A GROUP of nature lovers invited the public into a secret organic orchard to pick more than 90 varieties of apples, pears and plums.

The orchard, at the former Nature's World attraction off Ladgate Lane in Middlesbrough, has been lovingly maintained by a group since it closed five years ago after a fall in visitor numbers and funding cuts.

The Friends of Nature’s World is a group of volunteers who work together to maintain the gardens and water features at the site.

Each year it invites the public in to harvest the fruit and take it home – and Saturday's event drew crowds of almost 200.

Families picked apples for local charities, community groups and took home plenty for themselves to make apple crumbles.

Children made bird feeders and apples were also juiced using an apple press.

The Friends meet every Thursday between 10am and 2pm and are looking for people to join their team. No gardening experience is necessary.

Anyone interested can go to a recruitment day on Thursday, October 26 at 11am at the former cafe at Nature's World for a walk, talk and activities.

More volunteers will mean the group can continue to reveal the secret gardens, hidden paths and host events and activities for the local community.

The group said that since closing, the site, which included environmentally-friendly education projects, a children's park, pond, waterfall, a maze, miniature structures of iconic Middlesbrough locations and acres of gardens, has been left to fall into disrepair, other than the efforts of volunteers.