Natural England

Natural England are welcoming people to a farm near Bovey Tracey to learn about traditional apple orchards and ‘wild’ foods in the countryside. Visitors can also make and take away free apple juice.

At the free event on Saturday 27th September there will be ‘wild’ food and bug displays, a nature quiz with prizes and children’s craft activities. Guided walks will take place passing along part of the historic Haytor granite tramway ending in some lovely apple orchards managed under Natural England's Environmental Stewardship Scheme.

Visitors are free to pick some of the three varieties of apples growing in the orchard, or bring along their own apples for juicing. The Common Players charity will be running a mobile apple press on the day to turn the apples into juice. Visitors will need to bring along their own bags for collecting apples and empty containers for taking apple juice away.

Martin Longley of Natural England said 'We hope lots of people will come along to help us pick the delicious apples in the orchard, and get involved with the juicing. There will also be plenty of activities for children - it promises to be a fun day for all the family'

The guided walks will depart at 10.30am, 12.30pm and 14.30pm. The walk is 1/2 mile on an uneven and undulating path, so sturdy footwear is recommended. A self guided walk route from the car park to the orchard will also be available from 10am to 3pm.

To get to the car park take the Haytor road from Bovey Tracey (B3387). Continue past the Edgemoor Hotel and after about ¾ mile take the lane on the right signposted Yarner Lodge - Private Drive (grid reference SX785780). Then turn immediately right into the field and follow the signs to the car park at the far end.

For further information please contact Martin Longley at Natural England on 07798 877441

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Notes for editors

1. Natural England is here to conserve and enhance the natural environment, for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people and the economic prosperity that it brings. For further information about Natural England please visit: www.naturalengland.org.uk

2. The orchard trees are undergoing sensitive restorative pruning to increase their productivity, whilst preserving the rare lichens. These works have been funded by Natural England through the Higher Level Stewardship Scheme, which provides funding to farmers and other land managers in England who deliver effective environmental management on their land.

3. The Haytor granite tramway forms part of the Templer Way long-distance footpath.

4. Apple varieties in the orchard are: Cox’s Orange Pippin, Worcester Permain and Russetts.