THEY might keep the doctor away but each year this British favourite brings whole families together in High Woods Country Park.

More than 100 people quenched their appetite for apples, whether raw, juiced or baked in flour, at Colchester’s Apple Day.

Wayne Setford, whose community interest company Together We Grow, recently took over the running of the orchard, described the day as fantastic.

He said: “Lots of people brought their own apples and we had local company Peach and Pippin doing the juicing.

“Most people donated their apples and didn’t want the juice so they it was shared out among everyone.”

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Edwin and Julia Smith of Peach and Pippin with fruit and juice

The Big Garden is now being funded with grants, Livewell Colchester and Colchester councillor Tina Bourne (Lab), who has pledged two years’ worth of financial support as portfolio holder for communities.

It is also running a scheme with Essex Council for a post-care package with looked-after children, aged 18 and over, to teach them work skills.

He said: “The site will be used as before to deliver workshops and programmes for those with mental health needs and learning difficulties, and continuing our work as a community garden.

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Emma McGregor and Anne Yaxley on the stall for apple juice

“It’s a super important project which has done so much good work for so many people over the years.

“We have this really strong team of volunteers who maintain the garden, and you don’t just give that up easily.”

The garden is open for community volunteering on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and every other Saturday.

To volunteer or for any other enquiries, call Wayne Setford on 07979 077036.