Sunday turned out to be a beautiful sunny day with so many people attending our annual Apple Day. There was live music throughout the afternoon from the Phoenix choir, the Tinners band, Josh Rogers, Sandy Souls and Tregavsyl band. While volunteers ran many craft activities, and the Leach Pottery provided a clay activity.
Visitors to Apple Day were also treated to walks and talks by local experts including Viv Stratton who grew up farming on the land where the Orchard now stands, Duwayne Langley the Orchard beekeeper, Josh Quick of Wild St Ives on foraging, Jo Riley on compost, and Elise Langley gave a tour of the Orchard.
There were lots of incredible entries to the Apple Pie making competition, which many enjoyed tasting. Fyna Stidwell was awarded Best Apple Pie for her fabulous creation using Orchard apples, and received a beautiful wood-turned apple trophy created for the Orchard by local woodturner David Wolstencroft.
St Ives Community Foodshare, together with volunteers from St Ives Round table cooked up many wood-fired Pizzas and barbequed Burgers for hungry visitors, who also enjoyed delicious cakes donated by volunteers.
Everyone was invited to pick and press Orchard apples, drink the fresh juice and sample cider from last year’s Orchard crop made by St Ives Cider. Children enjoyed various games and activities like Hula Golf, Hula-Hooping, giant bubbles and enjoying the freedom of running around an Orchard with lots of other children.
Karl Teifel wrote “My first ever visit today, Apple Day… Wow! I was blown away by the number of people, sense of community and general positive atmosphere… Went to the bee talk, compost talk, met lots of like minded people, sampled the excellent cider, picked up some seeds, danced to the music and had an amazing day… Big thank you to all the volunteers for putting it on, and how good was the sunshine!”
We’d like to thank all the volunteers who worked so hard to put on this event, and who work throughout the year to create and
nurture the space we all enjoy. Also thank everyone who came along to enjoy Apple Day and helped create such a positive community atmosphere.
