On a glorious sunny morning at the end of September, the Overton Community Orchard buzzed with excitement as Sustainable Overton, with support from St. Mary’s Church, hosted a wonderful Harvest Celebration.
The highlight of the day was making fresh apple juice from fall-down apples harvested from the orchard and village gardens. Participants eagerly peeled, cored, and quartered the apples before placing them into a scratter—a metal funnel equipped with thick steel blades. With laughter and determination, they turned the handle, transforming the apples into a fragrant mush. This mixture was then pressed into sweet apple juice, a treat that everyone relished.
A delightful array of autumn-themed activities filled the orchard, from ‘clobber the cob’ to ‘knock down vegetables.’ Children and adults alike enjoyed games like tractor racing along gutters and pocketing pumpkins, while beanbags flew in lively competitions at the tin can alley. The craft tent offered creative outlets with projects like making apple tree wall decorations and harvest themed colouring activities.
As the sun warmed the festive scene, the aroma of home-made tray bakes, jams, chutneys and home-made cider wafted from a nearby gazebo, all of which attendees could sample.
The event was a true testament to community spirit, made possible by the dedicated volunteers who organized and ran the festivities. A big thank you to Holly and David Flanders, Ginnie and Chris Cates, Emma and Steve Young, , Jane and Ken McKenzie, Debbie and Peter Pither, Gitte Louise Lamb, Clare Mitchell, Diane Jackson, Laura Harrison and Kempshot Community Orchardfor making the event such a success. As the sun began to set, everyone left with hearts full of gratitude and bellies full of apple juice, cherishing what was likely the last warm day of the year.
Did you know
The orchard was created in 2012 by Overton Biodiversity Society and a team of volunteers. The orchard is now caretaken by Sustainable Overton.
Overton Community Orchard is intended to be a public space planted with fruit trees. The primary purposes of the orchard are to provide a place to relax and enjoy for all, promote biodiversity and promote season, local food.
The orchard contains 14 different types of apple tree, 3 types of pear tree, 3 types of plum tree, 1 damson tree, 1 cherry tree, 1 greengage and 1 mulberry. Each tree has a sign informing you of the species. They are all edible and you can help yourself!
The orchard and surrounding meadows are home to lots of wildflower species needed for pollinators. One of the key benefits of wildflowers in fruit orchards is their ability to attract natural enemies of fruit tree pests, such as ladybugs and lacewings. These insects can help to control pest populations without the need for harmful pesticides, resulting in a healthier and more sustainable orchard.
The orchard and surrounding green spaces are managed and maintained by village volunteers. If you can spare some time and want to help, please contact us at Sustainable Overton (sustainableoverton.org.uk).
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