Despite the grim forecast, the sun shone throughout the afternoon at the annual celebration of the harvest from Tewin Orchard. Different varieties of apples from the Trust’s Tewin Orchard Nature Reserve were on sale along with fresh apple juice and delicious homemade cakes.

The children’s activity area offered nature crafts and storytelling for children. Guided tours through the orchard gave an insight into the traditionally managed nature reserve and the wildlife that can be found there. Other charities such as the Herts and Middlesex Bat Group and the Herts and Middlesex Badger Group showcased their work and local field artist Martin Gibbons was on hand to teach wildlife illustration and sold his drawings.

Lesley Davies, Chief Executive at Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, is delighted about the result: “The high turnout proved that our annual Apple Day is an integral part of the community and it shows just how many people care and want to learn more about our wildlife.”

The event raised over £4,500 for the Trust, helping to protect wildlife across Hertfordshire and Middlesex. The Trust thanks everyone who attended Apple Day, all volunteers who helped make this day a success once again, Wenzels the Bakers, Waitrose in Welwyn Garden City and the Rose & Crown in Tewin for donating baked goods and Councillor Ken Crofton for his financial contribution.

This year’s special guests were the original puppets from The Wildlife Trusts’ campaign film The Wind in the Willows, a stop-motion film that was released in spring and shown in cinemas all over the country. It is part of the national Wilder Future campaign and revisits the characters from Kenneth Grahame’s much-loved children’s classic 100 years on to showcase the troubles facing wildlife today.

Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust’s Apple Day has been taking place for over 20 years. Next year’s harvest festivities will take place on 4^th October.