Leigh Apple Press
A group of local people in and around Leigh in Surrey: Charlotte Kinloch, Robin Worth, Paul Wilkinson, Simon Ames, and Adria Kinloch got together in 2016 to organise a local apple pressing day and food festival to make use of surplus apples and support local businesses.
The Leigh Parish Council and Leigh & District Cottage Garden Society kindly contributed the funds to purchase a macerator and apple press for local use. Leigh is an historic apple producing area and many people have fruit which goes to waste. Pressing fruit in this way produces juice which is fantastic for drinking or cider making!
Local people with apples can bring them along for us to press, we can then bottle it in plastic containers for freezing (keeps for up to 3 months), or if people wish to make their own cider they can bring their own containers. People with no apples can buy the juice. We will be charging a small fee to cover costs.
The John Motion Orchard
The John Motion Orchard was bequeathed to Leigh Parish Council in 2021. LAG has the responsibility to restore, manage and maintain this wonderful ancient orchard. The activities include instructing people in tree pruning, orchard management and hedgerow management. The orchard is used to develop understanding of the countryside and its importance in helping to preserve particular types of apple trees.
Join us!
Would you like to be more involved? Members are given the opportunity
- to preserve their fruit through juicing
- to learn from experts fruit tree pruning
- to be involved in protecting and restoring our Community Orchard
- to attend workshops free of charge
- personal insurance cover when volunteering
- to appreciate the importance of the countryside
Click here for the membership form. As part of the ongoing management of the orchard we are also starting to plant some new heritage varieties of apple trees. To support this programme and sponsor a tree, click here for the application form.
Alongside this:
- Sarah from The Plough sells burgers from the BBQ
- Local food producers selling honey, bread, eggs, cakes and jams.
- Information on how to make cider and organisations that make use of people’s surplus apples.
- Activities for children.
- Entertainment from Boxhill Bedlam Morris dancers
The 2025 Leigh Food Festival and Apple Press will take place on Saturday September 27th from 11am – 3pm at the Plough. We look forward to seeing you there! See the leaflet for more details about bringing your apples for juicing, costs etc…