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Appealing apples and fruity festivities at RSPB Old MoorLast modified: 15 October 2009
A fruity 'new tradition' to celebrate Apple Day takes place for the first time at RSPB Old Moor, near Barnsley next week. From wild fruit walks and traditional games, through to delicious pies made from apples grown in the reserve orchard, staff and volunteers will help bring in the autumn with an Apple Day celebration on Wednesday 21 October. Apple Day was first introduced by the charity Common Ground in 1990 and takes place on 21 October every year. The RSPB Old Moor event takes place between 11 am and 3 pm. The new reserve orchard was planted in 2007 and paid for by members of the RSPB Doncaster District Local Group. Local and traditional varieties of apple, pear, plum and cherry were planted, with wonderful names such as Balsam, Court Pendu, Hunthouse and Ribston Pippet. 'Fruit trees are fantastic for wildlife... bats, birds and insects love them just as much as we do' Data from Natural England shows that the orchard area throughout England has declined by 63% since 1950. Establishing new community orchards like this one will help to encourage a greater diversity of wildlife on the reserve. Julia Makin, RSPB visitor officer, says: 'This is the first time we've celebrated Apple Day at Old Moor. Now the orchard is two years old, we can really start to imagine what it will look like in the future. 'Fruit trees are fantastic for wildlife because they provide nectar and fruit to eat and dead wood and leaves to shelter in. Bats, birds and insects love them just as much as we do. 'We're hoping that the locally-sourced, traditional varieties of apple, pear, plum and cherry will develop into really old trees that people can picnic under and enjoy for years to come.' This is just one of a series of seasonal events on Wednesdays and Saturdays over the half term holidays to get families involved with the nature on their doorstep. The event costs no more than the usual entry fee of £2.50 for adults, £1.25 for children and free for members of the RSPB. |
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Bird illustrations by Mike Langman (RSPB)