Apple Day

APPLE JUICING AND FRIENDS OF BOWLING COMMUNITY ORCHARD

We are always keen to meet new volunteers to help maintain our wonderful organic orchard.  Tasks vary throughout the year but include weeding, mulching, feeding, watering, coppicing and harvesting the fruit trees.  Help is needed to sustain the biodiversity of this nature habitat and harvest our huge variety of apples.  We usually meet on a Friday or Saturday throughout the year.  Just come and help when you can.

If you can join us for these upcoming sessions, please call BEES on 07970 621732 to arrange access/times as the allotment gates are locked.

Saturday 16th November – meet at 11am on the gate of Bowling Community Orchard on Bowling Park Drive (note, it is not in Bowling Park) – sorting apples for juicing, clearing under fruit trees.  what3words wiser.cuts.tight

Tuesday 19th November – Culture Fusion building, 125 Thornton Road, Bradford – juicing day on the outdoor meadow space.  Lots of apples to chop and prepare to make our much applauded apple organic apple juice.  This is a fun and sociable day.

Saturday 14th December – meet at 11am on the gate of Bowling Community Orchard on Bowling Park Drive (note, it is not in Bowling Park) – some hedge cutting and coppice work around the orchard.

APPLE DAY is our most popular community event of the year. This year it was held on Sunday 13th October 2024 at Bowling Park Community Orchard within Bowling Park allotments. Apple Day 2024

Around 400 people of all ages and community joined us for this year’s Apple Day celebration in Bowling Community Orchard. 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 with Bradford Apple Group and Friends of Bowling Community Orchard.