Haddenham set for 'wassailing' ceremony, to bring about a good apple crop!

All are welcome to this year's ceremony | jpimedia

As part of a time-honoured tradition volunteers ‘wassailed’ the fruit trees in the Townshend Community Orchard in Haddenham to bring about a good crop of apples next autumn last weekend.

Wassailing is described as a means to ‘drive out evil spirits’ and promote good health and a fertile crop in the upcoming autumn harvest.

In the ceremony, slices of bread or toast are laid at the roots of the apple trees and sometimes tied to the branches.

In some ceremonies, cider is also poured over the roots of the trees.

Photos from last years ceremony | jpimedia

The ceremony is said to “bless” the trees to produce a good crop in the forthcoming season.

Local orchard volunteers, residents and curious visitors took part in the event at Townshend Community Orchard in Haddenham on Saturday.

In 2019 the Townsend Community orchard play host to a ‘Jazz picnic’ and children’s bedtime stories during the feast festival, besides the annual Easter Egg Hunt.

It has been proposed that the orchard host a Shakespeare play in 2020 and perhaps some light opera, if sponsorship can be found.