AUTUMN is on its way and preparations are are well in hand for the tenth Bere Apple Fest, held at Bere Ferrers.

The event started when a group of enthusiastic apple growers in Bere Ferrers decided to celebrate the history of apples on the Bere Peninsula and to help the development of local orchards.

Subsequently, the Tavy and Tamar Apple Group was formed and now has more than 100 members.

The programme of events for this year includes the popular apple pie baking competition, open to adults and children, with a huge range of fantastic prizes. The first prize is a superb meal at Robertson's Organic Café and the second prize is a pair of first class return tickets anywhere on the First Great Western network.

The competition is judged by Seth and Sally Robertson, from Robertson's Organic Café in Tavistock.

As well as the children's section in the apple pie baking competition, there is usually a prize for the best 'animal' made out of an apple and the longest apple peel competition. There is also a supervised hand-operated apple crusher that children can use to chop up their apples.

A spokesman for the apple fest said: 'The main activity of the day is crushing and pressing apples to make juice.

'The group has purchased an apple crusher, a press and a trailer and pasteurisation equipment with donations from local concerns and also with the proceeds from previous apple fests.

'Visitors are invited to bring their own clean apples and, for a small fee, the apples are crushed and juiced and taken away in containers.

'This is very popular and the team are hard at work crushing and juicing throughout the day!

'This year we are delighted to announce that Cllr Philip Sanders, leader of West Devon Borough Council, has accepted our invitation to open this special event.'

There will be demonstrations of pruning apple trees by local expert Charles Staniland and grafting by Michael from Endsleigh Nurseries. Andy, a local wood-turner, will be giving a display of his art on an old-fashioned wooden lathe.

Rural crafts will be demonstrated by Mick Godwin, while some apple juice sales are looked after by Derek Scofield and Ross and Suzy Dyter will explain about the benefits of bees in the orchard.

There will be a huge display of apple varieties, and experts, including Chris Groves from Cotehele and Frances Howard, will be on hand to identify visitors' apples they bring.

In addition, the local WI will have a mouth-watering display of apple products on sale. Apple refreshments, including tea and coffee, are available throughout the afternoon and there is an enormous raffle hamper prize!

This year's event is on Saturday, October 6, from 1pm to 5pm in and around Bere Ferrers Church Hall.

Entries for the Apple Pie competition are always welcome and the entry forms will soon be available on the Tavy and Tamar Apple Group's web site http://www.tavyapples.org.uk">www.tavyapples.org.uk, and from local outlets in Bere Ferrers and Bere Alston.

Proceeds from the Apple Fest will be shared between local projects and the purchase and maintenance of new equipment.