Apple Day to celebrate local fruit harvest

APPLES will take centre stage in a special event taking place in Elgin to celebrate locally grown food.

The charity REAP (Rural Environmental Action Project) is behind the free fun day, taking place in the Cooper Park on Saturday, October 5, from 11am-2pm.

Activities will take place just outside the library and include attractions for all ages including a longest apple peel competition, apple art and planting apple pips, as well as a display of local apple varieties.

REAP manager Ann Davidson said: "Elgin Apple Day is inspired by national Apple Day, celebrated wherever apples grow in the world, and organised by REAP as part of the Grow Elgin project, funded by the Climate Challenge Fund and The Robertson’s Trust until March 2020.

"You will have seen other evidence of REAP’s work for this project in the High Street with herbs and edibles planted in the planters and parklets there, community vegetable growing in Cooper Park and work with schools and groups to set up gardens, composting systems and planting fruit trees.

"You might also have caught site of the REAP e-bike busy collecting food waste from town centre businesses and organisations to compost for local gardens and divert waste from landfill.

"REAP’s Grow Elgin project is all about engaging people in Elgin with locally grown food and supporting them to grow their own.

"Hopefully Apple Day will inspire people to use the lovely locally grown fruit from their apple trees in Moray. By growing more of our fruit and veg ourselves locally, we help cut down on food miles and greenhouse gas emissions from transport and packaging too."

Anyone with apples to donate to the event is asked to contact the REAP office by email info@reapscotland.org.uk or on 01542 888070 so staff can arrange collection ahead of October 5.

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