| Description | Apple Day is an initiative that was conceived by Common Ground in 1990 as a day of 'celebration and demonstration of the variety we are in danger of losing, not simply in apples but richness and diversity in landscape, place and culture too' ('An Introduction to the Deeds and Thoughts of Common Ground', 1990, p. 24). In 1987, Common Ground first became aware of the decline in British orchards through research for the 'Trees Wood and the Green Man' project. In response, Common Ground launched the 'Save Our Orchards' campaign in 1988, and in 1990, Angela King (Joint Coordinator of Common Ground) proposed the idea of establishing a new calendar custom for the apple. Common Ground organised the very first Apple Day in the Piazza of Covent Garden on 21 October 1990.
In the 20 years that followed, Common Ground took on an advisory and promotional role, supporting the increasing number of local organisers in co-ordinating their own Apple Day events. Apple Day events have been organised in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and beyond by individuals, parishes, councils, museums, pubs, restaurants, agricultural colleges, hospitals, wildlife trusts, arts centres, historic houses, schools, tree nurseries, markets, farms, and commercial and community orchards. Common Ground was actively involved in promoting Apple Day events and supporting organisers until 2010, the year in which the 21st Apple Day was celebrated and it officially had its 'coming of age'. At this point, Common Ground considered Apple Day to have become so firmly established as an annual custom that it was capable of continuing without extra support from the charity. Apple Day continues to be celebrated in Britain on and around the 21 October each year. People at Common Ground who worked on the Apple Day project include: Sue Clifford, Kate O'Farrell, Jane Kendall, Daniel Keech, Angela King, and Neil Sinden.
In the course of the project, Common Ground published several books relating to apples, including: 'The Apple Source Book' in 1991 and 'Apple Games and Customs' in 1994, as well as an expanded version of 'The Apple Source Book' in 2007 [archive material relating to these books can be found in the 'Orchards' section of the Common Ground archive; ref: EUL MS 416/PRO/6].
Material in this section of the archive includes project administration files. material relating to the planning of the first Apple Day. material relating to Apple Day events, press clippings, promotional material, and photographic material.
|