HUNDREDS of people got a taste of the great outdoors when a country park hosted its annual apple day.

The event at Highwoods Country Park, Colchester, offered about 200 visitors the chance to sample more than 25 heritage varieties of the popular fruit, many of which are grown there.

They could also press apples into juice, share recipes, enjoy apple games, craft activities and home cooked apple cakes.

Annie Feltham, Colchester councillor responsible for communities and leisure services, said: “This year’s apple daywas a great success.

“We had beautiful weather and hundreds of visitors to the community garden who were able to sample over 25 heritage apple varieties, the majority from East Anglia and many from the orchard on-site at the Big Garden itself.

“It just goes to show what a great tradition of apple growing we have in our part of the world.

“My thanks go out to our volunteers, gardeners, countryside rangers and stall holders who made the day the success it was.”