Apple Day Weekend at Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens

ROSY RED: Dozens of varieties of apple are grown at
Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens.

PIP, pip hooray! Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens are getting ready for their annual celebration of the humble apple.

Traditional varieties of the fruit, harvested from the gardens and other local orchards, will be on display in the green house.

Visitors can also enjoy a falconry display, molly dancing and a guided tour of the grounds. There will also be stalls laden with autumn produce and demonstrations of wood turning and bee keeping.

Apple Day Weekend takes place this Saturday and Sunday (October 4 and 5), from 12noon-4pm.

For full details and admission prices visit the Hall Gardens' website.

Core Blimey: There are around 7500 varieties of apple and they are cultivated for lots of different reasons. Some, such as the sour-tasting Calville Blance d'Hiver, are ideal for cooking. Those partial to a bit of cider won't go far wrong with the Redstreak, well-known in Herefordshire and Somerset. Other varieties you might see on show this weekend include Wyken Pippin, Margil and Catshead - which has been been grown in England for centuries.