Fancy trying out apple pressing?  Learning about traditional orchard craft?  Some kids’ stories and face painting?

Apple Days started over 20 years ago as a celebration of British orchards and on Saturday 27 October Leigh town hall square will host a family-friendly day of activities dedicated to traditional foods, with the apple the ‘core’ of the event.

The Mayor, Councillor Myra Whiteside, will be attending.  Councillor Whiteside said: “An apple a day may well keep the doctor away, but we want everyone to come to this event to learn about healthy foods, the value of fruit trees and how we play our part in the local environment.”

Wigan Council are organising Apple Day in partnership with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).

Peter Boulton, Head of Programme Management at TfGM, said: “We’re pleased to be joining forces with Wigan Council to bring Apple Day to Leigh.

“Apple Day is part of our commitment to environmental improvements in and around Leigh while we work to provide better public transport for the area.”

An expert from the Northern Fruit Group will be there and those with apple trees in their garden are invited to bring two or three samples in good condition to the Apple Day event and the expert should be able to identify the variety.

Most activities will be inside a marquee on the square and there will be plenty to do including apple pressing, local beekeepers, music, face painting, a hog roast, food stands, storytelling and much more.

Apple Days were started in 1990 by environment charity Common Ground in order to celebrate traditional orchards and to preserve British varieties of fruit. Today, hundreds of events take place up and down the country. 

The Leigh event, from 11am – 3pm on 27 October, also marks the start of a series of fruit tree plantings at schools in the Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley area. It’s part of TfGM’s environmental improvement work to complement the new busway linking Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley with central Manchester.

TfGM is sponsoring the tree planting programme as part of its investment in modern public transport infrastructure, working in 15 local schools. The trees will not only enhance the school environment for pupils and staff, but will also form a natural habitat for birds and insects and provide a valuable educational resource.

Everglades Nursery in Euxton, Chorley, has been chosen as the designated tree supplier for local schools and will shortly be hosting a visit from two of the participating schools, Leigh CE Infants and Leigh CE Juniors.