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Are there any apple trees growing near where you live? Maybe you have spotted apple tree branches hanging over someone’s garden fence on your walk to school. Are there many apples on it? In the UK 2022 saw a bumper crop of British apples, followed by a small, but sweeter 2023 crop due particularly sunny June, and heat and water stress during the year. The 2024 apple harvest is likely to be greater than 2023, but less than 2022 with larger than average fruit sizes due to the milder weather in March and April.
Climate Change and changing weather patterns are having an impact on harvests all around the world – British apples give just one small example of this. Here in the UK, the recent heavy rains have left some farmers unable to finish harvesting and have delayed the planting. African harvests are suffering greatly at the hands of extreme and unpredictable weather due to climate change, with devastating effects on rates of hunger and poverty. Organisations, like the UN World Food Programme are helping where they can. Here’s an example of an inspiring project - Greening the Sahel: Healthy eco-systems for healthy diets
Young Climate Warriors are challenged this week to choose local fruits over imported fruits. To swap pineapple, mango, melon, grapes, and oranges for apples, pears, maybe some late plums, blackberries, raspberries and redcurrants, or the exceptional ripe fig? Buying seasonal, local fruit can help cut carbon emissions and tackle climate change by saving energy used for growing out of season (e.g. heating greenhouses), longer-term storage and transportation. Can you see how many different varieties of British-grown apples you can eat this week? Can you be brave and try something new? Is it red, green, brown or stripy? What does it taste like – crisp or crunchy? Sweet or tangy?
If you can find an apple tree where you’re allowed to ‘harvest’ the apples – then enjoy twisting an apple into your hand and taking a bite! Are there any apples on the ground below? Don’t dismiss these ‘windfalls’ – they’re like a hidden extra - you might need to cut off the bruises or cut out the insect holes – but there is often still lots of great ‘apple’ within it!
How about finding a comfy spot under a tree - for some chill-out time? Look up at the canopy - what autumn colours can you see? What does the bark feel like? Can you hear any birds, insects, or animals?
Email us hello@youngclimatewarriors.org when you have completed this challenge and swapped imported fruits for homegrown fruits! Please share your ‘APPLE’ photos with us!!.
