Killerton Cider and Apple Weekend

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Countryside

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On Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 October, we are hosting a two day National Apple Day celebration in our orchard.

Join us to celebrate the coming of autumn
There is a long history of cider-making on the Killerton estate and we are passionate about conserving our orchards and keeping this heritage alive. Orchards and old English apple varieties are in decline and our National Apple Day event will highlight the importance of protecting them for both wildlife and the Devon landscape.

We care for over 50 acres of traditional orchards
Nearly 100 varieties of old English apple are grown here at Killerton, including the Killerton Sweet and the Killerton Sharp which are unique and originate from our 2,400 acre farming estate.

Peek behind the scenes
You can follow the orchard discovery trail to witness our 200 year old giant cider press in action, see where we keep our beehives, try the traditional craft of barrel-making with one of the UKs last remaining Coopers and have a go at woodturning using Killerton’s apple wood.

Taste the fruits of our labour
Both our estate cider and new apple juice won a 2012 silver Taste of the West award this year. Our cider continues to win the National Trust Fine Farm Food Award which recognises the very best produce from National Trust farms and estates. We were delighted when TV celebrity and Michelin Star Chef Michael Caines featured our cider in his cookery demos at this year’s Exeter Food and Drink Festival. Throughout our apple weekend, adults are invited to taste our award-winners at the Killerton Cider Bar.

Bring your own apples
Bring along a bag of your own garden apples to the event to mill and press into a bottle of juice to take home and on Sunday meet an apple ID expert who will help identify varieties of visitor’s home-grown cider apples. Stalls will be selling English apple trees, cider making equipment and books.

Children will be buzzing
For our younger visitors there are village fete games to play, apple face painting and a Bumble Bee March through the orchard.

Wet your appetite
The Killerton Kitchen food tent will serving up hog roast with home made apple sauce, autumnal mulled cider and apple juice and vegetarian options. Sit back and enjoy a picnic lunch amongst the apple trees with live music, apple-juggling, apple folklore talks and a medieval Mummers Play to bless the orchard.