LOCAL cidermaker Sandford Orchards opened its doors for Apple Day on Wednesday, October 21.

A variety of apples on display
A variety of apples on display (Will Goddard, Crediton Courier)
Apples waiting to be pressed
Apples waiting to be pressed (Will Goddard, Crediton Courier)

Founder Barny Butterfield gave visitors a guided tour of the cider works and orchards and let them sample some of the cider made on site.

Sandford Orchards' range of tipples
Sandford Orchards' range of tipples (Will Goddard, Crediton Courier)
A mountain of ejected pressed apples
A mountain of ejected pressed apples (Will Goddard, Crediton Courier)

Guests also learned about Sandford Orchards’ work with The University of Bristol to discover and preserve rare apple varieties. Present were Genomics Lead Dr Amanda Burridge and Emeritus Professor of Genomics Keith Edwards, both of The University of Bristol, and world-renowned pomologist Liz Copas.

The cider press
The cider press (Will Goddard, Crediton Courier)
Barny Butterfield with his son, Elliott
Barny Butterfield with his son, Elliott (Will Goddard, Crediton Courier)

Sandford Orchards is the UK’s oldest working cider mill and is located on Commonmarsh Lane in Crediton. Its cider is sold in supermarkets across the country.

During the tour of the cider mill
During the tour of the cider mill (Will Goddard, Crediton Courier)
Storage tanks
Storage tanks (Will Goddard, Crediton Courier)

Apple Day was established in 1990 and is celebrated every year on October 21.

The heritage 'The General' tank
The heritage 'The General' tank (Will Goddard, Crediton Courier)
Apple trees in the adjoining orchard
Apple trees in the adjoining orchard (Will Goddard, Crediton Courier)
Outside the cider mill
Outside the cider mill (Will Goddard, Crediton Courier)