Visitors are invited to celebrate 'Apples and Bees Day' at the Gardens of Easton Lodge to mark the start of autumn.

The event will take place on Sunday, September 15, and visitors can see the apples and pears ripening on the trees in the walled kitchen garden.

Butterflies and bees are flitting around - with the bees drawn to the pollen on the lavender and dahlias and Red Admiral butterflies drawn to the windfall apples.

Visitors can see butterflies and flowersVisitors can see butterflies and flowers (Image: The Gardens of Easton Lodge Preservation Trust)

Families can take part in apple juicing with the garden's volunteers and team from Cressing Temple, making fresh juice to sample.

The East of England Apples and Orchards Project specialists will be on hand for people to bring their apples and pears and get them properly identified.

Beekeepers from Ivy Cottage will offer an insight into the world of honey bees, with honey available to taste and honey and wax products to buy.

Visitors can also learn about solitary bees, hoverflies and other bugs from the Buzz Club, a citizen science project run from the University of Sussex.

Volunteers from the Gardens of Easton Lodge Preservation Trust will offer apple and honey cake tasting, and there will be a tombola with a chance to win jams and jellies made by the volunteers.

Visitors can see butterflies and flowersVisitors can see butterflies and flowers (Image: The Gardens of Easton Lodge Preservation Trust)

Varieties available include blackcurrant, redcurrant, gooseberry, plum, raspberry, mulberry, apple and more.

Cider from the trust's unique Easton Countess apples will be on sale and the trust's volunteers will be selling fresh fruit and vegetables from the kitchen garden.

The local Rock Choir will perform live music from midday, and the Harlow Concert Band will perform from 2.30pm.

Other family activities include croquet and garden games on the lawn, apple and bee-themed crafts for children and a trail in the glade.

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The gardens will open at 11am and close at 5pm. Tickets cost £5.50 and can be bought in advance online from the gardens' website or Facebook page, or direct from trybooking.com.

Tickets bought at the gate on the day cost £6.50. Entry for children is free and dogs on leads are welcome.

Hot and cold refreshments will be provided by the trust's volunteers.