TWO gloriously sunny days to pick our apples has to be a cause for celebration!

On both the September and October sessions at Sandford we were blessed with wonderful sunny weather once again this year. 

Several bags of early apples were picked from the orchard in September. They were transformed into Millennium Green Apple Juice by Little Emlett Orchards and the bottles are on sale in Sandford Stores. Last year’s was delicious and flew off the shelves.

While one group of volunteers picked early apples, another was busy cutting back and clearing around the "Wigloo", which is gradually being renovated. There’s still a lot of pruning and cutting back to do around the Green before winter, so we are going to be busy for a while.

On Sunday October 17, we picked the remaining apple crop, including the delicious Don’s Delight cooking apples.

Some of these handpicked delights will be on sale in Sandford Stores and the rest will be turned into yet more delicious Millennium Green juice.

We had an excellent turnout of volunteers, several walking in from Crediton, and all agreed the session was a very enjoyable one. Some of the apples were enormous.

The berries around Sandford Millennium Green are looking wonderful and there are still several moorhen chicks that have survived to almost adulthood. It’s definitely worth having a walk around if it’s not something you do regularly.

Our next work session, on November 21, will involve clearing the leaves along the Path to Crediton.

We will start at the Crediton end at 10am and work our way down through the wood.

Everyone is welcome to join us, preferably with a rake and gloves, but these are not essential as we have some to lend out.

We usually gather around the bench at the bottom of the wood to have a refreshment break.

Pre-Covid, we provided these but at the moment we are still being cautious and ask volunteers to bring their own. Hopefully, next year things will be easier.

Di Martin