19/10: BROGDALE APPLE FESTIVAL

 

The UK's National Fruit Collection is located just a few miles away from our home at Brogdale Farm in Kent (Near Faversham). The National Fruit Collection includes over 3,500 named Apple, Pear, Plum, Cherry, Bush fruit, Vine and Cob Nut cultivars. The collection is owned by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and is part of an international programme to protect plant genetic resources for the future.  

This weekend they  opened their doors for the Brogdale Apple Festival where 500 varieties of apples/pears were on display and 200+ varieties  available to taste.   We have 'inherited' some very old apple trees as our house was built in the 'orchard' area of an established garden.   We have no idea what variety of apples we are growing/enjoying  but should we wish to find out we could take an apple to Brogdale and pay the appropriate fee to have it analysed and identified.   Not sure I'm actually that bothered, but the facility is there should I change my mind at a later date.

Having never visited Brogdale before we were really looking forward to tasting some of the apples, me in their natural state and David planned on enjoying the cider!  Vintage tractors were on display and  lots of stalls featuring local Kentish food products - plus the final of the Bakery Competition to produce the tastiest apple cake.

Unfortunately ..... it thrashed down with rain all night, and has been showery all day.    When we got to Brogdale one of the main car parks was under several inches of water and the other had very little hard standing (all the best places were taken) so we had no option but to turn round and come home again.    We'd expected to get a little 'damp' during our visit and had dressed appropriately but it wasn't to be.    Will have to contact the organisers tomorrow to see if we can use our pre-booked tickets on another occasion.

So in the absence of fruity photos, here are some Starlings photographed locally -

Every Autumn starlings gather and treat us to some fantastic areobatic displays (murmurations) but usually when we're in the car and I'm not able to photograph them


 peaceful gathering ......     perhaps the sign on the wall should say TOILET under the circumstances!

 Not the best idea, standing under these wires photographing birds!  This was taken a week ago - look at that blue sky - its been grey and dreary ever since!

in the absence of any of my own photos, I've 'borrowed' this short film from Dylan Winter (a Youtube clip) - fabulous isn't it?