Wassailing the Apple Trees in Branscombe Orchard

The sound of saucepans banging, and children shouting and singing, echoed throughout Branscombe valley, as pupils from Branscome Primary School took part in the annual Wassailing event in the National Trust’s apple orchard in Branscombe.

The custom of Wassailing dates back to pagan times and typically takes place each year on the twelfth night. It has been practiced in Britain for centuries. The purpose is to wake the apple trees and scare away evil spirits to ensure a bountiful harvest in the autumn. It involves drinking and singing and the wassail king and queen blessing the apple trees with toast dipped in cider (or apple juice in this case) from the wassail cup.

Parents and children sang Branscombe school’s Wassail song:

In Branscombe Vale sweet apples grow

And Robins nest and feed and was Wassail with crusty bread and cider showers the trees

And candles bright gleam through the night

And home-made lanterns glow with shouts and bangs above our heads

To make the bad spirits go

Make the trees grow

Plenty of cider

Plenty of juice and plenty of apples to eat

Lots for us

Lots for the birds

Go away bad things

Wake up good things

Make the trees grow wassail we go

Make the trees grow!

Meg Vallender, Visitor Experience Officer with the National Trust in Branscombe, said: “Hanging toast on trees is a peculiar English tradition. However, it’s a great opportunity for the community to come together in celebration and song, and it will hopefully lead to a good cider harvest from the orchard this autumn’’.