Orchard volunteers beat the weather to celebrate Apple Day
Heavy rain and storm warnings shifted Jesmond’s annual Apple Day back a day, but they didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of its organisers and visitors.
Apple Day is a nationally celebrated event each October and Jesmond holds its event in the Community Orchard near Forsyth Road in the north west corner of St Andrews Cemetery. Organiser Fiona Clarke had planned to hold this year’s event on Saturday 13th October but forecasts of wet and windy weather meant moving it back to the Sunday afternoon and hosting it at the Royal British Legion in West Jesmond.
Planned tours of the community orchard had to be shelved, but the community of Jesmond seemed to enjoy the activities on offer, from face-painting and making bird-feeders to apple-juicing and buying cakes from a variety of stalls. A hand-press enabled visitors to make their own fresh apple juice which could be taken home in plastic bottles.
Ken Haigh of the Northern Fruit Group – which promotes fruit-growing in the north of England –was on hand to help with the identification of apples. With more than 70 different varieties on show, Haigh shared some of the history behind his favourites.
“These apples have been preserved so that the variety doesn’t die out from bugs or parasites,” he explained. “Farmers used to grow apples in the gardens of big houses so that visitors had something to see. My favourite is the Norfolk Royal because it’s shiny and crisp.”
According to Haigh, there are more than 3,000 different types in the UK alone with many created by sharing apple DNA, which influences the shape, colour and season in which the apples grow.
Newcastle University Bee Society offered tasting sessions and opportunities to create bee-wax candles. At Kyle Miller’s stall Jesmond residents were given information, advice and warnings about Asian Hornets and what to do should they spot one of these dangerous creatures.
For more information on Apple Day 2018, the Jesmond Community Orchard and how to make donations to fund its work, click here.