Highbury Harvest, Saturday 5th October 12-4pm
Highbury Harvest is… A weekend of fun and fundraising in support of Highbury Orchard Community, in celebration of the year’s harvests, and this year’s theme of low impact living and sustainability. Visitors of all ages can enjoy activities, information, food, crafts, walks and talks, both out in the open and tucked away in the curious corners of the Orchard.
What’s on offer:
The centerpiece of Harvest is making fresh apple juice. This year it is back at its original location on the brick floor. Kids love grinding apples to a pulp, turning the big handle on the juice press, and watching the juice pour out. Bring your own apples and jugs, or use surplus others have donated.
Honey is also central to the Harvest. Beekeepers and their buzzing friends are on hand to watch, and learn from. Local honey products are on sale, including beeswax and honeycomb. For an added treat, the annual honey cake bake off returns, where you can ‘rise’ to the challenge of creating the winning cake, or the challenge of being a judge.
Besides honey cake, other refreshments can be purchased at Four Seasons and the Orchard, including vegan food by Change Kitchen, meals made from food surplus by The Real Junk Food Project, and Flavours of Winson Green, a refugee run cookery school, will be producing vegetarian demos.
How to make better use of surplus is a topic also addressed by up-cycling. Yolanda Rueda will be demonstrating a variety of re-use and repurposing techniques. Alongside that will be woodland craft demonstrations like wood-turning and greenwood working, art installations, and a variety of walks and talks covering plant knowledge and foraging, storytelling and spoken word performance. Local community groups with a climate benefit agenda will also be on hand to share and discuss their projects.
Last but certainly not least, there is plenty of natural space to linger and enjoy nature with friends.
Highbury Dog Show, Sunday 6th October 12-4pm
Local resident and dog-owner Claire Osborne has rallied other dog owners to show their support for all the woodland walks that Highbury Orchard Community has opened up for our canine companions. There will be a show ring for ten categories of competition. Prizes for winners in each category. For example, do you have the cutest puppy, or the best groomed hound? Pet related toys, local animal charities and a raffle will keep folks entertained all afternoon. Henburys Bowling Green (near the car park) is the pooches’ party venue.
Organiser Rhiannon Simpson is excited about the day:
‘Highbury Harvest is a fantastic celebration of the Orchard and its produce, the enchanting spaces of Highbury, and the creative, committed community in the area. Join us and leave with new skills, a warmed spirit and a sense of re-connection to nature. The dog show is a fabulous addition to our line up and recognises our four-legged friends who adore the space too.’
We invite you to leave your car at home and come on foot or bike, if you are able. A few spaces for people with disabilities are available at Four Seasons, 92 Queensbridge Road. Wheelchair access is best via the park.
Information on Facebook (Highbury Orchard Community) and at peopleandland.org.uk