Help from 1st Flodden Cubs

It was a cold, icy day on the 2nd of February when 1st Flodden Cubs joined us in the orchard to work on their Conservation Badge. The Cubs enthusiastically entered into a discussion about the fruit in the orchard, and looked at how we were preserving old heritage varieties. Next, the Cubs played a game to help them learn some of the interesting histories of our trees - and a lot of running around warmed us all up. Well done to the Cherries team who were first with their answers!

The Cubs donned gloves and, armed with plastic bags, they carried out a litter pick in the orchard. They were a great help collecting the rubbish that blows under the roadside hedge. Where does it all come from?!

Thank you for your visit, 1st Flodden - you are a fantastic team! Good luck with the rest of the badge!

Wassailing in Lowick Community Orchard

We went Wassailing in Lowick Community Orchard on the 8th of January. The Wassail King (otherwise known as Adam Fletcher) was wonderful, speaking in dramatic verse to welcome the large crowd of Wassailers, encouraging the them to bless the orchard trees and frighten away evil spirits. After the event we returned to the Piggery Farm Resource Centre at Hunting Hall where the Rag Bag Morris Dancers gave us some fantastic entertainment and even got some of us to join in the dancing. Finally we shared a lovely supper. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this such a successful event. We've got to do it again next year - let it be the start of a great tradition. I had a fantastic night!!!

King and Queen of the Wassail blessed the trees and encouraged them to bear a good autumn crop, by sprinkling them with cider from the Wassail bowl.

The Wassail King in fine voice, sang a Wassail song, accompanied by his Wassail Queen on Northumbrian smallpipes. A local electrician lent us the coloured lights, which added to the drama of the event.

The Wassailers were invited to dip pieces of toast in to the Wassail bowl and then hang the toast from the orchard trees, to encourage them to crop in the coming year. There are still bits of string and soggy bread dangling all over the orchard :S

To finish our Wassail, we had taken along lots of pots and pans, drums and whistles, and made a terrible noise to frighten away any evil spirits lurking in the trees.

Back at the Piggery, the Rag Bag Morris Dancers entertained us.

Here's a video of the Wassailers joining the dancers - it was great fun! Thank you so much for everyone's help and support.