MORE than 70 apple pressers and two groups of Morris dancers turned out to enjoy an afternoon making apple juice at Petersfield community garden and orchard.

Held from 2pm to 4pm at the community garden to the allotments off Waterworks Road at Sheet last Sunday, the ‘pressers’ used an old-fashioned wooden press.

To work the press, the apples were chopped up into a barrel, then a wooden lid was screwed down on to them using brute ‘dad’ strength.

Community garden chairman Sue Edberg said: “It was a lovely afternoon – the weather was warm and sunny, we had a fire going, and absolutely delicious jugs of juice were made from the great mix of local apples. This was shared out and a little made it into a few bottles to take home.

“At the start there was lots of help from children who were tall enough to reach the apple-pulping wheel and turn the apple press, but when they got tired the fathers took over.”

The apples – a mix of cookers and eaters – were all locally grown, including some from the community orchard.

There were fears there wouldn’t be many apples on the day – but lots of visitors brought their own home-grown fruit.

Sue added: “One man even brought a wheelbarrow full of apples along! It doesn’t appear to have been that good a year for apples – there was a late frost in May that killed lot of the blossom – but everyone brought some.

“We also did one press of pears from the community garden, and they were very sweet.

“We did another of mixed apples and blackberries picked from hedges around the orchard, and that juice tasted lovely.”

The first ‘pressing’ afternoon was in 2019, and last year’s had to be cancelled. But this year’s attracted three groups of Morris groups.

Alton Morris played music, and the Mary Rose Morris danced.

Sue said: “They performed a mix of songs and traditional dance, and were really enjoyed by everyone.”

Sheet resident Lucy Pringle was full of praise for the Morris groups.

She said: “They were a new addition and performed original dances with great enthusiasm and vigour.

“The pressing was extremely well attended with lots of families and children who all joined in.

“Strong men took turns to work the press – two were needed at any one time – and the juice was quite delicious.”

For community garden details, visit the website at https://petersfieldcommunitygarden.org