A fruitful time was had by apple lovers and the wider community at the annual Bere Ferrers Apple Festival.

Festival organisers Tamar & Tavy Apple Group have hailed the festival, on Saturday, October 3, as the best ever with crowds celebrating the area’s famed links with apple production. The event raises funds for local community groups through the sale of apple products such as jams, cakes, chutneys and jellies. This year a record amount is expected to raised.

Graham Reed, group spokesman, said: “We’re on tenterhooks, wondering whether people will turn up and will we have dry weather?

“On the day we were rewarded with both in abundance. The sun shone, the gentle breeze wafted the bright singing of the Tavy Tar’ shanties across the packed crowds and traffic stayed clear whilst the Dartmoor Border Morris Dancers performed splendid and intricate steps on the road.”

The festival, run by volunteers, is a highlight of the village calendar and included guests such as Bere Ferrers WI traditional wood turning by Andy Morton of Sallerton Wood, the Tavi Tars shanty group ad Dartmoor Border Morris.

The apple group gave demonstrations of its hand-driven and hydraulic apple presses, feeding them visitors’ own apples to create fresh, pure juice. The group’s own apple juice, WI produce and refreshments were also sold.

Graham said: “The success of the day was measured by the WI stall being stripped bare of the cakes and preserves; the trailer full the apple group’s community orchard apples running out of stock whilst the raffle income was a resounding success.

“Most years, we anticipate a cash surplus on the day in excess of £1,200; we will soon have confirmed that 2026 exceeded all predictions. The funds protect and maintain the community orchard and we select worthy recipients, such as youth groups and the food bank, across the parish to share our success.

The group’s next event is the traditional Wassail on January 16.

Three members of Dartmoor Border Morris relax at Bere Apple Fest.
Three members of Dartmoor Border Morris relax. (Iliffe Media)
An apple crusher is filled with donated apples at Bere Apple Fest.
An apple crusher is filled with donated apples. (Iliffe Media)
Bere Ferrers WI selling homemade foods at Bere Apple Fest.
Bere Ferrers WI selling homemade produce at Bere Apple Fest. (Iliffe Media)
Frances Howard, apple expert, gives advice on apple care and identification at Bere Apple Fest.
Dr Frances Howard, apple expert, gives advice on apple care and identification at the Bere Apple Fest. (Iliffe media)
Tavy Tars sea shanty group make waves at Bere Apple Fest. Photo by Ann Parsons.
Tavy Tars sea shanty group making waves. (Brian Lamb)
A crowd enjoys Bere Apple Fest, drinking and making apple juice and watching a sea shanty group and a morris dance troupe.
A crowd enjoys Bere Apple Fest, drinking and making apple juice and enjoying sea shanties and morris dancing. (Brian Lamb)
Charles Staniland a Bere Peninsula apple expert at Bere Apple Fest. Photo by Ann Parsons.
Charles Staniland, a Bere Peninsula apple expert, was at Bere Apple Fest. Photo by Ann Parsons. (Ann Parsons)
Sweet offerings on the honey stall manned by Alison Howes and Paul Searle at Bere Apple Fest. Photo by Ann Parsons.
Sweet offerings on the honey stall manned by Alison Howes and Paul Searle at Bere Apple Fest. Photo by Ann Parsons. (Ann Parsons)
An apple-peeling competition at Bere Apple Fest creates an impressive long result. Photo by Ann Parsons.
An apple-peeling competition at Bere Apple Fest creates an impressive long result. Photo by Ann Parsons. (Ann Parsons)
Dartmoor Border Morris jingle and bash sticks at Bere Apple Fest.
Dartmoor Border Morris jingle and bash sticks at Bere Apple Fest. (Iliffe Media)
Peter Wright, of Tavy and Tamar Apple Group sells freshly pressed apple juice at Bere Apple Fest.
Peter Wright, of Tavy and Tamar Apple Group, was selling freshly pressed apple juice at Bere Apple Fest. (Iliffe Media)
Learning hand craft wood skills by Salterton Wood with Andy Morton in the background at Bere Apple Fest.
Learning handcrafting wood skills with Sallerton Wood’s Andy Morton, at Bere Apple Fest. (Iliffe Media)
A young girl throws at an 'apple shy' at Bere Apple Fest.
A young girl aims at an 'apple shy' at Bere Apple Fest. (Iliffe Media)