Making the challenge a little easier at the fishing for apples event

Why set up a coconut shy when there are plenty of apples to be used?

Village fete games with a farmyard twist

Hundreds of people turned up to enjoy live music from the Eynsford-Hill Duo, Phil King and Frankie Rudd, taste the range of Purbeck ciders, wander through the farm’s orchards – already laden with fruit more than a month ahead of harvest – and try their hand at village fete games with a farmyard twist.

They included an apple shy with fruit waiting to be knocked from stands with tennis balls, netting apples from a paddling pool, a cider ring toss over empty bottles and guessing the number of balloons in a tractor cab.

There was plenty to celebrate at the new festival, quite apart from the sun staying out all day, with a new cider press being unveiled and news of a deal with British Airways which will now offer one of the company’s favourite ciders to customers on all short haul BA flights.

Purbeck Cider and Purbeck Ice Cream – what’s not to love?!

Guess the number of balloons in the tractor proved a popular competition

The Eynsford-Hill duo were among local musicians who provided music for the day

Cider Sundae chose to have a family atmosphere

Joe added:

“I got married to Kate in June and because we were so busy with the wedding, I suggested that we just did the wassail, but the sales team including Kate were determined that the festival should be held.

“I’ve always wanted to run a Summer Cider Sundae, because of the tie-up with ice cream in the family, so we went ahead with it and have Purbeck Ice Cream selling here to incorporate the family business.

“We wanted it to be a nice family atmosphere rather than a commercial sales events, so we chose a fun name and have family games running and a chance to try some local food and drink.”

Reusable and sustainable cider glasses were successfully trialled at the festival

A local business supporting local people

Purbeck Cider’s January Wassail is becoming an established event in the Purbeck calendar, and the company is now thinking of introducing Apple Day as a low key open day in October for local families to see the new apple press and harvesters in action.

Joe added:

“If that goes ahead, it will be with a view to building on it for future years – we are very focussed on trying to be a local business which supports local people.

“We really value our community and the people here have been a real part of the journey we have taken, so it is a chance for us to engage with locals, show them what we are doing and tell them how we are doing it.”

Purbeck Ciders are available at a large number of local pubs and businesses including Norden Farm, Burnbake Campsite, Corfe Castle, the Scott Arms and the Square and Compass Inn.