Bristol Apple Day Cider Collection 2026 

Maria Perrett, Community Activator at Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust, shares how local residents are turning surplus apples into award-winning Bristol cider while cutting food waste and strengthening community connections. If you have apple trees or want to get involved this autumn, read on and save the dates for this year’s Apple Donor Day and Bristol Apple Pressing Day. 

It was such a pleasure to welcome our apple donors back to the Hub recently to collect their limited edition, specially brewed Bristol Cider. 

This is our second year of being the local apple donor collection point and we are delighted so many residents appreciate and support this partnership project.  

Last year was a bumper harvest and 414kg was dropped off to the Hub.

Here’s a blog from the donor day last October with more info about the project. In short, local residents can exchange their apples for locally produced cider! Apple Day aims to reduce wastage of garden apples, bringing together the community and The Cider Box taprooms. 

There are only so many apples you can eat and freeze so being part of this project is not just saving food from waste, it’s useful too.  

One of our apple donors said: “It’s so useful to have a local donor point as it makes it easy for residents to be part of this lovely community project that brings people together. The bonus – the cider and getting to learn more about Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust and what happens at the Hub”. 

Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust works with some amazing partners across the city – the University of Bristol, The Cider Box, Bramble Farm in this innovative and creative way to prevent food going to landfill. 

 Reducing food waste is important to us all – it is part of our Lockleaze Climate Action Plan. 

Here are some more lovely words from residents who got involved: 

“This is the community in action! This project has saved good local produce from going to waste.” 

“Lockleaze Community Orchard is pleased to continue to be part of this project.” 

“This is a symbiotic project. The reward? No waste and lovely cider” 

And if cider isn’t your thing don’t forget you can attend Bristol Apple Pressing Day at the University of Bristol Botanical Garden to press your own apples into super fresh juice.  
 
This year some of the Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust team will be attending to join in the fun and have a go on the apple press. 

Save the dates! 

Apple donor day is Friday 2nd October 9am-6pm at The Hub 

Bristol Apple Pressing day Sunday 4th October [time TBC] at Bristol Botanical Gardens 

Watch this space for more information on both events. 

It was such an abundant apple year and we are looking forward to being part of the project again this year. 

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