Pots were banged, chants were shouted, slices of toast were tacked on branches and cider was poured over tree roots as part of a centuries-old tradition that is supposed to encourage a good apple harvest in the coming year.
Wassailing, which comes from the Old Norse for ‘good health’, is an annual occurrence at orchards throughout the country that has now taken place at the City Recreation Ground orchard in Newbury for the fourth year running.
Wassail at the City Recreation Ground orchard in Newbury on January 11Wassail at the City Recreation Ground orchard in Newbury on January 11Wassail at the City Recreation Ground orchard in Newbury on January 11Wassail at the City Recreation Ground orchard in Newbury on January 11
The event, which took place on Saturday morning and had over 35 people taking part, was organised by Growing Newbury Green, a group that plants and maintains apple orchards in public green spaces throughout the town.
Growing Newbury Green member Tony Hammond said: “The wassail went extremely well.
“It was a perfect day. It was beautifully sunny and very frosty. It was very atmospheric, but not so icy that people were sliding all over the place.”
Wassail at the City Recreation Ground orchard in Newbury on January 11Wassail at the City Recreation Ground orchard in Newbury on January 11Wassail at the City Recreation Ground orchard in Newbury on January 11Wassail at the City Recreation Ground orchard in Newbury on January 11
The strange ritual, which was led by its very own leaf-covered green man David Risley, began with cider being poured on the trees to remind them to grow some juicy apples.
Slices of toast are then slid on to branches so that birds are encouraged to come to the trees and eat any bugs within the bark that may cause disease.
Wassail at the City Recreation Ground orchard in Newbury on January 11Wassail at the City Recreation Ground orchard in Newbury on January 11Wassail at the City Recreation Ground orchard in Newbury on January 11Wassail at the City Recreation Ground orchard in Newbury on January 11
The wassail ends with participants banging pots and pans while chanting in order to drive off any evil spirits that reside in the trees so that they may stay healthy over the coming year.
The event had a practical purpose as well as a symbolic one, as once the wassail had finished, most of the attendees remained at the orchard in order to carry out some much-needed pruning.
Wassail at the City Recreation Ground orchard in Newbury on January 11Wassail at the City Recreation Ground orchard in Newbury on January 11Wassail at the City Recreation Ground orchard in Newbury on January 11Wassail at the City Recreation Ground orchard in Newbury on January 11
Growing Newbury Green has two upcoming pruning events which it has encouraged local residents to take part in.
The first will take place at the Barn Crescent orchard on Saturday, February 15, at 10am and the second will take place at the Digby Road orchard on Saturday, March 16, at the same time.