DESPITE not being "a vintage year" for fruit, thousands of people descended on the Blackmoor estate for the annual apple-tasting day.

A frosty April damaged the fruit trees and left a more sparse crop than usual, according to William Woolmer, the estate’s managing director.

But that didn’t stop the estate pulling out all the stops to make the 47th running of the apple-tasting day a success, as underlined by the arrival of an estimated 3,500 cars full of fruit-loving folk.

Varieties old and new were on show – from traditional favourites such as Cox’s Orange Pippin and Norfolk Royal Russet to exciting new varieties such as Opal and Rubens.

The ’apple doctors’ were on hand too and a long queue snaked round their stall, with some 200 varieties identified.

The doctors are always a highlight of the day as people often inherit old trees when they move into a house or planted their own many years ago and the label has fallen off, leaving them curious to know what apples they are growing and whether or not they are they a rare variety.

The ’doctors’ also helped diagnose and offered ideas to treat apple ailments such as scab, fire blight, cork spot, and powdery mildew.

Apples may have been the stars of the day but there was also so much more to see and enjoy, with plenty of enjoyable attractions for the children, including swings, merry-go-rounds and funfair rides, as well as face painting and a climbing wall.

The day also featured a rural craft fair and demonstrations of the ancient crafts, such as cart making, twig pencil making, willow basket making, coppice wood hand carving and a chance to see a blacksmith at work.

The community fete was also a big attraction, as were the stalls galore run by charities including the 1st Blackmoor Scout Group, who demonstrated their skills, Butterfly Conservation, Deadwater Valley Trust, and the Gilbert White Museum and Oates Collection.

Greatham Village Allotment Association, Petersfield District Beekeepers’ Association, Bordon’s Phoenix Theatre and Arts Centre, Walk the Walk, Woolmer and Petersfield Lions, plus local churches, were also represented.

A wide variety of goodies were on offer to sample as visitors browsed the stalls of the large food hall, from cider and sparkling wine to tastings of titbits from fudge to pickles, along with tours of the Champagne cider cellar.

In keeping with the event’s rural theme, Alton Morris Dancers put on a lively display with sticks clashing and feet flying as they acted out their dance patterns and steps.

One of the most popular offerings on the day brought with it long queues – a horse-drawn carriage ride around the beautiful estate.

Mr Woolmer admitted cold weather had affected the crop but added: “We still had plenty of apples on display and we also had good weather, which helped to make it another successful apple-tasting day.

“I don’t know how many visitors we had but there were 3,500 cars parked around the grounds and I want to thank Woolmer Forest Lions for organising the parking for us.”

He added that the estate would stage another “special day” next July.

Cherry open day, which has been held for the last three years, features the sort big, red cherries usually only grown in countries with hot climates, but such is Blackmoor’s horticultural expertise that they can be found in rural East Hampshire too.