Nearly a hundred people visited Wellow Institute when Wellow Millennium Green Committee hosted its first Apple Day celebration.
On display were 22 different heritage varieties of apples, ranging from little ‘Pigs Nose Pippins’ and brightly coloured Victorian ‘Lady Sudeleys’, to giant ‘Costards’ and ‘Leathercoat Russets’, both dating back to Tudor times. This summer’s sun has produced well coloured apples with high sugar levels, giving plenty of flavours for Apple Day visitors to sample.
Visitors appreciated being able to watch Sally Wibley, a botanical artist who grew up in Wellow, working on a delicate painting of a ‘Scarlet Nonpareil’ apple.
An apple press was in action giving people an opportunity to try fresh apple juice, before it starts the process of being made into cider.
The cake competition drew 6 children’s entries for best decorated cup cakes, with the entries for Best Family Cake judged on flavour by Chairman Mick Franklin and past Chair Mike Gable. The 3 winners were declared to be Jill Cowley (1st), Ali Osman (2nd) and Helena Hewston (3rd).
Plans for the Armistice Centenary Orchard were on show, with a list and descriptions of apple varieties to be planted. The provisional planting date is the weekend of Saturday 24th November and Sunday 25th, when all offers of help will be appreciated. As the weather needs to be ‘open’ the dates and times will be confirmed nearer to that weekend.
Toffee apples, apple chutney and orchard marmalade were on sale as well as teas, coffees and plenty of homemade cakes with all proceeds going to support the maintenance of Wellow Millennium Green.
Any new apple enthusiasts are already being encouraged to attend next year’s event on 19th October 2019!
