Bumper cider appple harvest for Nailsea and nearby

North Somerset is experiencing a bumper crop of apples this year and lots of communities are getting involved in the harvest.

In Nailsea they made 42 litres of juice, at Backwell they pressed apples for more than three and a half hours and earlier this month at Weston-in-Gordano more than 100 people came to pick, shred and press the crop.

Environmental group Transition Town Nailsea hosted its second successful Apple Day to make juice, wine, cider, vinegar and more from the windfalls.

They invited people with surplus apples to an outdoor gathering at Mizzymead Rise.

Transition Town Nailsea spokesman Pat Gilbert said: "During the afternoon, people arrived bearing bags of surplus apples which were 'scratted' or chopped and then pressed to make delicious juice. 

"Children and adults alike got down to work, enthusiastically scratting and pressing using traditional scratters and apple presses  

"Over the course of the afternoon, 42 litres of juice were produced, and taken away to be drunk fresh or made into wine or cider.

"As the day was warm and dry, tables and chairs had been set out on the garden, so people could enjoy mulled cider, cheese and homemade chutneys, delicious apple cakes and apple crumble as a reward for their efforts."

Transition Town Nailsea, in common with many other towns and villages in Britain is reviving long lost traditions associated with apple growing and the apple harvest. 

The group hopes that more and more people will want to use and celebrate local fruit, and is keen to make links back to Nailsea's history as a major cider-producing town. 

The group also wants to locate all productive fruit trees across Nailsea on an interactive 'fruit map', and is actively searching for a site for a new community orchard, where local people can grow and harvest apple, pear and other fruit and nut trees.  

They hope to be planting fruit and nut trees in selected areas around the town during this autumn. 

This is all part of the Transition ideals for communities to grow and use more local food, as part of a long- term strategy to reduce air miles and use of fossil fuel in the production of our food.

For anyone interested in finding out more about the Transition movement go to the website www.transitionnetwork.org/ or email the group at transitionnailsea@gmail.com.

Backwell schoolchildren went apple bobbing at the recreation ground to the backdrop of CDs playing music by The Wurzels.

The fundraiser was organised by Backwell Junior School to celebrate its 150th anniversary and the head teacher Alex Bell manned the apple masher all afternoon.

School spokesman Jane Sabherwal said: "We set up three apple presses on the playing fields to help villagers make the most of this years' abundant apple crop - and for a small donation, we turn fruit into freshly squeezed juice.

"We pressed apples for about four and a half hours and raised more than £300.

"It was a fabulous community event and as well as apple pressing we sold warmed, spicy apple juice and apple cake.

"It fits perfectly with Backwell's history of apple orchards. 

"Each bottle of freshly pressed juice carried a special 150th anniversary label.

"The teachers' had created an apple recipe booklet, a quiz, apple trivia and facts leaflet and other entertainment.

"This is the first event of many for our anniversary year, with an ongoing lottery and a 150 mile bike ride is planned.

"All monies raised will go to the refurbishment of the 1862 school building."

Earlier this month the annual apple harvest at Weston Moor nature reserve saw hundreds of people picking the free crop at the weekend.

The apple harvest organised by Transition Portishead in partnership with Avon Wildlife Trust, Portishead in Bloom, Harbourside WI and Portishead Lions the community event was a scrumptious success.

Transistion Portishead spokeman Jon Gething said: "It went extremely well."

Locally made apple presses were on sale and there was a hedge laying demonstration by Avon Wildlife Trust as well as a guided walk around the nature reserve.

Local beekeepers were also on hand to explain the important role of bees as pollinators as well as selling locally made honey.

Mr Gething added: "The trees were simply dripping with apples this year."