Author/photographer Asia Upward lives at Logan Brae Orchard and the stunning rustic location and the animals that live there are the inspiration for her book Lovable Lottie and the Lost Toy which was launched on Sunday April 29.
Visitors took in the sublime views to the Kanimbla Valley during the launch, while enjoying music by a string quartet, and the option to buy fresh produce from neighbours from Providence Hill. There was also face painting, a jumping castle and chickens and ducks on sale. The orchard’s yummy apple pies and bottles of apple juice were doing a popular trade on the day, and many visitors took the chance to take numerous selfies while having a ramble through the historic grounds.
Logan Brae is an old apple orchard on the Shipley Plateau, five minutes from Blackheath’s village. It is at 1100 metres. The orchard was planted in 1919 when the plateau was an important apple growing area.
The real life book Lovable Lottie and the Lost Toy tells the story of all the animals who live on the orchard with Asia and her family. The star of the book is their Maremma puppy called Lottie who Asia has said is “such an excitable puppy she loses her toy everywhere she goes. Each page the kids need to help her find her toy in the scene.”
The orchard shop is open to visitors on weekends from 10am. Those interested in the book can go to www.loganbrae.com.au for more information. The book is published by New Holland Publishers.