EVESHAM MP Nigel Huddleston was on hand to press the first apple at a community day which saw hundreds visit Pershore College.
He was one of more than 600 people to flock to Pershore College, which is part of college group WCG, for its inaugural community open day.
The event was held at the heart of apple pressing season and gave visitors the chance to see how Pershore Press, the college’s independent juice and cider production facility, mills and presses apples to make fresh juice.
He officially opened the event by operating the hand-operated press, squeezing gala apples into a sweet apple juice, before being given a tour of the college and sampling the fun and educational activities taking place.
Visitors followed a map throughout the day as a guide around the site, including a visit to the college’s gardens and maze.
The community open day saw activities held for all of the family, with experts from the college also sharing expertise on subjects such as gardening, animal welfare and tree surgery.
A farmers’ market was also held on the day, attracting 14 makers and small businesses from the surrounding area.
The Evesham Beekeepers’ Association was also in attendance to raise awareness and educate visitors about bees and hornets using its observation hive.
At the same time the Animal Welfare Centre proved a huge hit with families as they had the chance to meet and feed the wide variety of animals which call the college home, including its star goats, pigs and donkeys.
Elsewhere at the college, AGCO paired up with the Land-based Engineering team to stage a display of farm machinery for visitors, whilst Pershore College’s arboriculture team carried out tree climbing demonstrations and gave advice on choosing a tree surgeon.
Mr Huddleston said: “I had a wonderful time at Pershore College’s Community Day, and being able to press the first batch of apple juice made it even more enjoyable.
“I’m deeply grateful to all the organisers for their dedication and hard work.”
Mark Whittaker, of WCG, added: “This day was all about giving people who may never have had the chance to visit Pershore College the opportunity to do so, and I think to have attracted so many people for our first ever event proves there was an appetite to do so.
