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!

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Apple day: what is it?

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.

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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For the first year we will have The Hampshire Apple press with us. To help reduce apples going to waste in Hampshire and local areas by turning your lovely apples into 100% pure apple juice. If you have a productive tree, and want to take away pasturised bottles of single varieties, this is for you!

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Apple expert Chris Bird from Sparsholt College and his team will be joining us again. 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.

We have new records every year of rare varieties. These have included
Worcester Pearmain
Lanes Prince Albert x 2
Ellison Orange x 3
Ashmeads Kernel
Keswick Codling (rare!)
Egremont Russet
Edward VII
Adams Permain
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
Gravenstein (only seen once before at The Vyne!)

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We will be selling hot and cold refreshments (including mulled apple juice), cakes, and pork or vegan sausages in a bun - with your choice of chutney or apple sauce!

Timetable:

12:00-13:00 Guided foraging walk
We will take in the nature reserve, talking about the richness and diversity of landscape, ecology and culture too. We will collect as many apples as we can. And make sure everyone understands the law and foraging code.

15:45-16:00 15 minutes of calm gentle exercise
This year we are going to bring the event to a close with some mindfulness. Come join AnnaBYoga for some nature inspired stretches, meditation and breathing exercises. No equipment necessary.