Apple Day was initiated by the charity Common Ground on 21 October 1989 with the aim of promoting a greater appreciation of local varieties of apples.  Since then the festival has continued with events being held on a day towards the end of October at National Trust properties, farmers’ markets, community orchards and elsewhere.

In 2020 such events have, like many others, been reduced due to Covid-19, but two apple events –  Apple Day –  Tasting, Printing, Monsters – for 7-13 year-olds were held at the South London Botanical Institute, near Tulse Hill station in the London Borough of Lambeth.

Organised by the Institute’s Education & Outreach Officer, Sarah Webley, and part of the Institute’s ‘Botany on your Plate’ project, funded by the City Bridge Trust, the first of these was held on the 27 October, and the second will be held on the 28th.

Participants were encouraged to taste different varieties of apple, try printing with apples, take part in a longest apple peel competition, and make their ‘own scary Halloween apples to scare your neighbours’.

Photographs © Sarah Webley.