On Monday 5^th November, students and staff gathered on Anselm Lawn to make and taste fresh apple juice, sit around a warm glowing fire pit, and hear enchanting autumn stories.

As hot summers have given way to autumn, you may have seen the campus apple trees heavy with ripe fruit, ready to be picked and eaten. An exciting first for Sustainability, the trial run of Stephen Scoffham’s new apple press saw everyone getting involved in cutting, crushing, and pressing the hundreds of campus apples, and of course tasting the finished apple juice! One student said “It was amazing to see the whole process of making apple juice, and having a go was very fun!”

We were joined around the warmth of the fire pit by Victoria Field, writer and poetry therapist, who captivated all with “Sustainable Stories”, a collection of beautifully retold folk tales, stories of autumn, and, with journeys to far-away lands truly sustainable, Victoria injected some hope into what often seems like a battle for global sustainability. “I enjoyed listening to the stories, and the fire made it feel very special” were the words of one participant. Another remarked that “As the sun went down the atmosphere really changed – I wish we could have sat round the fire all evening”.

Thank you to everyone involved in this wonderful afternoon. I’m already looking forward to next year!