This annual event not only brings people together to share in the joy of the harvest but also helps reduce food waste by turning unwanted apples into fresh juice and cider.
Apple Day is a collaboration between the University of Bristol, The Cider Box taproom, and local community groups. Visitors are invited to either donate their apples to one of the local community hubs beforehand or bring the apples along on the day. For those bringing apples on the day, they will receive free entry to the Botanic Garden. The event is open from 11 am to 3 pm.
Apple Day is about more than reducing waste, it’s about celebrating heritage and sustainability. Where apples grow has a direct effect on their flavour, and the West Country has a long and rich history of cider-making. By pooling fruit from across the city, our community will create a unique cider that reflects Bristol’s orchards and gardens.
Visitors can either choose to receive a bottle of freshly pressed juice on the day or a bottle of cider from The Cider Box in 2026. For every 5kg of apples donated, participants will receive one bottle of cider (maximum five per person). To ensure quality, apples and their trees should not have been sprayed with pesticides. The apples should be rinsed before donating - bruised fruit is welcome, but rotten apples cannot be accepted.
Nothing will go to waste: leftover apple pomace will be reused sustainably, closing the loop on the cider-making process. In 2023, the event saved 1,025 kg of apples from going to landfill, producing 460 litres of juice for cider-making.
Andy Winfield, Senior Botanical Horticulturist at the University of Bristol Botanic Garden, said: "Apple Day is a lovely event that brings Bristol communities together here at the Botanic Garden, to make a cider the city can be proud of. Any excess apples from gardens and allotments will be pressed by expert cider makers and volunteers from the University, reducing wastage in the process.
“If you’ve got apples you won’t be using, bring them along. Just make sure they’re not rotten – the odd bruise is fine, but if you wouldn’t eat it, we can’t use it. We’re really looking forward to the event and seeing how many apples we get.”
Apple Day also highlights the University of Bristol’s commitment to sustainability. By encouraging the community to reuse, recycle, and rethink food waste, the initiative contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. In recognition of its sustainability work, the University was ranked 11th in the world for SDG12 in the 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.
Come along to Apple Day and experience the joy of the apple harvest, the buzz of community, and the promise of a truly local cider.