I feel quite lucky to live near such a beautiful place. This orchard often has sheep roaming it to eat any fallen apples. The majority of the apples here are used to make cider. I decided it was the perfect spot for a little picnic with a cake. I decided to make it apple and blackberry flavoured as i have loads of blackberries from all the picking we have been doing. (Sorry If I bombard you with blackberry recipes) I made some caramel with thyme and drizzled it over too it was lovely.

• 220g 1 cup butter
• 220g 1 cup caster sugar
• 4 eggs
• 220g self raising flour approx 1 1 / 2 cups
•  2 apples
• 100g blackberries
• 3 tbsp of buttermilk or whole milk

• Thyme caramel
• 3 sprigs of thyme
• 6 tbsp butter
• 120g brown sugar
• 150ml milk

Heat the milk and thyme until the milk boils then leave to infuse for 5 to 10 minutes then remove the thyme and add the sugar stir then put back onto the heat until it bubbles thickens stir in the butter and let cool

For the cream

• 200g mascapone
• 300ml double cream
• 5 tbsp icing sugar
• 3 tbsp honey
• blackberry juice from 100g blackberries

Add 1 cup of blackberries into a pan and heat until soft. Mash up to release the juice then pour through sift then let cool

Whip the mascapone and cream with the honey and icing sugar until soft peaks form then add the juice and mix until thick

Pipe on to the bottom layer of sponge then add some blackberries and drizzle on some caramel and then do the same with the next layer, place on the top layer and pipe on more cream then drizzle some caramel and decorate with thyme, blackberries and dried apple chips.