APPLE festival for ALL ages

Get to the core of one of our favourite harvests this weekend. Brogdale at Faversham hold its National Apple Festival on Saturday, October 14 and Sunday, October 15.

The weekend of apple-tastic fun includes sampling the delights of the Brogdale Collections when there will be apples galore in the Apple Barn. There are more than 2,200 varieties in the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale from the oldest apple varieties such as some dating from 450AD to Tudor and Victorian types. Visitors can learn about apples from all over the world as well as the different types from cider apples to cooking and dessert apples.

And of course, your taste buds will enjoy “try before you buy” apples, from red fleshed apples, to extra sweet and juicy ones to crisp types.

Visitors can take a tour on a tractor trailer, a walking tour of the orchards or take a ride on the Faversham Miniature Railway. There’s also the longest apple peel competition, apple eating challenge and festival games, have-a-go archery and axe welding.

Other family-friendly activities include face painting, a bouncy assault course and free children crafts from making a willow wand to carving a spooky shrunken apple head with Halloween just around the corner.

There will also be animals to meet, including Carlos the fluffy goat and friends, falconry displays and live music from local bands.

You can also buy some tasty apple creations from the tearoom where you can enjoy a slice of homemade apple pie made using Brogdale’s own apples.

To book, visit brogdale collections.org or call 01795 536250. Tickets are available on the gate throughout the weekend.