Today marks UK Apple Day, an annual celebration of apples, orchards and their place in our cultural history.

The first Apple Day was held by the environmental charity Common Ground in Covent Garden, London, in 1990 - but by 2000 it had taken off, with more than 600 different local events all around the UK, including baked goods, fresh cider, gardening advice and competitions to identify different apple varieties.

Traditionally falling on either October 21st or the weekend closest to Hallowe'en, Apple Day also often features the practice of 'bobbing for apples', which dates back nearly 2,000 years to the Roman invasion of Britain.

Committed to improving biodiversity in local communities, at Greenbelt we manage a number of orchards and individual apple trees around the UK - such as the apple tree, below, at Birchwood, Livingston, pictured earlier this year, which will continue to bear fruit for years to come.

"Common Ground has used the apple as a symbol of the physical, cultural and genetic diversity we should not let slip away," said a spokesperson for the charity.

"In linking particular apples with their place of origin, we hope that orchards will be recognised and conserved for their contribution to local distinctiveness, including the rich diversity of wildlife they support."

Find out more about how Greenbelt supports community events and initiatives at our My Community portal.