Community comes together for apple juicing event

An apple juicing event brought the local community together in Bratton this month, using the village’s apple press.

On Saturday 4th October, Bratton Community Orchard hosted the event, producing between 48 and 52 litres of apple juice.

Visitors included Bratton locals, such as Chris Hatcher, who lives in the house once attached to the orchard, as well as people who travelled from nearby towns and villages, including Trowbridge and Steeple Ashton.

“What was so wonderful was the number of children,” said orchard volunteer Sian Morgan.

“We had children queueing to turn the handle on the apple press,” added Rob Meers, another orchard volunteer.

Parish Councillor Eddie Cole and the leader of the orchard volunteers, Steve Crosby, operated the apple pressing machine and scratter for three hours.

“We reckon we juiced between 48 and 52 litres of apples during that time,” said Cllr Cole. “Given that just over a kilo of apples goes into a litre of juice, that was a lot of apples.”

The event received positive feedback from visitors despite the stormy weather. “What a lovely morning we had!” said one villager.

The orchard volunteers hope the event will encourage more community activities, with some villagers already exploring cider-making with their juice.