Wassail Prune
WASSAIL PRUNE!
8 March / 11:00am - 9:00pm
This event blends two key moments in the estate calendar: the late winter prune of our orchards and Wassail. Wassail is an ancient rural tradition with its sources in early pagan times. It entails visiting orchards to chase out evil spirits that may have squatted for too long in the boughs of the dormant trees, then cyder and song is offered-up to entice the good spirits to take residence in the trees and ensure a bountiful harvest. Explosive celebration is the order of the evening with hearty Somerset fare washed down with lashings of cyder.
The day begins with an introduction by Andy ‘Apples’ Lewis, Specialist Fruit Grower, who leads you over to the cyder orchards to learn the art of pruning apple trees. Lunch is served in the Farmyard Kitchen. Once you have indulged to your pleasure you are led through the flavour profiles of our extensive range of cyders (including unreleased varieties) on an exclusive tasting. On completion of the tasting you are now fully prepared for the evening’s main event: Wassail! Become a Newt for a night and join the team in shooing-out the evil spirits from the apple trees, encouraging in the benign spirits, toasting good health, quaffing cyder and breaking bread to cannon-fire and live music
All materials and equipment are provided.
Please wear sturdy footwear and practical clothing. Includes: Tea & coffee on arrival with the Bakery’s signature cinnamon bun, lunch at the Farmyard Kitchen, cyder tasting in Cyder Cellar, Wassail Supper.
