Timebank South West and the All Ways Apples Festival

All Way Apples is a festival held each year in Devonport Guildhall for the community to get together and celebrate the apple harvest in Plymouth. It’s held on the Wednesday of the autumn half term and provides a wonderful opportunity for Time Bank SW members to help out on the day and in the run up to the festival. Others come along to enjoy a day out, take part in the activities.

Tess Wilmot, the AWA organiser, joined us for some outreach events. This year we

introduced the apple theme to two of our member DCH’s sheltered housing projects and made chutney, apple cakes and decorations.

We were hoping to take jars of chutney to the event but they proved so popular with the residents that all but one of the jars had been snapped up before they got there! Elderly residents who said they couldn’t draw or make things were soon busy colouring their own apple designs and creating birds.

Fascinating tales were told about a family greengrocers shop, old orchards, scrumping, and wartime rationing. We hope to capture these in our oral history sessions there.

2Ply Timebank members pressed apples and grapes and ate apple cake in North Prospect.

We drew apples and created bunting at several venues. We enjoyed working with event management students who used the apple festival as a focus for our stall at a Livewell event at Plymouth University. They made decorations that we were able to reuse.

Nimble fingered members crocheted and knitted apple blossom to brighten up the Guildhall.

We had stall for our cakes and jar of chutney plus herbs and plants from the Union Corner garden that Stonehouse Time Bank helps with. People were free to take these and leave a donation for the festival. Members were also helping with setting up, selling raffle tickets and running stalls.

It was a great day out and a chance to share skills and meet lovely people.