More varieties than you get at a supermarket

The crowds turned out in the sunshine for the fourth AONB Apple Day - on Saturday 1st October at Briery Bank Orchard, Arnside. Lots of apples on sale, orchard wildlife displays, apple identification experts puzzling over rare varieties and lots of freshly pressed juice - the press worked hard all day to satisfy the thirst of almost 1000 visitors.

We have had lots of compliments already and it was great to share the ancient orchard at Briery Bank with so many people. 

The best quote came from a young enthusiast who on her way out told us:

"Apple Day is just the best day ever! There should be an Apple Day every month - It's not like the usual fairs with fairground rides, it's all about nature! It's brilliant!"

While we can't change the calendar and seasons to have an Apple Day every month it's great to hear that people really enjoyed the event so much.

Special thanks go to Gill Farrer for working so hard all day to keep more than a hundred children occupied, playing lots of apple games, with some new apple activities along with the more traditional ones, from "pin the worm on the apple" to apple and spoon races and apple decorating. Apple-dunking proved popular too - a good way to cool off even if you didn't manage to catch an apple in your teeth. 

One of the more unusual activities was the "who can cut the longest apple peel", using the AONB's special peeling and coring machine - lots of children had a go with a whole variety of results. However the league table top three came out as:

1st - 170 cms - Tom
2nd - 160 cms - Lauren
3rd - 148 cms - Kate
Hope you know who you are?

Congratulations to Mrs Clewes who won the draw for the Orchard produce hamper. As the winner lives in Arnside, we were delighted that we could take the hamper round to her home at the end of the event, so everything stayed as fresh as possible.

The crowd at Apple Day enjoying the displays and stalls in the sunshine