they can plant their own apple tree to take home, try apple printing, help dress the apple tree and hunt for giant alphabet apples. Adults can take part in a course on pruning and training fruit trees.

Meet the Apple Lady

Hilary Wilson holds court at Beetham Nurseries, in Cumberland on Sun. Her interest in apples began as a child and led her to research varieties suited to the climate in her area. She enjoys helping people identify their apples and is available for advice. Other activities include tastings, and competitions. 

Take part in the longest peel competition

Join competitors at Eggesford Gardens in Devon to pit your peeling skills against some of the county's finest on Sat and Sun. Afterwards, check out the tasting tables, home made cakes and preserves or get your own apples pressed into juice.

Enjoy morris dancing displays

On Sat and Sun morris dancers will be entertaining the folk at Thames Chase Community Forest in Upminster, Essex. There will be 20 varieties of apple on offer, a wildlife treasure hunt in the forest and bee keeping demos.

Find out how to decrease your carbon footprint

Spitalfields City Farm, London, wants to encourage visitors to buy local at their Apple Day event this year on Sunday. Also try your hand at apple bobbing, the longest peel competition, apple crafts and lots more besides.

Visit the Pip Inn and camp out

On Sat and Sun, Middle Farm, nr. Lewes, East Sussex will play host to thousands of folk coming to enjoy the special brand of magic that makes their apple festival so memorable. You can camp overnight, watch morris dancers, indulge in local ciders at the Pip Inn, taste a whole cornucopia of apple varieties and much more. Last year there was even a mouse circus. Might see you there!

There are about a gazillion other events going the length and breadth of the country and it seems that everyone must have an apple celebration nearby. Check out all the other events on offer and if you are free do explore one. This festival is an important celebration of our food heritage and an important step in relocalising food production, therefore reducing environmental impact.

Happy scrumping!