by David Feather
This is not a slogan to free a political prisoner; it is just information that a few of the apples in the Community Orchard next to the allotments are ripe for picking.
It is not called a Community Orchard for nothing, as the apples are intended to be used by the community, without charge. If you like apples and are going for a walk in the Country Park Nature Reserve then please help yourself.
Please do not take too many, as there has been a poor crop. We would like as many people as possible to enjoy the fruits of volunteer labour over many years. The trees are now coming into maturity and production. Please treat the trees with respect and be careful when picking the apples. Give them a twist and a little lift to break the stalk off.
Only a few of the trees have produced a crop this year. This is the nature of the fruit, but we have planted a sufficient number of varieties to ensure that some are produced.
Three old varieties of apple in the heritage orchard: Star of Devon, Julia’s Late Golden, Dredge’s Fame
Each tree has an information tag. This will tell you its name and what type of apple it is. These apples are heritage varieties and have origins fairly local to west Wiltshire. Because they are old varieties and have not been sprayed, they are not necessarily perfect. But just treat them as you would as coming from your own garden and cut out any bad bits.
Importantly, please enjoy them!
Southwick Country Park Nature Reserve 
Wooow I like apples!
These are old varieties, local to the West Country, from the days before apple growing was the global commercial enterprise it has become. When I was a child growing up on a farm, our orchard had varieties for cooking, for eating, apples for storing over the winter and apples for making cider.
Very nice! I have been burying apple seeds in my little garden, and I have had several varieties growing now.. I theorised that apple trees grow and fruit on the side of roads, so I thought they’d just grow when I bury them. And they have, too! 😊