Enjoy a delicious day out at MERL's Apple Day
Wednesday, 13 October 2010
Apples from the Brogdale collection
ÔÇÿTake away copies of apple recipes from the MERL Archives to try at homeÔÇÖ
Visitors to the Museum of English Rural Life will enjoy a scrumptious time at its annual Apple Day on Saturday 16 October.
Bekky Moran, Learning Manager at MERL, said: "Visitors can enjoy tasting different varieties of English apples supplied by Cross Lanes Farm in Mapledurham. Families will be able to make bird feeders, using apples of course, in a free workshop run by the conservation volunteers from the BCTV and take part in apple and spoon races in the garden. We even hold a longest peel competition so come along and test your skill!
"Visitors will also be able to taste and buy local and homemade chutneys and preserves, or win a ‘Chutney box' full of all the ingredients to have a go at home, kindly donated by Abel & Cole. This year there'll also be tea and delicious homemade ‘Country Markets' apple pie and cakes, made by local WI members!"
Caroline Gould, Deputy University Archivist, will be on hand to show visitors photographs and beautifully illustrated texts from the MERL Archives and Library. She said: "The Apple Day event provides a unique opportunity for MERL to show off some gems from our collections, which house a wealth of information about apple production in England that visitors rarely get the opportunity to see, such as the rare and highly sought after Herefordshire Pomona, dating from the late Victorian period. Visitors will be able to take away copies of apple recipes from the Archives to try at home!"
This year visitors will also have the opportunity to meet scientists from the School of Biological Sciences. Their exhibition stand, which won a bronze award at the Chelsea Flower Show earlier this year, will highlight how the University is helping to secure the world's fruit supply with research being undertaken at the National Fruit Collection in Brogdale, Kent. The University has been responsible for scientifically curating and maintaining the collection since 2008.
The Museum celebrates Apple Day as part of the national campaign to celebrate English apples, orchards and local distinctiveness, initiated by Common Ground 21 years ago.
The Apple Day event takes place from 2-4pm on Saturday 16th October at the Museum of English Rural Life on Redlands Road in Reading. Admission is free. Everyone is welcome. For details visit www.reading.ac.uk/merl, call 0118 378 8660 or email merlevents@reading.ac.uk.