ORGANISERS of Saturday's Trowbridge Apple Festival in the park have been sending out last-minute appeals to locals.

Last-minute preparations included promoting the event in the Shires on Monday with a giant apple tree made from over 150 balloons by Dave Hickory.

The festival, which runs from 11am-3pm, is now in its fourth year and is organised by The BIG Community Grow – a project developed by Mel Jacob and Jacky Good.

Mrs Jacob said: “The idea of the balloons was to have an interesting talking point for people in showing them what the festival is about.

“Each year we are getting more people coming along and different groups of people at that so it is a fun event outdoors with a whole crop of apples and it is just about having a nice time.”

There will be a whole host of games and activities for all the family to enjoy on the day from making apple juice, apple tasting, children’s crafts, conkers, apple bobbing, animals from Larkrise farm and a magic show.

Expert fruit grower and gardener Richard Cripps will also be giving exclusive guided tours of the old orchard at Courtfield House.

Judges will also be tucking into entries of the coveted apple pie competition sponsored by Leykers Coffee Central.

Mrs Jacob added: “People kept coming up to us and asking if it is the first event and we kept telling them it is actually our fourth event.

“It is our first year in the park and we just want people to come along because there is something for everyone whether you are an adult or child and we know from previous years people really enjoy our apple tasting.

“We are keeping it tied to Courtfield House with their being tours of the orchard and there are some really interesting things going on there at the moment and it is just a fun trip out.”

There will be stalls selling refreshments, local crafts and food from organisations including Trowbridge Museum, Fairtrade Trowbridge and Trowbridge Arts. Schools including The Mead, Castle Mead and St John’s will also be fundraising on the day.