Apple Day Appeeling

Saturday 24^th October saw the community gather at the orchard in Diamond Jubilee Wood, Whitehead for Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s first Apple Day. Attendees gathered apples from the community orchard - which was planted in February 2013 with a range of apple, pear and nut trees - and enjoyed pressing the apples to make freshly squeezed apple juice.

Attendees also had the chance to help out with some tree maintenance and learn about orchard biodiversity, and The Carrickfergus Community Cultivators were on site to provide lunch which included apple and potato bread, Waldorf salad (made with apple, celery and walnuts) and home-made apple jam.

 

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim BC, Cllr Billy Ashe, said “Apple Day is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the wonderful community orchard at Diamond Jubilee Wood, Whitehead. Community orchards encourage an interest in fruit growing and provide a way of sharing knowledge and horticultural skills. Orchards are also rich in biodiversity and at MEA we are committed to raising the awareness of local habitats and biodiversity.”

Cllr Ashe concluded “Our first Apple Day was a great success and we plan to run the event annually.”