VISITORS to Beningbrough Hall are being invited to celebrate one of our favourite English fruits.

The National Trust property near York is hosting a fortnight of apple celebrations until Sunday , October 19 with a variety of activities and treats on the menu.

More than 35 varieties of the fruit are grown in the walled garden on decorative and productive trees trained as pyramids, cordons and espaliers.

Alongside this is a community orchard in its first few years of growth with predominantly Yorkshire varieties, cared for by local families, schools and community groups.

Apples will be displayed to show the wide variety of size, shape and colour, while there will be daily activities where you can meet the garden team and ask questions, with sampling straight from the tree on Saturdays and Wednesdays.

There will also be a talk on Sundays and Thursdays and traditional pressing on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Mark Pethullis who has looked after the walled garden at Beningbrough for over 15 years said “People are often surprised at the extent of the differences of the apples in the display especially compared to supermarkets. It’s always a good time to test a few varieties and maybe find a new favourite like mine; the Ribston Pippin, an old Yorkshire variety from Knaresborough and possibly the parent of Cox’s Orang Pippin.”

Beningbrough Hall, Gallery and Gardens is open 11am - 5.30pm Tuesday – Sunday until November 2, then winter weekends until 3.30pm.

For more information about visiting Beningbrough, phone 01904 472027 or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/beningbrough