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Trumpington Community Orchard

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Trumpington Community Orchard

Category Archives: seasons

Wassail 2022 – small but beautiful

29 Saturday Jan 2022

Posted by trumpingtonorchard in events, News, seasons, volunteering

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We took the hard decision not to hold a wassail (a traditional ceremony to honour the apple trees) this year. I know other orchards held large and enthusiastic wassails, but our space is small and we have to think about the potential risks.

But never fear, our Maintenance Session volunteers saw to it that the trees received their usual blessing of a libation of apple juice poured at their roots, and pieces of toast hung in the branches. When we started this orchard over a decade ago, our first wassail was three of the founders (including me) singing some kind of song and banging a saucepan, and a few neighbours came out to see what the racket was. Since then the wassail grew into a really sizeable and popular event, and we have had everything from lantern processions to a wheelbarrow orchestra to folk dressed as Green Men and Women, and as penguins. In the last few years wassailing has been re-discovered, re-invented and revived across the country (I think we were way ahead of the trend.) Wassailing is certainly a tradition of this orchard, and it will carry on, in some way or another, every year.

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Orchard Maintenance Dates

09 Saturday Feb 2019

Posted by trumpingtonorchard in News, seasons, Uncategorized

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We hold a maintenance session every second Sunday of the month (11am – 1pm), and every fourth Thursday (10am – 12pm)

If you love our orchard, and want to help keep it special, please come along to one of our regular maintenance sessions.  We provide all the tools you need, and lots of help and advice, so if you’ve never done any gardening before, don’t worry. It’s a great way to spend some time in the outside and meet new people

.These sessions are when we look after the trees and check what needs to be done. For each season we will check the health of the trees, attend to any pests and diseases, and make the orchard look as beautiful as possible. It’s vital work to keep the orchard going and we rely on our volunteers to look after these trees, so we really appreciate the help. You don’t have to stay for the whole session, just come along when you can. Superivised children are welcome but please note we have no toilet/hand washing etc facilities on site or nearby. Please wear clothes suitable for outdoor work.

DATES FOR 2019:  Every second Sunday of the month (11am – 1pm), and every fourth Thursday (10am – 12pm)

Sunday 10 Feb
Thursday 28 Feb

Sunday 10 March
Thursday 28 March

Sunday 14 April
Thursday 25 April

Sunday 12 May
Thursday 23 May

Sunday 9 June
Thursday 27 June

Sunday 14 July
Thursday 25 July

Sunday 11 August
Thursday 22 August

Sunday 8 Sept
Thursday 26 Sept

Sunday 13 Oct
Thursday 24 Oct

Sunday 10 Nov
Thursday 28 Oct

Sunday 8 Dec
(Thursday 26 Dec – probably not going to happen!)

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“Wassail wassail all over the town…”

18 Tuesday Dec 2018

Posted by trumpingtonorchard in News, seasons, Uncategorized

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Sunday 13th January 2019 2pm

“Wassail wassail all over the town…”
So begins the traditional Wassail carol – celebrating Christmas, winter and the bountiful harvest to come. Our own orchard wassail is a bit of a tradition in its own right, having been going for a mighty ten years. This year we have story telling for everyone, a great way of setting the scene and leading us into the fun and mystery of singing to apple trees as darkness falls.

Come and see us. It’s free (although donations are much appreciated) and it’s suitable for all the family. Because we’ll be outside in an orchard, wear warm clothes, bring a torch. Dressing up is encouraged – it’s usually Holly Kings and Ivy Queens but we have had a 6ft tall penguin come along in the past, so anything goes!

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Wassail 2018 – Sunday 14th January

21 Thursday Dec 2017

Posted by trumpingtonorchard in News, seasons

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As I write this it’s the Winter Solstice, and thick fog outside. No wonder that winter festivals of light, dancing and music are so popular, and so much a part of rural life in the past. So shake off the gloom and look forward to Wassail 2018! Each year we like to do something a bit different, so for our Tenth Wassail (I know, I can’t believe that but it’s true, this will be the tenth one)…anyway, we are very pleased to be hosting a demonstration of green woodworking skills.
Come along to the Orchard from 12:30 – 2:00pm for the woodworking, with music and Wassail traditions afterwards from 2:30pm.
Special thanks to Nigel Pennick’s Rabble Rousing Wassail Band for providing the music to scare bad spirits out of the apple trees. If you’d like to bring anything to make a noise with, that would be great. Dress up if you want, and in any case wrap up warm. Hot mulled apple juice and various apple bakes will be served to keep out the cold

The event is free but donations are appreciated. Please park with consideration for the residents.

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Signs of spring

10 Sunday Apr 2016

Posted by trumpingtonorchard in seasons

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Tags

#maintenance #spring

This morning was a beautifully sunny, relaxed Sunday, and everyone was working on their allotments and just breathing in some fresh air. The bees were out and about, and down on the Orchard, spring was – well, not exactly skipping between the trees like she does in the paintings… but there was definitely the promise of blossom in the air.
If you want to experience this for yourself, come and spend ten minutes, or your lunch break, just taking it all in and listening to the birds. If you want to get active, drop in to our next maintenance activity – the second Sunday of May 2016.

Essential kit
Essential kit
susanna working
new fence
flowering currant
quince
wallis plum
lady hollendale buds

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Keep updated with our recent posts

  • Wassail 15 January 2023 2pm.
  • Group effort
  • Bugs and Swifts at Trumpington Community Orchard
  • Making some bee time
  • Wassail 2022 – small but beautiful

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The orchard is currently open to be enjoyed as a peaceful green space. Please respect social distancing and leave no litter behind you.

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