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 celebrate an ancient Wassail ceremony to awaken fruit trees at the at the orchard.
Held on Saturday, January 13, 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, with music provided by Arrow Valley Brass Band.
Top tuba player, Jay Willis, of Arrow Valley Brass, said: “I’ve played at every Wassail on the Green, it’s quite a spectacle, and great fun for all the family.
“This is a free event for the local community, so please come and join us.
“Don’t forget to bring your whistles and pans, drums or bells, anything to make a noise.”
Whilst 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 the Wassail Queen will drape cider-soaked toast into the boughs of the oldest apple tree, having been threatened for the chop.
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.
The Orchard Volunteers will be providing hot mulled cider and apple juice to warm the winter revellers.
Headless Cross also held a traditional carol concert on Christmas Eve for the ninth year running, with Arrow Valley Brass band playing.
They raised funds for Primrose Hospice and collected food donations for Friends of Issac’s Food Bank.
