Apple Fest is a real Wanger!
Bleasby Parish Council
The Bleasby Parish community came together in October for a good old-fashioned day of fun and games when families brought their unwanted apples to the village green and helped scrat and press them into fresh juice.
Under the experienced guidance of Leo, from Summerwood Community Garden in Clifton, over 200 litres of fresh juice were pressed during the day; some for tasting, some for Leo to make Blue Barrel cider for his project and the rest to make a delicious scrumpy cider for next year’s festival; already having been named ‘Bleasby Wanger’ after the very popular Apple Wanging competition that took place on the day! Thanks goes to Starkys Fruit, Kelham Hall and Nottingham Trent University for their generous apple donations.
Other activities included an Apple BakeOff, Apple & Spoon Race (dressed as Granny Smith), Apple Stamping, Guess the Weight of the Witch’s Apple (a giant pumpkin), Catch the Maggot, an apple shy and bagatelle!
Bleasby Primary School made personalised apple pennants which decorated the site and St Mary’s Church served free refreshments and hosted a historical display of historic local orchards. The Waggon & Horses laid on the BBQ and a range of ciders whilst the WI were best placed to decide the BakeOff winners for Funniest, Most Creative and Tastiest bakes.
A huge “thank-you” also goes to the local organisations who provided voluntary support for the day; Heritage Orchard in East Markham for their wonderful display of apples; Reach Learning Disability for loaning the marquees (£190 of donations from the BakeOff was raised for their Flower Pod project); Pulp Friction Smoothie Bar with their fantastic smoothie making bike and finally the fantastic atmosphere which would not have been the same without the live acoustic music provided by a number of artists from Eternal Youth.
Also a big thanks to the Beasby Events Team for organising the event and to all of those who gave a hand on the day.
New and innovative ideas on how to celebrate the humble apple are already emerging for next year’s event so it looks like the Bleasby Apple Fest is here to stay.
More photos from the day can be viewed on Bleasby Community website www.bleasbycommunity.uk under Memory Lane.
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Bleasby, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire