THE bounty of autumn’s fruits will be celebrated at a community event in South Oxford on Sunday.

Land share project Hogacre Common is holding its fifth annual harvest festival from noon to 5pm.

OxGrow Community Garden, which runs an allotment on the land off Whitehouse Road, will be sharing its bounty of gourds, courgettes and other autumn crops.

There will also be a ceilidh band, morris dancing, live music, storytelling and face-painting throughout the afternoon.

Hogacre director Andonis Marden said: “It is a celebration of the bounty created at OxGrow over the past year but it’s the legacy of many years of work that is respectful of the environment, exploring different growing techniques. There will be lots of gourds and marrows.

“There will also be a ceilidh band, morris dancing and other things to entertain, but more than anything we want to galvanise the community spirit again to get involved.

“There is always a new batch of very keen and interested students at this time of year so we want to get them on board. It’s intended to bring people together over what is the staple of humanity – growing our own food to eat.”

Visitors are invited to bring apples and bottles to press their own juice and cider.

There will also be beer and cider from local breweries and other entertainment.

Hogacre, which describes itself as “Oxford’s community eco-park”, was established in 2010 when West Oxford Community Renewables leased Corpus Christi College’s former sports ground at a peppercorn rent of a jar of honey a year.

Hogacre Common Eco-Park Community Interest Company was set up to manage the land and work with local residents to develop it.

There is now an orchard, a community garden and acres of hazel coppice as well as the Hogacre café which is open to visitors throughout the summer.

The park also has several hives of bees to help pollinate its allotment plants and help pay the rent to Corpus Christi in honey.

Mr Marden said: “Come on down anytime – it’s free entry and there will be activities, entertainment, and food and drinks for all, rain or shine.”

The site is always looking for volunteers to help run its café and classes.

For more information, email hogacrecommon@gmail.com