Gloucestershire Orchard Group

Wassailing is normally held around twelfth night. Please note that the following  may not take place every year:

Perry Pear Orchard Centre, Hartpury near Gloucester; Hartpury Heritage Trust www.tasteandexplore.com    jjrchapman@btinternet.com

*************FRIDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2012 at 7pm. All welcome. Free entry with only charge for refreshments.***********************

************* The annual Wick Court Wassail at Arlingham is happening on Saturday 21st January 2012. All are welcome - meet in the Courtyard from 7pm for warming drinks followed by the traditional ceremony in the orchard led by the fantastic Lassington Oak Morris. After the tree has been duly serenaded and toasted we shall return to the house for hot suppers, more warming drinks and music. Please dress warmly, wear boots or wellies and bring a torch or lantern. And if you are of a musical disposition then bring your instrument and/or voice to join in with the music.
We look forward to seeing you soon! Heather Tarplee, Wick Court, Arlingham. heather@farmsforcitychildren.org

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************* Wassail on Saturday 14th January 2012, 2.30-4.30pm at Townsend Orchard, Tytherington, near Wotton-under-Edge
Jean Grudgings jeangrudgings@hotmail.com     

*************Wassail Saturday January 7th 2012 at 4.00pm at Horsley Orchard Project. Meeting at Tickmorend house (Roger’s) outside the barn. Tickmorend House, Tickmorend, Horsley, Stroud, GL6 0PE
TICKET ADMISSION £2 adults £1 children.
It won’t be too long before this day is upon us again. This event has proven to be increasingly popular as the years go by. So much so, that this year, we need to limit tickets to the first 100 purchasers. (Beware, as several are already spoken for!) David Bullock will be leading us as Master of Ceremonies once more; and Hamish is to accompany us with his very special music and guitar; and Fiona Eadie with another of her enchanting stories around Pier’s lovely brazier. We will be serving apple juice, both spiced and not; and cake.

Please wear sensible clothing – the grass will be wet – so wellies are in order! Bring your lanterns/torches, and loud instruments to ward away those evil spirits! Children to be accompanied by adults please. Please note that there are dangers of being in the dark and around fire, and HOP cannot take responsibility for any mishaps.
Please note that there aren't any car parking facilities in the area. We suggest parking in Downend and walking up the hill to Tickmorend House on the right hand side (just before you reach the junction of Hollingham Lane).
Tickets will go on sale in the Horsley community shop on Sat. 31st December. 9.00am. We are expecting high demand.
Please contact Heather for further details on 01453 833699 or email fevslater@gmail.com

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Maisemore Local History Society Ros Lane 01452 527341

Fishponds Community Orchard (Bristol) 0117 9655553 (Charles Farina) or 0117 9658429 (Irene Blessitt)

Eric Freeman (Huntley) 01452 790272

Wick Court (Arlingham) wickcourt@yahoo.co.uk Heather Tarplee

Hayles Fruit Farm, Winchcombe 01242 602123 with Winchcombe's own Border Morris side Happenstance. Orchard cafe.

South Gloucestershire Council John Morris JohnV.Morris@southglos.gov.uk 01454 863581  mobile 07778 529566 Environmental Projects & Partnerships Officer

Leominster Morris: 6 January

On Twelfth Night, or what you will..., come and support the dancers of the Leominster Morris with their annual offering to the wood goddess, Pomona, thereby bringing a blessing on the county's orchards and encouraging a bountiful crop during the following season. A truly ancient and magical tradition. See www.leominstermorris.co.uk  or telephone Bagman Richard Wheeler on 01568 720426.

Image: The Butler (Pete Symonds) holding wassail cup at Gloucester Folk Museum, 2002

For 2011 onwards:

Dave Kaspar/Helen Brent-Smith 01452 813602 at the GOG Orchard Centre, Brookthorpe nr Gloucester www.dayscottage.co.uk By invitation only please.

Jim Chapman at the Perry Pear Orchard Centre, Hartpury nr Gloucester www.tasteandexplore.com

Jean Grudgings at her cider orchard, Townsend Orchard, Tytherington, near Wotton-under-Edge.  email jeangrudgings@hotmail.com    

Joanna & David Attwooll, Acorn Cottage, Lower Knapp Farm, Knapp Lane, Coaley (nr Dursley) Small orchard/small holding. email jattwoolluk@yahoo.co.uk   01453 860806  

Horfield Organic Community Orchard, Bristol www.community-orchard.org.uk   coordinated by Shannon Smith shannonbread@googlemail.com 0117 373 1587

Below are notes from Common Ground on traditions of Wassailing and Tree Dressing (thanks to Shannon Smith of Horfield Organic Community Orchard)  Their website is: www.commonground.org.uk

Tree dressing (first full weekend in December)

Help to create your own social celebration of the trees in your place. This cross-cultural community expression for everyday nature could include storytelling, dance, music, hanging ribbons, shapes, shining lights, anything which draws attention to the trees we take for granted, an enjoyable first step towards taking more care of them.

Wassailing is an old custom that takes place on Old Twelfth Night (17 January, pre 1752 and the adoption in Britain of the Gregorian calendar) or thereabouts, to exhort apple trees to fruit well the following season. Customs and songs differ from place to place. At many events cider is poured onto the roots and shots fired through the branches to ward off evil spirits. Warm cider is drunk and toast soaked in cider is placed in the branches for the robin. Wassail songs are sung.

'Wassail' is from the Anglo-Saxon 'waes hael' meaning "be in good health" (think hale and hearty).

Wassailing takes place between Christmas Eve and Twelfth Night. Wassailing the apple trees usually occurs on January 6th or 17th (Twelfth Night old style).

"It is said that most villages had their own wassailing song. With the revival of interest in traditional orchards and the growth of community orchards, wassailing has become a part of the calendar once again.

'Wassail' comes from the Anglo-Saxon waes haeil - to be healthy, so wassailing apple trees was a way of encouraging a good crop in the following season. It usually took place after dark on Old Twelfth Night, 17 January, but could also occur on other days around Christmas and the New Year.

Often farm workers and villagers carrying lanterns, a pail and pitcher full of cider, shotguns and horns, walk to their local orchard, which is sometimes lit by bonfires, and gather round the largest or most prolific tree. This tree is known as the Apple Tree Man and is feted as the guardian of the orchard. Cider or beer is poured on its roots and pieces of soaked toast or cake put in the branches for the robins - guardian spirits of the trees. Often the tips of the lowest branches are drawn down and dipped into the pail of cider.

The wassailers fill their earthenware cups with cider and toss it into the branches. They then refill their cups and drink and sing a toast to the tree ... To drive away evil spirits and wake up the sleeping trees, cow horns are blown, trays and buckets beaten and shotguns fired into the upper branches - as much noise as possible is made ... The wassail bowl went round from house to house in the evenings during the Twelve Days of Christmas and often in the last weeks of Advent. A mixture of hot ale, spices, sugar and roasted apples, sometimes with eggs and thick cream floating on it, was known as Lamb's Wool in Gloucestershire.