THE juices flowed at the annual community apple pressing day at National Trust’s Swan Barn Farm.

Hundreds of people arrived with home-grown fruit to make their own apple juice and cider using the heritage press and ‘scratter’ machine that pulps the fruit.

The National Trust team were also hard at work making their own artisan cider from the many different traditional varieties of apple they grow in their orchards, ranging from Greens-leeves and Cornish Gillyflower, to Knobby Russet.

Last year, Swan Barn Farm opened its Orchard House, hand-built by the ranger team from coppiced sweet chestnut and timber grown on the surrounding National Trust estates. The wood was all processed on site, and it included making thousands of shingles for the roof.

The building of the Orchard House crowned a 10-year restoration project, in which trees were pruned and planted, and the orchards were grazed with Jacob sheep.

The team produce gallons of artisan cider each year, which is sold at events such as the Winter Wassail, in January, and a countryside crafts day in the summer.

Proceeds fund further conservation work.

David Elliott, National Trust Head Ranger for Black Down said: “It was wonderful seeing so many people come together to celebrate our fantastic orchards at Swan Barn Farm.

“Thanks to everyone’s help we pressed over a tonne of apples on Saturday and hundreds of people came along to join in the fun. The National Trust cares for hundreds of hectares of land around Haslemere, and the money raised at this event goes to looking after these special places.”

Photos: Paul Doyle