The Abundance Fruit Festival of 1st October already seems like a long time ago – in those halcyon last hot days of the summer… Our big fruit press worked its way through a huge pile of apples, aided by many passersby, local children and even councillors. Steve Oram from PTES identified lots of mysterious misshapen fruits from people’s gardens, Mary Macleod MP pedalled her own smoothie, longest peels were peeled, the school stalls attracted loyal followings, Sam’s Brasserie demonstrated marvellous tasty things, Outsider Tart provided delicious cakes, Waterstone’s supported us with a fruity selection of children’s stories, local honey jars flew off into Chiswick homes. The craft stall were busy making apple people, bespoke bags and fruit pictures.

Throughout the area, people were busy making chutneys, cakes, toffee apples, jams and attempting to make quince cheese, which turned into ‘the Nightmare of Quince Tarmac’

We made a profit on the Abundance Fruit Festival, so we have now paid off our fruit press, scratter (that crushes the apples before juicing), apple pickers, bike trailer, jars, bottles and all the other equipment we have needed (phew!). We also have a small reserve fund now, which we will be using to support environmental projects in the area, especially in the participating schools. We’ll keep you posted, and if you have suggestions, please let us know.