Apple Day

About Apple Day

You're invited to come with us on our Apple Day and celebrate one of the most underrated fruits; the humble apple! Click here for updates on facebook.

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Apple day: what is it?

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Southampton has its fair share of apple trees: gardens, allotments, parks and green spaces, dotted all over the city. There's so many varieties, sweet crispy, dry, floral, and juicy. Sadly many of these go to waste each year, a recent study said apples are one of the most commonly wasted food items. Such a shame. Especially when there's so many different ways to enjoy apples. Apple butter, apple rings, apple sauce, and the big winner, apple juice. We have even started a collection of apple cookbooks if you are looking for some inspiration. 

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It's always a joy to watch people drink the freshest apple juice there is. There's nothing quite like like it in the shops, this stuff is delicious. It tastes even better when you've helped make it! We provide the space, the equipment and we even spend a month collecting apples (and some pears) so you have them to press. 

If you have any spare apples, please them along!

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Apple expert Chris Bird from Sparsholt College and his team will be joining us. They'll bring samples from the College Fruit collection with them, that are available to purchase. Including their National Plant Collection of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Apples.

If you have an apple tree in your garden, and would like to know what type of apple it is, they can help you ID it! Just bring your apples with you and find out! This will help ensure they survive for future generations. 

Last year we had a record list of new finds, rare varieties and some never seen before!

We hope to find some new ones again this year. ​We've been given a list of the different types that were identified last year:
Worcester Pearmain
Discovery x 2
Lanes Prince Albert  x 2
Ellison Orange x 3
Ashmeads Kernel
Keswick Codling (rare!)
Egremont Russet
Edward VII
Adams Permain
Braeburn 
James Grieve
Lady Henneker (rare!)
White Transparent (Chris had never seen one before, ie exceptionally rare!)
Charles Ross
Tydermans Early
Lemon Pippin (another rarity!)
Lord Lambourne 
Greensleeves
Laxton Superb
Spartan
Tydermans Late Orange
Golden Delicious x 2
Bramley Seedling 
Gravenstein (only seen once before at The Vyne!)

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At 12:00 we will run a guided foraging walk that will take in the nature reserve, and collect as many apples as we can. We will talk about the richness and diversity of landscape, ecology and culture too. And make sure everyone understands the law and foraging code. 

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We will be selling hot and cold refreshments (including mulled apple juice) and some food. We will even give you the recipe for our favourite pumpkin and apple soup (vegan) if you ask nicely!

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Why not spread the word to others if you are on Facebook?