All things appley will be celebrated at the annual free Bere Ferrers apple festival in October.

The event is a highlight of the peninsula community with villagers throwing themselves into the occasion which includes traditional entertainment and apple-themed activities. Live music will be provided by the Tavy Tars shanty group and traditional dancing by the Dartmoor Border Morris.

A crunchy juicy time for all the family is promised at the twenty sixth Bere Apple Fest, 1-5pm at Bere Ferrers Church Hall (with wheelchair access and toilets) on Saturday, October 3.

Brian Lamb, of the organisers Tavy and Tamar Apple Group, said: “The pattern of the afternoon is familiar and unhurried. Apples arrive in bags and boxes to be fed into the apple press working through the afternoon to make apple juice.

“Visitors are invited to bring their own apples to press and a container if they want to take the juice home.

“There will be experts on hand to name a mystery variety or give advice about a troubled tree, while tea and cake will be offered with an apple raffle for good prizes.”

There will be stalls of all types, including for selling apple juice, cider, and wine, children’s games using apples, and stalls giving information about bees and honey.

A local winemaker will tempt with his products. Returning special guests will be Endsleigh Walled Gardens displaying apple trees for sale and offering advice on growing the best fruit.

Upper crust local bakers are invited to bring along their apple pies to enter the apple pie competition with the philosophy ‘it’s the taste that counts’, - appearances matter less than the sensation on the palate. This is open to adults and children and the pies will be judged by Seth Robertson, of Robertson’s Restaurant and Pizzeria.

The pies need to be delivered to the church hall between 9.30am and 11.30am on the day of the festival. Entry forms are at the Bere Alston post office and pharmacy.

The apple group began in Bere Ferrers with a small show at a village craft fair and the members have spent the years since looking after local apple trees, identifying mystery fruit, acquiring equipment, pressing juice, teaching pruning and cider-making, and keeping the peninsula’s orchard heritage alive. They now also tend the historic Bere Ferrers Community Orchard, recently handed over to the community.

Family membership is £5 a year and includes advice, hire of apple presses and various machinery, and advance notice of the traditional Wassailing apple harvest celebrations and Bere Apple Fest, both popular.

Visitors can arrive by train on the Tamar Valley line to Bere Ferrers station with the hall five minutes’ walk from the station. Brian added: “Whether you tend a whole orchard, one garden tree, or simply like the smell of crushed apples, come along and enjoy the afternoon.”

Live music by the Tavy Tars, and traditional dancing by the Dartmoor Border Morris, will be provided during the afternoon.