October 21 is Apple Day. An annual celebration of all things apple, this year the nationwide frivolities have a pressing message to convey, with the recent news that two traditional apple-growing areas are in serious decline.
Apple orchards have declined in Britain by 63% since 1950 (with some areas particularly badly hit, such as Devon which lost 89% of its orchards between 1946-2003 and Kent which lost 92% during the same period).
Initiated by Common Ground in 1990, Apple Day 2010 includes hundreds of local events across Britain, including a longest peel competition (www.commonground.org.uk/appleday/a-peel.html) and performances from the Apple Day poet laureate (www.commonground.org.uk/appleday/a-crowden.html) For more information, or for information on how to get involved in local happenings in your area, go to www.commonground.org.uk/appleday
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Merlins: Britain's smallest bird of prey is a 'swerving, zigzagging, 240mph weighted missile' that's gutsy enough to chase off a golden eagleSize doesn’t matter when it comes to the fighting spirit of the tiny merlin, a fierce parent and favoured hunting accessory of Mary, Queen of Scots.
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The greatest moment in the life of Jessie Owens: Country Life Quiz of the Day, June 13, 2025Breathtaking athleticism and Shakespeare's birthday are among the questions in the final quiz of the week.
