Today’s task was to harvest as many apples as possible from Mrs B’s Bramley tree. Mrs B is confined to bed and is being looked after by her daughter. We will call her ‘Rosie’, not her real name, all will become apparent below.

Rosie took me through to the small and over grown back garden. The Brambley has become quite overgrown and is in need of a good pruning. I harvested as many apples as was safe and pruned in places to give better access to even more bounty.

Rosie was very happy with the completed task and offered me as many apples as I wanted. I have my own Brambley at my allotment, so I said I would share them with other Portsmouth GG’ers. There’s even a secret cache of apples should they be required.

During the chit chat prior to leaving Rosie mentioned that she had once tried brewing some cider. John was soon enquiring how she had pressed the apples. Rosie casually replied ‘Oh, we have a cider press’.

Now, it takes a lot of apples to make cider but John being a keen forager knows a number of locations where apples can be had. Portsmouth may have a new cider club forming. 🍏🍏🍏🍺🍺🍺