THE first fruit tree in a garden centre orchard was planted to celebrate National Apple Day yesterday.

Strikes Lambton Garden Centre, at Bournmoor, near Chester-le-Street, is establishing a Golden Jubilee mini-orchard in its wildlife garden with the help of Durham Wildlife Trust.

It is intended that the planting will be completed by the end of November, and the trust is looking for sponsors for the trees.

As part of the orchard's launch, timed to coincide with National Apple Day, visitors were invited to sample different kinds of apple juice and tuck into apple pie and cream in the garden centre coffee shop.

They were also able to buy apple trees.

Richard Wood, chief executive of Durham Wildlife Trust, said: "We were delighted to be holding this very special event in the Queen's Golden Jubilee year.

"The wildlife garden has proved to be a popular attraction over the past 15 years.

"The information cabin is open each weekend and volunteers are on hand to offer advice on wildlife-friendly gardening methods as well as information about the Wildlife Trust."

Apple factfile

l Apples are said to have originated in the Middle East more than 4,000 years ago

* Specially cultivated varieties arrived in England around 1066

* More than 7,500 varieties of apple are grown around the world

* A medium apple contains about 80 calories

* A quarter of an apple's volume is air - which is why they float.

* Apples will ripen tentimes faster at room temperature than in the fridge.