Stamford Community Orchard Group hosted a wassailing event to promote a bumper crop of apples
Hopes are high for a bumper crop of apples this year following a series of ancient rituals.
The tradition of wassailing was upheld at the Stamford Community Orchard on Saturday.
Crowds gathered to hang toast from the trees and pour cider over the roots.
The traditions are said to awaken the apple trees and encourage them to bear fruit in the coming year.
Last year's event was cancelled because of the Covid-19 lockdown, but about 70 people gathered at the orchard off Christchurch Close for its return.
The Rutland Morris Men and Woven Chords choir provided the entertainment, along with storyteller Mark Fraser.
Alongside a roaring fire, crowds sang the traditional wassail song and took part in a procession through the trees.
Secretary of the Stamford Community Orchard Group, Annie Hall, led the event.
She said: "The event was marvellous and everyone had a good time.
"Missing last year's wassail didn't seem to affect the harvest. It differs every year depending on whether we get a frost, so I can't say whether or not the traditions make a difference, but I can say that the wassail is good fun and makes people more aware of the orchard."
