Drought halts Cambridge University's apple day

A university has cancelled its annual apple day due to low harvests caused by this summer's drought.

Cambridge University Botanic Garden was due to hold the event on 18 October, and said it was "devastated" to have to cancel it.

Writing on Facebook, staff said: "Due to this summer's drought, the apple harvests have been so low that we have been unable to source enough quantities of heritage apples to make the event viable."

Those who had already purchased tickets would be refunded, they said.

Staff wrote: "We are devastated - apple day is one of the highlights in our, and many people's calendars."

The event attracts thousands of visitors eager to sample or buy heritage varieties.

Experts are also on hand to identify apples if people bring them along and can advise on what to grow, how to plant and prune for a bumper crop.

The summer's record-breaking temperatures and lack of rain have led to many struggles for farmers across the country, with many crops failing to grow.

Prof Beverley Glover, head of evolution and development at the Department of Plant Sciences at the university, and director of the botanic garden, said drought-stressed plants make fewer flowers which can look and smell different. This makes them less attractive to pollinators, reducing their chances of setting seed and fruit.

Staff at the garden are undertaking projects to help them protect plants and pollinators against droughts to come.

They are currently developing an irrigation network that will allow them to rely on harvested rainwater rather than borehole and mains water.

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