From Fruit to Root – Apple Festival returns to Killerton
All things apple from trees to fruit and cider to apple juice, are being celebrated at the popular Apple Festival at Killerton on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 October.
The apple trees in the Killerton estate orchards are covered in vibrant red and green fruit, creating a seasonal burst of colour in the autumn sunshine, and indicating the beginning of the apple harvest for the Killerton team.
With over 50 acres of traditional orchards, gathering the harvest is an important job on the working estate and every year approximately 10 tonnes of apples are hand-picked to create award-winning apple juice and cider, using a 200 year old cider press. Every October, National Trust rangers invite volunteers and visitors to help gather up the autumn bounty in Sparrow Park Orchard in preparation for the Killerton Apple Festival. Tucked in amongst the apple trees, the Killerton Apple Festival is a chance to celebrate the harvest and raise awareness of the conservation of traditional orchards.
Chantelle Barry, Outdoor Senior Visitor Experience Officer, says ‘This is a fantastic time of year for the orchards and the Apple Festival helps us bring the community together to celebrate the history and tradition of orchards and apple harvesting.’
This year Killerton has been celebrating the centenary of the Forestry Commission and the festival will be echoing this momentous anniversary. Sir Francis Acland M.P. inherited Killerton in 1919, in the same year that the Forestry Commission was established, and began planting commercial timber on the estate in response to the timber shortage after the First World War. The work started by Sir Francis is continued today by the Killerton rangers who manage over 1,200 acres of woodland on the estate for wildlife.
The 2019 Apple Festival, tag lined ‘From fruit to root’, will be highlighting the work of the rangers and all things forestry to mark this significant commemoration.
An annual family favourite, the festival will feature willow weaving, chainsaw carving, live music, magic and children’s nature activities. Visitors can bring their own apples to press into juice, witness the 200 year old press into action, try archery and axe throwing and taste great food and drink from local vendors.
The festival takes place on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 October, opening at 10am and running until 5pm. Adult entry costs £10, and children £5. National Trust members and under 5’s are free.
