Page 16 - ALG Issue 3 2016

Feature on...
Apple Day
On 21st October 1990, an organisation called Common Ground launched the
rst Apple Day. It was intended to be
both a celebration and a warning about the danger of losing the rich variety of apples that had been hitherto enjoyed from our traditional orchards. The loss of apple varieties was also seen as symbolic of other richness and diversity that has been disappearing from our landscape, ecology and culture. Since that time, there has been a renewal of interest in orchards and the preservation of local varieties
of apples and other top fruit, and Apple Days are held all over the country. You can search for an event in 2016 by county on this website www.orchardnetwork.org.uk/ content/list-events-and-orchards-county.
The rst event was held in the old apple market in London’s Covent Garden; it was attended by fruit growers and nurseries producing and selling a wide variety of apples and trees, juice and cider, with a WI stall laden with chutneys, jellies and pies. The Campaign for Real Ale ran a calvados still and cider bar and Marks and Spencer offered tastings of the 12 old varieties that they had on sale. There were talks and demonstrations about orchard classrooms, managing an orchard for wildlife and apple identi cation from experts. Visitors were amazed by the exhibition of more than 100 different apple varieties.
Many allotment sites now have communal orchards and Apple Day is a great excuse
to get everyone together. NAS members at Seymour Grove Allotments in Old Trafford are planning a celebration of the humble apple this autumn, where visitors can move beyond Braeburn, Cox and Pink Lady and discover a whole world of apple varieties old and new, grown on site by both plot holders and on their very own Community Orchard. There will be opportunities to press and drink your own juice, take part in an apple identity
parade, enjoy the usual freshly made pizzas, hot tea, and lovely home-made cakes. Check out their website for more details
in early October www.otags.org.uk/event/ apple-day-2016/.
A more traditional event held in orchards is the Wassail, a noisy pagan ceremony held in January to wake the apple trees, scare off malevolent spirits and ensure a good harvest. Cider would be poured over a tree’s roots and pieces of toast, soaked in cider, would be placed in the branches. The wassail song would be sung and the tree would be toasted from the wassail bowl. One, Tree Hill Allotments in South London, hold an annual wassailing event which involves building a bon re, eating baked potatoes, drinking apple juice or mulled cider and making a great deal of noise to encourage a good crop of fruit.
Are you holding an event for Apple Day? Do you wassail your trees? We would love to hear about it and see some images. Email diane@nsalg.org.uk.
APPLE DAY
EAST MARKHAM (NORTH NOTTS)
Sunday 2nd October 2016
All day in and around the Village Hall and adjacent Heritage Orchard.
300+ varieties of Apples. FREE Apple Tasting. New Apple Recipe Book. Cider Bar featuring Scrumpy Wasp Cider produced in the village, Apple Recipes FREE tasting tables. Pick Your Own at bargain prices. Apple Advice Centre. Dozens of stalls
related to Apples, Fruit Growing and General Gardening. Refreshments and entertainment.
SatNav NG22 0QJ. Free street parking.
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Image supplied by Vigo Presses