UNLOCKING The Secret Garden and uniting Swindon’s environmental groups were the twin purposes at the core of Apple Day in Queen’s Park on Saturday.

The fruity-themed appreciation of the annual apple harvest was co-ordinated for the fourth successive year by Swindon Climate Action Network, The Secret Garden and Incredible Edible Swindon.

Apple Day is a national celebration in the UK, first dreamt up by Common Ground, a charity group focused on local distinctiveness, in 1990.

SCAN first took Swindon’s Apple Day to Lower Shaw Farm in Old Shaw Lane in 2011, but wanted to bring the event to the town centre, and introduced it to The Secret Garden, in Queen’s Park, last year.

The Secret Garden group, which maintains the discreet area in the corner of the park, wanted to use the event to open the garden up to more people from across Swindon.

Paul Dixon, the chairman of The Secret Garden, said: “We want to encourage more people to come here and get involved with the community.”

Simon Smith, a volunteer with SCAN and The Secret Garden, said: “More people are finding out about it (the garden), but it’s hidden behind this hedge. It’s here for everyone, but it’s our job to let people know it’s here.”

The majority of those attending the free event brought along apples from their own gardens and communities, to be pressed into apple juice.

Three teams of volunteers put themselves forward for chopping, scrunching and pressing, before pouring the juice into containers for those wanting to take it home.

The fact the apples have all come from the Swindon area, and people’s gardens, is a big plus for SCAN and its green goals.

SCAN chairman Steve Litchfield said: “This is partly about enjoying the day and the juice, but also about educating people.

“It’s about sharing what our environment produces and getting one another involved in that.

“The more opportunities we can create to get together and get to know our neighbours the better.

“This is about enjoying and celebrating what grows around the place. Apple harvests around the UK are wasted each year.”

Simon said: “It’s a big celebration of the local environment and local food which all comes together in the autumn with Apple Day.”

Celia Arnold, of Wharf Road, in Wroughton, was one of those who brought along her own apples to be squeezed after seeing last year’s event.

She said: “I work at Lainesmead Primary School and I come here often on my lunch break, but after hearing about Apple Day last year I went along without any apples.

“I have been to lots of days like this in other locations like Taunton and the Quantocks, which inspired me to bring my own here today.

“The pressing process and the making of the juice isn’t something you often get the chance to see.”