P1 and P2 had a fantastic time on their trip to the Palace Stables, where they discovered all sorts of fascinating facts about apples!
Our first stop was the Palace kitchen, where we met Sammy the Cook. He amazed us by showing that if you cut an apple across the middle, you’ll find a star hidden inside! Sammy also demonstrated how to make apple and potato bread. We were surprised (and a little grossed out!) when he told us that flour used to contain weevils—tiny bugs that had to be picked out before baking. Sammy used a stove to cook the bread, but we didn’t taste it… just in case any bugs were still hiding!
Next, we joined Alan, who taught us all about different types of apples. We learned about varieties like Granny Smith, Bramley, Golden Delicious, and Pink Lady. Each one looks and tastes different—some are sweet and juicy, while others can be quite bitter. Did you know there are over 6,000 types of apples in the world? Only two of them are Bramleys, and the best of those is the Armagh Bramley apple!
Alan also explained how apple trees change with the seasons. In spring, buds appear and blossom. Bees play a vital role by spreading pollen from flower to flower. Then, apples begin to grow, and by autumn, they’re ready to be harvested.
We followed the journey of an apple from the orchard to the factory, to the shop, and finally to our homes. Alan showed us all the different ways apples are used—not just for eating, but also in drinks, sauces, chutneys, pies, juices, and even in apple-scented hand wash and shampoo!
Later, we learned how important apples were to the people who lived at the Palace over 200 years ago. Since there were no shops back then, they harvested apples from their own orchards and used them to make bread, jams, chutneys, and juice.
Mr Heaney (or Mr Meaney, as he jokingly called himself!) challenged us to figure out how to assemble an old-fashioned apple press. We worked together and discovered that wooden rods were used to twist blocks down onto the apples to squeeze out the juice. It was hard work, and only a little juice came out! Mr Heaney told us that bruised apples are actually the best for juicing.
To finish off our day, we made a lovely apple-themed craft with Sylvia. Have a look at our photos to see all the fun we had!
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