Stamford Community Orchard Group hosts wassailing tradition
Apple trees had toast hung from their branches and cider poured over their roots in a bid to create a bumper harvest.
Stamford Community Orchard hosted the annual wassailing event on Saturday when more than 100 people turned out to take part.
The old English custom is traditionally held in early January as a ritual to ask for a good harvest.
Children were asked to hang toast from the tress to attract robins which are seen as good spirits of the trees.
Evil spirits are scared off from the noise of people banging saucepans as they processed around the orchard at the end of Christ Church Close.
The event was organised by the Stamford Community Orchard Group.
Committee member Annie Hall was the wassailing king at this year’s event alongside Robina Hill as the queen.
Annie said: “It’s a lovely community event that attracts a real mix of people.
“More and more people are coming along each year and we were thrilled with how it went.
“Last year the apple crop was terrible so hopefully the wassailing will bring better luck this year.”
Storyteller Mark Fraser was a last-minute addition to the line up for this year’s wassailing.
He has just moved to the area and offered his services when he arrived at the orchard on Saturday.
Entertainment was also provided by the Woven Chords choir before everyone joined in with a traditional wassailing song.
Annie said: “I often have to explain to people what wassailing is and why we do things like hang the toast and pour cider on the roots.
“It’s wonderful that this tradition has stayed with us for so long and continues to be celebrated across the country. It’s important to maintain those connections with the past.
“We would like to thank everyone for coming along and making it such fun by joining in with such gusto.”
To find out more about the orchard visit www.scog.org.uk