A BUMPER crop of everyone’s favourite fruit means there will be a record-breaking display of more than 500 varieties for Apple Weekend at the National Botanic Garden of Wales (October 17-18).

This popular annual harvest festival is a real celebration and includes stallholders selling apple-related treats – such as cider, brandy, chutney, pie, pork and cheese – as well as a quiz and plenty of family-friendly fun and games.

Garden experts will be on hand to offer tips on choosing, training and pruning your fruit trees and the ever-popular ‘identification table’ will again be in operation to help you identify that mystery variety of apple growing in your garden.

The traditional game of apple bobbing will be making a timely comeback and there’s a chance to learn to make an apple birdfeeder, take the Apple Tree Quiz, and make your own Apple Tea Lights.

It’s a great time of year to take our Autumn Colour Tree Trail so pick up a copy on your way in and have a walk around some of the stunning arboreal treasures.

The Garden is open from 10am to 6pm with last entry at 5pm.

Admission to the Garden is £9.75 (including Gift Aid) for adults and £4.95 for children over five.

Entry is free for Garden members and parking is free for all.

For more information about this or other events, call 01558 667149, email info@gardenofwales.org.uk or go to www.gardenofwales.org.uk

If you would like your fruit identified, please bring along three typical examples of each variety of your apples with stalks and eye intact. Any additional information you can supply - e.g. if it’s a ‘cooker’, how does it cook and how well does the variety keep - would be appreciated.