APPLES are piling up under Scotland's apple trees, and there is only so much apple crumble and chutney a body can take – so instead of wasting the excess, why not give them to the ClydeCider community orchard project, and get some cider in return?

The social enterprise will swap your surplus apples for some of its delicious craft cider, while putting any profits towards planting new community orchards, and running 'Apple Day' visits to local schools and nurseries, getting kids into locally made (and unfermented) apple juice.

Organiser John Hancox said: “At this time of year a lot of apples and pears in people’s garden’s get wasted and I have seen them thrown out, which seems a real shame. Rather than them being wasted we will take the apples and use them.”

Mr Hancox has been working for years promoting rare Scottish Heritage apple varieties such as the Cambusnethan Pippin, Maggie Sinclair, and White Juneating, and is a specialist in supplying Scottish fruit trees, and in helping people develop school, community and private orchards.

“It’s shaping up to be a great year for apples, pears and the trees are heavy with fruit. We are of course keen for people to eat their apples fresh and also cook them, but cider is the traditional way of preserving the surplus apples and also a way of using less than perfect apples.

“We are working on a social enterprise basis. Profits from the ClydeCider are being put into planting more community and school orchards – including heritage varieties – and so by donating the apples, drinking this cider, you will be helping to create a more fruitful Scotland. Our vision is to have apple trees in schools, parks, gardens and grown by farmers as well and your support will make it happen."

Apples can be delivered to 2 Kelvinside Terrace West, Glasgow, G20 6DA

There is more information on apple varieties suitable for growing in different parts of Scotland on the www.scottishfruittrees.com website.