Nineteen Year 6 pupils at Wylye Valley Primary School spent an enjoyable afternoon using the Codford and District Community Apple Press to make apple juice for the school to drink.

Earlier in the year the same pupils took part in the Pippin Project by planting a small orchard of 10 different apple varieties in the school grounds.

Since the trees are still too young to bear fruit this year, apples were kindly offered by Col Mike Elcomb, and two wheelbarrows full were duly picked and wheeled back to school by the children.

After washing the fruit,it was tipped into the electric crusher to make pulp.

Next, the pulp was scooped into the press, which uses mains water pressure to squeeze out the delicious, sweet, pure apple juice.

Everyone agreed it tasted better than any ‘shop’ apple juice and was a great follow-on from planting the school orchard, which should hopefully begin bearing fruit next year.

The Codford and District Community Apple Press Project has been made possible due to generous village benefactors, the Fruit of Paradise concert held in March, Waitrose Community Matters, the Big Lottery Fund and the Wiltshire Gardens Trust.