THE famous Bere Apple Fest, organised by Tavy and Tamar Apple Group, takes place in and around Bere Ferrers Church Hall on Saturday October 9.

The event will be opened at 1.45pm by West Devon mayor Cllr John Hockridge and features a host of guest experts, demonstrations and a chance for visitors to bring along their apples and turn them into juice — please bring a clean container to take the juice home in.

An apple pie baking competition has two classes: one for adults and young people over 12 and another for children. In the adult class, entrants will bake a pie of their choice, before the event. The children's classes are for 5-8 years and 9-11 years to bake an apple pie of their choice.

Master Chef Peter Gorton will judge the entries during the morning.

Competitions will be run for children, such as the longest apple peel and a competition called Animals Made From Apples, with entries made at home and brought to the Fest.

To help the apple theme along, there will be a competition for all ages — entrants will be invited to compose a poem about apples. Entry forms for the apple pie baking and poetry competitions are available from the usual outlets.

Products will be on sale on the WI stall and the Olde Tyme Sweets stall.

Author Rosie Sanders will be promoting her book 'The Apple Book'. Rosie, often described as the best painter of the world's most famous fruit, is widely recognised as one of Britain's leading botanical artists.

Endsleigh Nurseries will be on hand to give advice about purchasing fruit trees.

Beekeepers Ross and Suzy Dyter will advise on having bees in your orchard or garden.

A large team will be involved in pressing apples throughout the afternoon and visitors are invited to bring clean apples to the Fest, together with suitable clean containers for taking the juice home.

For apple growers, or potential growers, there will be an advice centre to answer all queries, manned by members of Tavy and Tamar Apple Group. Charles Staniland will carry out the ever-popular practical pruning demonstrations in an adjacent apple orchard.

The occasional musical interlude will be provided by the Tavy Tarts, an offshoot of the famous Tavy Tars.

The Fest is timed to coincide with trains to and from Bere Ferrers station on the picturesque Tamar Valley Line.

The village community shop and café will be open in the social club from 10am until noon.

Commercial sellers are welcome and a limited number of stalls are available for hire. Contact Brian Lamb on 01822 841309 for more details.