A thoughtful Mia, 5, from Willoughby, was enjoying a slice of history on Saturday, Oct. 5.
She gave her version of a thumbs-up to the flavour of the Baldwin apple, one of several varieties from the heritage orchard in Derby Reach Park, which is located at the original location of the Fort Langley outpost, at the Houston Barn and house on Allard Crescent.
It was Derby Reach Park Day, a free, family-friendly festival that celebrates the unique apple heritage, local agriculture, and natural wonders of the area.
In addition to apple tastings, there was live music, a guided walk to learn about the heritage apple orchard and history of the area, and a tour through the forest to the bog viewing platform.
Derby Reach Park day is underway in Langley, an opportunity to celebrate parks and sample heritage apples pic.twitter.com/3RWM9gpuEl
— Langley Advance Times (@LangleyTimes) October 5, 2024
Walnut Grove resident Terri Van Sleuwen, from the Derby Reach Brae Island Parks Association, said volunteers harvested the apples a couple weeks ahead of the event.
"We have four big trees that we look after and we pick the apples and want people to taste them because they're not commercially available anymore," Sleuwen told the Langley Advance Times.
The orchard got its start back in the early 2000s when some people strolling along the Fort to Fort Trail noticed some very old mature fruit trees hidden by blackberry bushes.
Descendants of some of the original farmers in the area (Houston family members), advised many of the trees had been planted back in the 1890’s, types that are not seen in stores.
"They're not commercially viable so that's why they've just disappeared," Van Sleuwen explained.
"Which is unfortunate because [for example] you can see the Baldwin apple is a huge apple, and that would be a lovely one to have as an apple treat."
Derby Reach Brae Island Parks Association (DRBIPA) is a nonprofit society working to preserve, protect and enhance the natural environment of Derby Reach and Brae Island Regional Parks in Fort Langley, BC through education events, community involvement, and land preservation opportunities.
More information about DRBIPA can be found online at www.drbipa.org.
