You’re invited to join our wassail on Saturday 7 January
Event starts from 12 noon
We invite you to join an event which continues an ancient tradition while planting a legacy for the future.
The physic garden is open from 12 noon – 2pm. Please feel free to bring snacks and sandwiches; there are plenty of benches to sit on, or lawns to lie on if you bring a rug.
From 1pm – 2pm, join in song and ceremony to toast our orchard trees.
Wassail is an Old English word meaning ‘be healthy’ or ‘be whole’ – ‘hale and hearty’. Wassailing the trees in the orchard wakes them from their winter sleep and brings a bountiful crop of fruit in season. This ancient tradition recognizes the importance of our relationship to nature.
Local druids will toast a chosen fruit tree with an offering of cider poured over its roots. This is followed by a sharing of the wassail bowl, and the singing of carols, led by members of the local community choir. We encourage the making of much noise by all present! A family event, come in costume if you wish – but remember your weather proof footwear!
Transition Tynedale provide the cider from recent apple pressing days.
From 2-3pm, you can join in a weather dependent walk through Dukeshouse Woods to Hexham Middle School, where tree planting takes place from 3:15pm. Sound therapist Johanna Sheehan will be leading a reflection on our connection to the earth during this final part of the event.
Transition Tynedale’s blog can be accessed here
This event is open to all and unticketed. Donations to the physic garden, an independent, local charity, will be much appreciated.
For more on wassailing, please click here and here.
Participation in all activities is at the individual’s own risk.
Transition Tynedale 