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Apple Day Resources

Apple Day is our most popular community event of the year. The 25th Anniversary celebration was held on Sunday 12th October 2025 at Bowling  Community Orchard within Bowling Park allotments.  We were lucky to have a wonderful, sunny day.

Review of Apple Day 2025

Around 500 people of all ages and community joined us for this year’s Apple Day celebration in Bowling Community Orchard.  It was made extra special with the presence of so many friends, volunteers, stall holders, bakers, makers and community heros.  Thank yous must go to our many hardworking volunteers for year round work and support on the day.  The day would not have been the same without our friends at The Coppice Collective, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Calm in the Wild, Friends of Bowling Park, music from Mimi le Bonq, Wrapture, The Big Draw, Fruitworks and our food, cake and cafe stalls.

We could not run this annual event without a team of dedicated volunteers, cake bakers, crafters chutney makers and partner organisations to make it a great day out for all.

It is satisfying to know that there is a sustained interest in the produce from the orchard as well as in the environmental and biodiversity benefits. We received some great reviews and people keen to keep the orchard and Apple Day going.

As well as 102Kg of organic apples of 17 different varieties finding their way into people’s fruit bowls, over 80 jars of chutney and jam, 50 portions of dried rings and fruit leather, 8 pots of apple and pear cheese have found their way into people’s cupboards (or straight into their tummies). The popularity of the pasteurised juice increases year on year, with 36 bottles and 6 3L pouches snapped up.
It’s hard to say exactly how much cake, and savoury appley offerings, were eaten throughout the day, but it’s safe to say cake hasn’t gone out of fashion. We estimate about 450 portions, and this was only made possible by the generous and numerous donations made by volunteers, thank you very much.

This page will be kept up to date with future Apple Day planning… in the meantime why not check out some of our resources or get involved by volunteering with Bradford Apple Group and Friends of Bowling Community Orchard.  Call 07970 621732 or email bees@bradfordymca.org.uk

Please feel free to download some of the resources we have built up to help us all celebrate Apple Day!

Bradford_Apple_Day

Map to Bowling Park Drive

Apple_games_&_activities

Community_Orchards

Recipes

Homestyle Apple Cake

Traditions_and_Tales

Yorkshire_Varieties

 

Questions re Apple Day 2026

Our orchard is within Bowling Park alloments off Bowling Park Drive BD4 7ES.

On Sundays the 621 bus runs quite near the orchard. The bus runs about every half hour but the exact time varies so best checking timetable on WYMetro website. The bus goes from Nelson Street, you can also catch it from the bus stop by City Park, or any stop on the route from Howarth Road. Make sure the bus at Nelson Street is going towards Bierley!
Get off at the stop at the end of Paley Road, just before the bus turns left up Bowling Hall Road – if you pass Bolling Hall you’ve gone too far. Cross the bottom of Bowling Hall Road to walk down Bowling Park Drive. The orchard is in the allotments a couple of hundred yards down on the left.

We will have organic apple juice, cakes and biscuits, teas and coffees for sale on the 13th.  We hope to have some savoury goods, chutneys and sauces for sale.  There will be an opportunity to make your own apple juice using our traditional press.

Yes, there is a portable, accessible toilet in the orchard for Apple Day.

No.  Please be respectful of the other allotment holders and remain on our orchard site only.  Thank you.