One thousand people descended on Gillespie Park on Sunday. The attraction? Apples. Lots of apples.

Islington Gazette: Artur Radziwill and son Maciej, five, apple bobbing at the Gillespie Park apple day. Picture: Dieter PerryArtur Radziwill and son Maciej, five, apple bobbing at the Gillespie Park apple day. Picture: Dieter Perry (Image: Dieter Perry)

After three years, the Friends of Gillespie Park “apple day” has become a fully established replacement for the annual Gillespie Park Festival.

The nature reserve, in the shadow of Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium in Highbury, was the scene of apple tasting, juicing, bobbing and pressing.

Organiser Pat Tuson said it helps raise awareness of the park’s importance for family recreation.

Islington Gazette: Artur Radziwill and son Maciej, five, apple bobbing at the Gillespie Park apple day. Picture: Dieter PerryArtur Radziwill and son Maciej, five, apple bobbing at the Gillespie Park apple day. Picture: Dieter Perry (Image: Dieter Perry)

“Before, we had the Gillespie Park Festival for 27 years but that stopped – basically because of bureaucracy.

“Gillespie Park has no apple heritage – apart from there being some apple trees on the railway line behind – but when we were looking for a new event to replace the festival, we saw lots of other parks had apple days.

“Also, they cost a lot less to run.

Islington Gazette: Artur Radziwill and son Maciej, five, apple bobbing at the Gillespie Park apple day. Picture: Dieter PerryArtur Radziwill and son Maciej, five, apple bobbing at the Gillespie Park apple day. Picture: Dieter Perry (Image: Dieter Perry)

“We basically buy loads of heritage apples from Brogdale [home of the National Fruit Collection] and put them on display for as many apple-related activities as you can think of – plus all the regular things like stalls and live music.

“It’s an important way of getting people into the park. We had about 1,000 come over the four-hour period Sunday, which we are obviously very happy about.

“The apple day is growing, but hopefully many of them will return throughout the year.”

For more pictures, see this week’s Gazette print edition, out Thursday.