THE Tavy and Tamar Apple Group held its most successful Apple Fest in and around Bere Ferrers Church Hall earlier this month.

The group was pleased to welcome Celia Steven to open the seventh festival as this year is the Bramley apple bicentenary. Celia is the great grand-daughter of Henry Merryweather, who first cultivated Bramley apple trees commercially.

During the day children bobbed for apples, made animals, apple pies, competed in the longest apple peel, and licked toffee apples on the WI stall.

Expert advice was available from Orchard Link, Devon Rural Skills Trust, the Tavy and Tamar Apple Group, Endsleigh Gardens, and beekeepers Ross and Suzy Dyter.

Much interest was shown in apple crushing and the resulting delicious juice. A large team was kept busy throughout the afternoon demonstrating the new crusher and press to visitors — this equipment is also available for hire.

Locally produced apple and elderflower cordial, and 'Wills Sheep Dip' was on offer, as were organic apples such as Sawpit cookers, Cornish aromatic and Cornish Gilliflower.

The competition winners were announced by judge master chef Peter Gorton of the Horn of Plenty, Gulworthy, sponsors of the fest.

Winners were: Adult apple pie: 1 Bob Turner, who won a lunch for two at the Horn of Plenty; 2 Jean White, family ticket for Devon and Cornwall Rail trip from First Great Western; 3 Phil Gallagher, evening of croquet or bowls at National Trust's Cotehele.

Children's apple pie, 5 to 8 years: Elliott Overnell, two tickets to the Milky Way Adventure Park. Children's apple pie, nine to eleven years: 1 Harriott Smith, two child tickets to Dartmouth Steam Railway; 2 Mari Milne, one ticket for Diggerland, with 10% discount for escorts.

Poetry competition: 1 Karen Walker, the Garden House voucher; 2 Tim Hamlyn, Dartington Crystal voucher. Children's best animal: 1 Shannon Argue; 2 William Larkin; 3 George Allan.

Longest peel, adult: 1 Julie Overnell, a family ticket to Dartmoor Prison Museum, for her 49ins peel; 2 George from Plymouth, two tickets to Powderham Castle, for his 48 and a half ins peel.

All adults who were first prize winners were given umbrellas courtesy of Mansbridge and Balment.

Throughout the festival, local group The Tavy Tars entertained, and following the raffle Bev Slaughter thanked everyone who helped and attended the event.

Sincere thanks went to Celia Steven, the Horn of Plenty, Tamar Valley Services and the companies who donated prizes.