Today I went to the village of Much Marcle in Herefordshire, for the annual Big Apple festival. This is a celebration of the apple varieites of the UK, and their derivatives (apple juice and cider) and also pears and perry. It is one of my favourite events of the year, and as usual I came back with a big bag of apples of varieties not usually available to buy (Ashmead's Kernel, Blenheim Orange, Tom Putt, Jupiter, Ribston Pippin and so forth). The names of the varieties are a joy in themselves.
I took lots of pictures of the apple displays, just because I think it is amazing that we have such a diversity of varieties in the UK (over 2700), of which almost none are commercially available. The French celebrate their grape varieties, so why don't we celebrate our native apple varieities?
Anyway, here are the pictures...
The tasting tables. Apples freely available for sampling (and incidentally, every one of the apple experts and helpers was openly carrying a folding knife for cutting slices of apple, and no-one so much as blinked about it. No stabbings were reported despite the proliferation of 'weapons'
)
The apple displays. Impressive when you think that each variety shown has its own distinct flavour, season and properties (such as whether it holds its shape when cooked), and this is just a fraction of what is available.
Cider apples. About a half to a third of the UK's apple varieities are cider varieities rather than culinary or cooker types.
I have to throw in the perry pears too. Another amazing selection, and far less is known about our native pears than is known about our apples. Perry (NOT pear cider, please) has been fashionable lately, so hopefully things will improve in that regard.
Finally, the Catshead, or Druid's apple. A medeival variety notable for its size (Like a big grapefruit) and five-sided shape. The oldest variety in the world, and still growing. I saw one yesterday in a plant nursery near Brecon.
A great day out. Free entry and £2 for parking if you parked in the main site. Free if you are prepared for a short walk.
I took lots of pictures of the apple displays, just because I think it is amazing that we have such a diversity of varieties in the UK (over 2700), of which almost none are commercially available. The French celebrate their grape varieties, so why don't we celebrate our native apple varieities?
Anyway, here are the pictures...
The tasting tables. Apples freely available for sampling (and incidentally, every one of the apple experts and helpers was openly carrying a folding knife for cutting slices of apple, and no-one so much as blinked about it. No stabbings were reported despite the proliferation of 'weapons'
)
The apple displays. Impressive when you think that each variety shown has its own distinct flavour, season and properties (such as whether it holds its shape when cooked), and this is just a fraction of what is available.
Cider apples. About a half to a third of the UK's apple varieities are cider varieities rather than culinary or cooker types.
I have to throw in the perry pears too. Another amazing selection, and far less is known about our native pears than is known about our apples. Perry (NOT pear cider, please) has been fashionable lately, so hopefully things will improve in that regard.
Finally, the Catshead, or Druid's apple. A medeival variety notable for its size (Like a big grapefruit) and five-sided shape. The oldest variety in the world, and still growing. I saw one yesterday in a plant nursery near Brecon.
A great day out. Free entry and £2 for parking if you parked in the main site. Free if you are prepared for a short walk.
