Make some noise for the trees (From Malvern Gazette)

Make some noise for the trees

ABOUT 250 revellers turned out for a lively night of winter wassailing in Colwall, near Malvern.

TREE-MENDOUS: The wassailers in action in Cummin’s Orchard. Picture by Matthew Chippendale.

Wassailing is a traditional old English custom intended to wake the orchard from its winter sleep and encourage the trees to bear a good crop in the coming year.

As darkness fell at Colwall Green and the Yew Tree Inn, the blowing of horns and banging of drums signalled the lighting of torches, lanterns and flares as a procession made its way across the fields to Cummin’s Orchard and its trees.

Cider was poured into the roots of the biggest tree, before the crowd banged pots and pans, blew whistles and even fired a shotgun into the branches in a bid to make as much noise as possible and chase away any evil spirits from the orchard.

Once the ceremony was over, there was a bonfire, refreshments and a singalong of wassailing songs.

Helen Stace, of the Colwall Orchard Group, said: “Everyone had a great time and we raised about £600 to support our community orchard. Our thanks go to everyone who came to support the event and to all the many volunteers who made it possible. Let’s hope we have a good harvest.”