HUNDREDS of local families got to the core of fruit growing at Reaseheath College’s popular apple festival over the weekend.

The fruity festival, held at the Nantwich college as part of a national celebration of the English apple, featured 100 rare varieties of apples and pears, some dating back to Roman times and some of more recent origin.

Horticultural experts Derek Jones and Harry Delaney were on hand to identify apple varieties, answer queries on the production of apples and other fruits and suggest answers to problems such as the control of pests and diseases.

They also offered advice on the selection, growth, pruning and propagation of fruit trees.

“The English apple is part of our national heritage and though some species have been lost forever, the festival gives us the chance to think about the huge number of varieties we have left and how we ought to preserve them,” said Harry.

“This event is becoming busier each year. Lots of local families are interested in identifying and learning how to care for the old fruit trees they have inherited, or want to plant new trees in their gardens.”

Many visitors arrived with fruit and foliage for identification or brought in their own apples for juicing.

Varieties such as Millicent Barnes, which was raised in Chester in 1903, and Bee Bench, which is local to the Nantwich area, were among rare varieties brought in by families.

The apples on show came from Reaseheath’s own fruit orchard or were donated by Sugnall Walled Gardens, Eccleshall, and Tatton Park.

The festival, being held at Reaseheath for the 23rd consecutive year, was aimed at encouraging gardeners to preserve old varieties of apples and soft fruit by growing them in their own gardens.