Everyone is invited to celebrate the fruits of the Hale community orchard on Apple Day, Sunday, September 24, at St Mark’s Church, Alma Lane, Upper Hale, at 10am.

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 snacks, all followed by a celebratory harvest festival service in the church and a collection for Farnham Foodbank.

Apple Day started because, back in winter 2014, we planted fruit trees next to St Mark’s to create a community orchard, with each tree being adopted by a different community group. The next autumn we decided to have Apple Day to celebrate because the trees were bearing fruit and since then, we have celebrated every year apart from during the Covid pandemic by having apple snacks, apple-themed music and apple pressing.

It is a great atmosphere with children and adults pressing the apples, drinking the juice, eating and listening to the music and chatting. Then we move on to harvest festival in the church and a collection of food for Farnham Foodbank.

The day also complements one of the themes of the Kitty Milroy murals in the church which depict natural scenes including apple trees, as well as people representing seasons and the elements.

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 fruit, UHT puddings, tinned meat and chocolate treats. These can be presented at the altar at St Mark’s during the harvest festival service and will then be passed on to the Foodbank.

Pictured top is an apple tree from the Kitty Milroy murals.