Diagnose the problem with my new apple tree - holes in some of the leaves

[BewareTheBeardedDragon]

Got a new bare root apple which I managed to slip in right at the end of the season this year. It is a Scotch Bridget. I've just noticed that some (not all) of the leaves have holes or have been eaten almost away and brown edges to the holes. Pic attached. Can anyone diagnose the cause? @MereDintofPandiculation 🙏

Sorry! I’ve got large trees so I work on a live and let live basis, and take no interest in which particular creature is eating holes (if indeed any are - apart from noticing a decent apple set I’ve not looked at them )

Caterpillars?

Thanks.
@MereDintofPandiculation since there are also plenty of healthy leaves and no sign of any critters currently in residence do you think just leave it alone then? I always err on the side of doing nothing if I can get away with it 😝

Depends what sort of crop you get. I get about 80 -100kg apples each year, which is enough, so I don’t worry if my trees aren’t bearing as much as they could do. But the RHS has switched its advice to “… but I try to remind people that in a nicely balanced garden, a little bit of damage is fine”. So your approach is now “good horticultural practice”

I agree I've got lots of dwarf apple trees and they are one of the worst/best trees for attracting insects that nibble on them but I still always get a large crop of apples (takes a couple of years for a bare root tree to start producing). I totally ignore all creatures that inhabit my apple trees and garden organically so that's my general approach anyway. I'd recommend leaving it alone they are strong green leaves it looks fine.

Thank you both! I'm not expecting any apples from this tree this year or next, I just want it to establish and be happy and healthy for now.
I'll stick with my laziness best horticultural practice 😂

I will put tree grease on the trunk at the appropriate time next season though.