Hoping for a fruitful year

Buy photos » A-peel-ing event - Liz Jennings, Nigel Braithwaite, Elinor Braithwaite, Jay Willis and Lee Jennings get ready for the wassail. 02013037ncr.

A TRADITIONAL event with a longer history than Christmas is set to take place in Headless Cross.

The annual wassail, led by volunteers from the district's community orchard, will see residents joining in a noisy procession from The Rocklands Social Club to the green at 7pm on Saturday, February 2.

A ceremony will follow to awaken the trees in an attempt to ensure a fruitful apple harvest later in the year, with Wassail Queen Elinor Braithwaite draping the trees with toast soaked in cider.

Arrow Valley Brass Band will take part in a short performance including Juice-Alem, an apple-related version of Jerusalem.

Orchard volunteer Alistair Waugh said: "If you've got noisy neighbours, this is the event to bring them to. Bring saucepans to clatter, drums to bang, whistles and bells.

"We're wishing good health to the fruit trees on Headless Cross Green. There will be warm cider, singing, shouting and entertainment. It's free and it's a lot of fun."

He added last year's first ever wassail in the district saw more than 50 people brave the snow for a memorable evening with morris dancing.

Visit www.headlessxorchard.org.uk for more information about how to get involved.

Regional news »