A COMMUNITY Orchard is gearing up to host its annual Wassail, boasting an evening of entertainment, noisy antics and hot spiced drinks.
Every January, Headless Cross Community Orchard celebrates an ancient Wassail ceremony to awaken fruit trees at the at the orchard.
Held on Saturday, January 3, the event is free and family friendly.
Meeting at The Rocklands Social Club car-park at 7pm, the noisy procession will be led to Headless Cross Green by the Wassail King and Queen Josie and Alex.
There will be Morris dancing from The Tattered Court Border Morris, with cider and apple juice for all.
While wassailing is an ancient custom, the Headless Cross Community Orchard group only started wassailing in 2012.
The event features a procession to Headless Cross Orchard where a ceremony will be led by master of ceremonies Liz Jennings.
There will be music from Arrow Valley Brass to accompany the Wassail ceremony, where the Wassail Queen will drape cider-soaked toast over the ‘Old Apple Tree’ in order to ensure a fruitful harvest later in the year.
