More apples than you can use? Donate them to be part of The Botanic Garden’s local cider project and enjoy a free cider!

If you have surplus apples from your garden or orchard, bring them along to Apple Day here at the Botanic Garden and help make a proper Bristol cider! Your apples will be pressed alongside donations from across the city and transformed into a unique community cider over the winter months.As a thank you, apple donors will be invited to collect a bottle of the finished cider in the spring. 5kg of apples = 1 bottle cider.

Free entry is available for apple donors.

Can’t Make It to Apple Day?

To make it easier for people across the city to take part, we’ve partnered with community organisations to create a network of apple collection hubs.

From north, south, east and west Bristol, we’re bringing together apples from across the city to create one shared cider.

If you can’t make it to the Botanic Garden on 4 October, you can drop off surplus apples at one of our collection hubs:

Hillfields Park Community Centre

Thicket Avenue
Hillfields
Bristol
BS16 4EH

Thursday 1 October
9am to 3.30pm

Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust 

The Hub
Unit 1, Fedden Buildings
Gainsborough Square,
Lockleaze
Bristol BS7 9FB

Friday 2 October
9am to 6pm

Bramble Farm

Stockwood Crescent,
Bristol,
BS4 1AW

Saturday 3 October
11am to 3pm

Every apple donated at our collection hubs will help make a proper Bristol cider, created from fruit grown in gardens, allotments and orchards across the city. It’s a celebration of Bristol’s communities, local growing and a harvest that might otherwise go to waste.

What’s Happening?

As well as the Apple pressing, this year’s event will have entertainment, games, cider tasting, demonstrations, and talks all in the autumn Botanic Garden.

Nothing goes to waste

Apples that cannot be used for cider such as dessert apples may be donated to FareShare and other local food charities. Apple pomace will be donated to a local farm for animal feed.

Come and celebrate Bristol’s apples

Bring your apples, bring the family and spend the day at the Botanic Garden.

The amount of cider we can make depends on this year’s harvest. If the harvest is smaller than expected, the amount of cider available in return for your apples may change. We’ll keep you updated.

Photography and filming

Please be aware that photography and filming will take place during this event. If you do not wish to be photographed or filmed, please make yourself known to the event team on the day.

We look forward to seeing you on Apple Day!