“Autumn... the year’s last, loveliest smile.” So said the poet John Howard Bryant.

Wellington’s Transition Town has seen lots of smiles in recent days. The team, led by Stewart Hill, was out and about harvesting and juicing some of the beautiful ripe apples from gardens and orchards around our town.

The names themselves sound delicious and summon up sweet, sensory images of the resulting juice – Rosemary Russet, Ash Mead Kernal, King of Pippin, Newton Wonder, Catshead and Somerset Redstreak are just a few of the varieties gathered and pressed.

Participants were lucky with the weather and did much of the picking under blue skies and sunshine. After that came days of checking the soundness of the fruit, washing it and then finishing with a long day of apple pressing and pasteurising at the Brendon Orchard facility in Wiveliscombe. It involved much effort but the teamwork was great and lots of fun was had along the way.

One person said: “I came back from a day’s juicing and bottling, just full to the brim with gratitude. What a great community to be part of – it’s a real privilege.” I can second that.

In this time of heightened concern about climate change, loss of biodiversity and food insecurity, the Transition Town group in Wellington is where many have found a way of helping to care for the environment, support local wildlife and grow our own food.

Politicians can be frustratingly slow to fulfil promises about reducing emissions and protecting nature, but smaller community groups, many within the Transition Town network, are popping up all over the country, linking together and having more and more effect. It’s true to say that by acting locally, we really can have a national and even global effect.

The apple juice bonanza amounted to well over 500 bottles, which will be available to purchase in The Blue Pantry. The proceeds from this will go towards projects such as planting trees, developing wildflower meadows and protecting local wildlife.

If you’re interested in helping with this, or in just knowing a bit more about what’s involved, go to ttw.org.uk or to the Transition Town Community page on Facebook.

SUE RICKARD