Apple Day Could Blossom Into Annual Event

9th November 2011

Organisers of the Highland's first apple day have heralded the event as a blossoming success that has sown the seed for future annual celebrations.

Over 200 people recently attended the inaugural apple day at Inverness Floral Hall on 22 October.

Event organiser, Jonathan Willet, Highland Council's Biodiversity Officer said: "Queues of people who brought apples to be identified by experts were almost out of the marquee door at one point. Apple experts Andrew Lear and Ken Millston were kept very busy throughout the day and were exhausted but very satisfied after three hours of apple identification. Some mystery apples that stumped the experts were taken away for further identification."

He added: "Highland Council's Countryside Rangers put on an excellent show of apple events, with a strong contest in the longest apple peel competition. Pin the maggot on the apple was also a core attraction and children of all ages had a go. The display of 72 different varieties of apple was of great interest and the aroma of all the apples was wonderful.

"The taste sensation of the day was provided by members of Transition Black Isle1 who brought along an apple press and produced freshly pressed apple juice for sampling. It certainly was cloudy but tasted fantastic. A purpose built apple smoosher, smooshed the apples prior to pressing. All left over apple pulp was cooked up into apple jelly so that it was not wasted."

One of the objectives of Apple Day was a public appeal to locate and map apple trees growing throughout the Highlands. The number of dots on the apple map reached over 100 locations.

Jonathan remarked: "We also received a record of the highest apple tree in the Highlands which is a single tree growing at 850 feet against a wall at a house near Gorthleck. I would be interested to know if anyone has an apple tree that grows higher than this?

"We were really pleased that so many folk came along on the day. Having two apple experts certainly allowed the huge number of apples that were brought along on the day to be identified. We hope to build on the success of this event and run another apple day in 2013."

Highland's Apple Map is on the Council's website at www.highland.gov.uk/applemap. Anyone who would like to submit their apple trees for inclusion on the apple map can contact Jonathan Willet on 01463 702274 or email jonathan.willet[AT]highland.gov.uk