EVERYONE is invited to celebrate the fruits of the Hale community orchard on Apple Day, Sunday, October 7, at St Mark’s Church.

The celebrations will be held in the orchard next to the church in Alma Lane and inside the church hall from 10am, and everyone is encouraged to bring their apples and put them in the apple press for freshly pressed apple juice.

There will be apple songs, apple pancakes and apples dipped in chocolate, all followed by a celebratory harvest festival service in the church. The Bishop of Dorking, the Right Reverend Jo Wells, will join in the celebrations.

Rev’d Lesley Crawley said: “In December 2014 we planted 11 fruit trees to create a community orchard at St Mark’s, and each tree was adopted by a different community group.

“Since then we have celebrated every year by having apple pancakes, apple-y music and apple pressing. It is always a great atmosphere.”

Anyone who wants their apples turned into juice is asked to bring only good condition, hand-picked fruit and clean two-litre milk cartons.