Apple Day returns to St Mark’s, Upper Hale, this Sunday (October 9) starting at 10am.

After a lull courtesy of Covid, the annual celebration of all things apple-y is returning and everyone is encouraged to bring their apples and put them in the apple press for freshly pressed apple juice. There will be apple songs and apple pie, all followed by a celebratory harvest festival service in the church with a collection for the Foodbank.

Lesley Crawley explains how the day came about: “In December 2014 we planted 11 fruit trees to create a community orchard at St Mark’s. Each tree was adopted by a different community group and all except one have thrived since they were planted.

“Our first Apple Day was in 2015 because we were so delighted that our trees were bearing fruit and so we decided to celebrate! Since then, we have celebrated every year apart from during the Covid pandemic by having apple snacks – pie this year – apple-y music and apple pressing. It is a great atmosphere with children and adults pressing the apples, drinking the juice, eating, listening to the music and chatting. Then we move on to harvest festival in the church and a collection of food for Farnham Foodbank.

“And while you are in the church, have a look at the apple trees in Kitty Milroy’s murals near the altar.”

Anyone who wants their apples turned into juice is asked to bring apples that are in good condition, picked from the tree and washed, along with clean two-litre plastic milk cartons, including the lid, to put the juice in.

The Foodbank is currently in need of tinned ham or minced beef; tinned carrots or peas; tinned or packet custard; UHT milk and UHT fruit juice.