Orchard Wassailing
Orchard Wassailing 2pm-4pm
(all free, no booking needed)
Join us in the Community Orchard for songs led by Penny Stone, and merry noise-making with bells and drums, to celebrate our beloved orchard trees and wish them a good year ahead. This is a fun and heart-warming event organised by our brilliant Community Orchard volunteers. Suitable for all ages, free and no booking required.
Music + Tree Activities + Mulled Apple Juice + Noisy Fun
Bring a rattle or drum if you have them, or make your own shaker on the day
Penny will lead us in singing some tree songs, and maybe a bit of dancing. We will have a ‘make your own shaking stick’ craft table, plus greenery to adorn you if you want to look leafy for the occasion. Dressing up encouraged and welcome, but not compulsory! You will be invited to write out a message and tie it to a tree, and also to give the tree some woodchip mulch. We’ll finish with mulled apple juice (zero-alcohol) in the farmyard, but you might want to bring your own hot drinks or food to keep you warm throughout. Please also bring your own noise makers and shakers if you’ve got them.
Orchard Wassailing is an ancient tradition in orchard care. The story goes that it frightens away any evil spirits lurking in the orchard. Of course, it also brings the community together and makes people feel protective towards the trees – which definitely helps protect them. By reviving and reinventing these traditions, we renew our connection with the land and with each other, and make the living world more vivid in our minds and hearts. If you’ve never Wassailed before, come along and give it a try. And if you’re an old hand, join us with your stories. No tickets or booking required. Come All Ye!
If you haven’t been before…
The main farmyard entrance is behind Toby Carvery car park, EH4 5EX. Click here for directions to the farm
This will be an outdoor event in our farmyard and Community Orchard. Please dress for windy north Edinburgh
We will be on rough, sloping grassy ground, which can be wet and muddy. There will be some slow-paced travel around the orchard (and possibly some birling – optional). The ground is potentially navigable by all-terrain/off-road wheelchairs or mobility scooters, but probably not standard wheelchairs. If you use a stick or walker, and you feel okay on uneven ground, the whole area should be accessible. There are no stairs to the farmyard, orchard or toilet.
You will be able to use the toilet in the Community Allotment & Garden area during the event (a spacious, level access, single cubicle, gender-neutral, composting toilet).
There is no cafe on site, so please bring snacks if you need them to keep you going.