The Wassail is set to take place on Sunday 8 February, 1:30pm – 3:30pm, in the community orchard at Weylands. From 1:30pm onwards, a ‘village green’ event will offer family-friendly craft activities, making willow crowns and wassail sticks. Hot mulled cider and apple juice will ward off the cold. The ceremony will start at 2:30pm and everyone will be invited to help ‘wake the orchard’ and ‘toast the trees’. Frome Street Bandits will round off the day with a rousing musical performance until 3.30pm.
Entrance to the wassail is free, although donations to the community groups providing activities are very welcome. Refreshments are on sale throughout the event; cider and toast for the trees as part of the ceremony are provided. Attendees are encouraged to bring pots, pans and spoons to bang during the wassail ceremony.
The word ‘wassail’ comes from Old English, meaning ‘be well’. Its purpose is to bring people together at the coldest, darkest point in the year. Wassailing dates back to at least the twelfth century, with orchard wassails appearing in the historical record since the 1500s.
The tree planting at Weylands was designed and organised by Charly Le Marchant and Pavla of Hejgro. The orchard was planted with help from FROGs, Shared Earth, FTC and community volunteers. The design incorporated a woodland edge of Elder, Hazel, Holly, Wild Cherry, Guelder Rose and Spindle alongside a nut and seed orchard contacting Walnuts, Mulberries, Cherry, Apples, Pear and Plum among others.
The Wassail takes place in the green space behind Weylands/Whatcombe Road. Find the wassail location via What 3 words at https://w3w.co/drives.half.pose or Google Maps at https://maps.app.goo.gl/U6EmVVv3hxQZ5Lf47.
