The annual Reaseheath Apple Festival

Reporter Jonathan White, Wistaston

The annual Reaseheath Apple Festival was held on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd October 2016, at Reaseheath College - http://www.reaseheath.ac.uk/ - in Nantwich.

This free event took place in the new National Centre for Horticulture, the Environment and Sustainable Technology building.

There were over one hundred different varieties of apple on display, which are sourced from an orchard located between Nantwich and Whitchurch. Varieties included Monarch, Wealthy, Lady’s Fingers, Jumbo, School Master, Royal Jubilee, Fiesta, Rival, No Pip and Spartan.

Retired Reaseheath College lecturers Derek Jones and Harry Delaney were on hand to identify different apple varieties and offer fruit growing advice.

Visitors could use an apple pressing machine to collect the juice. There was also a plant sale with advice on choosing the correct plant and tours of the new £1 million greenhouse which contains zones for potting, propagation, tomatoes and strawberries.

Tom Adams Fruit Tree Nursery - http://www.tomtheappleman.co.uk/ - had a stand. Tom has run his one-acre nursery for six years and provides planting & aftercare, pruning & tuition and consultancy. Tom also sells heritage varieties of fruit trees and specialises in apple trees native to the Welsh Marches area. Students from Reaseheath College have had work placements at the nursery to learn all aspects of organic orchard and nursery management.