Newbury Apple Day has sweet taste of success

NEWBURY’s Apple Day went as sweet as pie as the sun shone and hundreds of locals turned out to press apples into juice.

On the town’s ninth Apple Day, families got stuck in to help turn the scratter – a machine to pre-chop apples – and squeeze the press to produce more than 50 litres of golden juice.

Late frosts and a cool start to the summer impacted this year’s apple harvest, meaning many trees had less fruit and smaller apples.

However, there was still plenty of fruit brought along for pressing – apples that would otherwise have gone to waste.

There was also home-baked apple cakes, scones and savouries for sale on the day which proved very popular, while an apple expert was on hand to help identify fruit brought along by gardeners curious about the variety of their tree.

The event is organised by volunteers Cainwen Lally, Helen Wright and Judith Cooper.

Mrs Lally said: “Luckily for us the sun shone and we got lots of apples from the local area.

“The event was excellent – pressing apples is always the favourite activity, children love to see that.

“The process starts at one end with an apple and then ends at the other with a glass of juice. Children don’t know that link.”

Mrs Lally continued: “It’s something we’ve been doing for a while because we’re aware food waste is one of the contributors to global warming.

“Small things like this that help to reduce food waste are a good idea.”

Saturday’s event was the first time in two years it was being held after last year’s was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Newbury Apple Day also helps to put the town’s five community orchards on the map.

If you are interested in finding out more about these orchards go to www.growingnewburygreen.org.uk.