A NEW website offering advice to apple enthusiasts has been launched by the Tavy and Tamar Apple Group.

The website has been launched to advise people how to care for their apple trees and orchards and inform them of courses and events.

Brian Lamb, group chairman, said: 'There are a lot of people locally with orchards, from 100 trees to just a couple. If they are after advice, we hope they could come to our site and we could give them the advice they need, or point them in the right direction if we can't.'

The website gives details of various courses arranged by the group and a programme of apple related events.

Tavy and Tamar Apple Group formed just over a year ago with the intention of encouraging the rejuvenation of local orchards, with an aspiration to see local apples sold in South West supermarkets.

Mr lamb said: 'We've been an informal group for six or seven years now, pressing apples and arranging courses. We decided to become a formal group so we could get our own equipment. We're hoping the website will attract people to join our group.'

The group allows trained and members to hire equipment, which includes an apple crusher, hydraulic press, pasteurisers, sterilisers and bottle filler.

Mr Lamb thanked Mike Grimshaw and Bev Slaughter for their work in creating the website, http://www.tavyapples.org.uk">www.tavyapples.org.uk